Please advise: how to conserve this 1909-S IHC
steve_richardson
Posts: 170 ✭✭✭
So I have a 1909-S IHC inherited from my grandfather. It’s been in this 2x2 for decades, and I don’t think its condition has been worsening. But I have just started learning more about copper coins, and am getting concerned that the small spots that I had thought were just some sort of dirt is actually the start of corrosion.
So anyway, what do you all recommend that I do? I wasn’t planning to send this for grading anytime soon, but maybe I should and add on conservation? And which TPG/conservation service would you recommend?
0
Comments
Looks like verdigris. It can be conserved but it looks like it's beyond where it will ever straight grade.
You can safely do acetone or heptane, although I doubt that will touch it. Anything beyond that I would not try on that coin unless you have experience or you might make it worse. Leave it to the pros.
FWIW
Thank you for the advice. I don’t so much care about the grade, I just want to prevent further damage. I guess now I need to figure out how to send it in for service… this will be new for me, as I’ve never sent anything for grading before.
That's the sort of green that will come off easily with acetone. Methyl ethyl ketone is somewhat less unhealthy than acetone. If you want to give it a shot, use a q-tip and dab, don't rub. Stop if the q-tip doesn't turn bright green instantly. You don't have much to lose beyond the cost of the solvent, which ought to be around $10 in a hardware store.
Acetone then VERDI-CARE.
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Thanks guys! I’ll give the acetone and verdi-care a try.
After the acetone, etc treatment, if still stubborn, gentle use of a thorn or toothpick may help.
The obverse looks like it’s still “soft” and should be removable. Not sure about the reverse; if it’s crusty you may not have much luck.
Go to your CVS or Wallgreen and get a bottle of pure (100%) acetone for under $2. Put the coin in a glass container, cover with acetone, then cover the glass as acetone evaporates very quickly. Do not inhale the fumes. I do it in a bathroom with a ceiling exhaust fan. Don't spill the acetone on anything plastic as it will disolve it.
Soak for an hour, pour out acetone and inspect, then soak again if needed. Rinse with just acetone and it will completely evaporate off the coin.
good luck,
bob
I'd send it to one of the major conservation services but an acetone soak should not hurt it. There are a lot of threads about this on all the different forums. The guy that makes Verdi-Care is on one of them.
The brighter green, powdery corrosion is the active type and still doing damage. I don't see it on this coin. It's probably stable now.
I've used both acetone and Verdi-Care on coins like this and had good results on some but not others.
If you are going to send it for grading, don't do anything other than acetone if you are also going to seek restoration as it can make their job more difficult. The coins that I've had restored came out pretty well and they did more than I could have done. I've used NGC mostly and they charge like $5 to look at the coin then 4% of the coin value if they succeed with a $25 minimum (so 25 on this coin probably) and then the grading fee of $40 for standard plus shipping. And to use them you have to pay a fee to join, use the cheapest level that you can submit under.
Reminder: Verdi-Care only on copper.
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Update: I followed your advice, and soaked it in 100% acetone for a short while (about 30 min). I carefully dabbed it afterward with a cotton pad, and nearly all the gunk came off! Thanks you guys so much!
I’ve also ordered some verdi-care, and will follow instructions to treat it with that once it arrives.
Here are some pics after the soak:
There will be a great demand from album oriented collectors for that coin in its new state. I'm not sure how the top TPG's would grade it. It might get a details grade for the rim nick, corrosion or cleaning.
Nice results. I would give it a second bath in fresh acetone. That helps wash away anything left on the coin from the dirty acetone.
Good idea. I’ll get the second bath going now.
Much improved!
Agree it’s now a good album coin candidate, or a lower tier TPG like ANACS if you want authenticity verified for minimal cost.
Turned out way better than I thought. Good job!
OUTSTANDING results! 👍
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Just to give you a flavor of possible before and after results. Here's one I did with acetone and verdi-care a few years ago and have posted before. However; keep in mind, you or others might like your coin as it is right now without verdi-care. Tampering with coins is not always a recommended thing to do. You might want to practice on some other less significant copper coins first. This is my original bottle. I've had it about 8 years. I use it sparingly.
Before:
After:
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Wow! That’s astonishing! I do have a bunch of common date IHCs, and will do a bunch of testing first. Thanks!
Couple of questions.
This $2 bottle of 100% acetone, is it just fingernail polish remover?
Has anyone used toluene instead of acetone?
Yes, I got the “100% acetone” fingernail polish remover. I have no idea what toluene would do.
Great coin for an album. If you sell it raw on ebay, it will bring almost as much as a certified coin of the same grade due to album collector demand.
Acetone is good for removal of Crazy Glue, too. It works on many materials as a good solvent but can damage materials that you may want to protect, like plastics. Fortunately it doesn't react with coinage metals, so it's useful for coins.
I agree that it makes a good album coin! So at least for now it’s going in my Meghrig small cents album.
Congrats on the great looking coin after some acetone! She looks great in the album!
https://www.the4thcoin.com
https://www.ebay.com/str/thefourthcoin