How to remove dark film on silver?
hummingbird_coins
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This is a 1925-S Peace Dollar in Uncirculated condition. What is the best way to get rid of the dark film cleanly? Does dipping the coin work or is it more complicated than that? Does anyone have experience with this type of tarnish?
Young Numismatist • My Toned Coins
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Peace dollars don't usually dip out well. The dark black toning usually won't come off either, it's typically into the metal.
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This. Dark black toning is dark because it is thicker than light colored toning. The extended oxidation or sulfurization generally leads to it having incorporated more surface silver metal. Removing the dark black toning, therefore, results in removing that surface silver metal which gives the coin a lusterless, etched look.
Acetone if that is just dirt from the years and it won't hurt the coin.
I’d let it sit in acetone for a few days (as stated earlier.) Depends what happens, maybe try some E-Zest. I think most of the toning would clean up ok, but the darkest spots probably wouldn’t. Probably worth a try. Personally I don’t hate it, a little lighter would be nice though.
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Wait..........
I think I'm now dyslexic
"You want to remove film from silver"?
Just come right on out and say it.
I'm looking for silver. (I want to recover the silver that makes up the film or the negative)
Any way it had to be said.
What ?
I agree that a days long acetone soak is worth a try. Then, If you decide to try eZest, it should be 1-2 seconds and then distilled water rinse, pat dry. Good luck
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I agree with the above. From your pictures, your coin looks terminal from here. Whatever is going on with your coin, it looks baked into the metal surface.
Keep in mind, dipping takes practice and experience. I've dipped many melt value 90 & 40% Kennedy's. It's kind of a know it, when you see it thing.
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
It has the yucky look of already being dipped or over-dipped. I don't believe it can be helped. For some reason Peace dollars have problem surfaces more often than Morgan dollars.
Rather then dip, maybe try a strong solvent, like mineral spirits or xylene. Might work better then acetone.
Solvents likely will not really help. If you remember your chemistry, that is oxidation and not a matter of removing organic residue. I personally would recommend clear ammonia soak & possible tamping with cotton bud with liberal irrigation (water) afterward and tamp dry with high nap white cotton towel.
Well, just Love coins, period.
Sometimes the dark areas will not come off, with a dip, before you kill all the luster the coin has.
Ask yourself ... Is this coin really worth the bother? Probably not. It is just a really ugly Peace Dollar.
It's a 1925-S, the coin with one of, if not the biggest, price jumps from circulated to uncirculated in the series. If I can get even a MS63 out of it then it is most certainly worth the bother.
Young Numismatist • My Toned Coins
Life is roadblocks. Don't let nothing stop you, 'cause we ain't stopping. - DJ Khaled
It may be worth the bother in your mind but the chance of that coin ever reaching a a slab grade of MS63 is remote.
I have no idea how you are able to conclude that it is uncirculated with all that gunk on the coin.
I would suggest experimenting with acetone and EZest on 90% junk silver.
Just start it at your favorite auction venue at 99c or if your bold melt and hope for the best. MS60 CDN Bid $120. Perhaps some them bid it up.
A dip should be a quick in and out. Too long then any luster destroyed….dull.
I agree. But even if it is UNC, it will never straight grade.
I would only use ezest as the last option once the others have failed.
Collector, occasional seller
I was bored a while back and played chemist with these two Peace Dollars I had bought many years ago in a bulk silver acquisition.
Ammonia diluted with water to create a 50% solution.
EZest then MS70 to further remove the black on the right and left obverse periphery.