How to clean dust off a proof coin?

cinque1543

I have a silver proof coin that came in a US Mint capsule. It looks like there are flakes of dust on the coin, or possibly on the inside of the capsule.

I plan to open the capsule, then blow on the coin and the capsule. If that doesn't work, is there any other thing I can safely do? Perhaps use one of my wife's new, soft make-up brushes or a laptop screen cleaning cloth (without the liquid cleaner) to gently flick the dust away?

MFeld

Don’t blow on the coin!

IkesT

Don't blow on it with your mouth; you'll get spit on the coin.

Use a blower like this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C3PJQXM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

MFeld

@IkesT said:
Don't blow on it with your mouth; you'll get spit on the coin.

Use a blower like this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C3PJQXM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Or canned air?

Torey

@MFeld said:

@IkesT said:
Don't blow on it with your mouth; you'll get spit on the coin.

Use a blower like this:

@MFeld said:
Or canned air?

Canned air isn't compressed air, it releases chemicals that I would imagine could leave spotting just like saliva. Also don't use an air compressor, they throw small amounts of oil.

PerryHall

Would a rinse with pure acetone remove the dust by washing it away?

Goldbully

These rechargeable air dusters work great................NO chemicals, pure air.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kic3oCyw9Tw

cinque1543

@IkesT said:
Don't blow on it with your mouth; you'll get spit on the coin.

Use a blower like this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C3PJQXM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ordered!

FriendlyEagle7

no no no!

the rocket blower for cameras is a soft plastic, soft plastics mean plasticizers = PVC

canned air for dusting electronics is full of chemicals from manufacturing like various lubricants

that rechargeable duster might work, but who know whether its fan bearing is sealed or what other contaminants it might have, and you probably aren't using it in a clean room anyway.

if your coin is valuable and you really want to be sure, this is the solution:
https://www.americanrecorder.com/products/nitroblast-dust-particle-remover-18-gram

this is what I remember them using in laser physics labs where the laser was so powerful a single spec on your mirror would get so hot it would destroy the mirror

there are $30 versions on that site that use CO2 instead of N2, I don't know if N2 is really necessary for coins but if I was removing dust from a $5k coin I think I'd spend the $200 just for peace of mind.

If you want your coin room to be a basic clean room, you want a hard floor, preferably epoxy. No fans. Get a MERV filter for your HVAC or at least put one over the vent in that room (so you won't have to change it so often, and to reduce turbulence from the vent, shut the door so the return air has to go under it so the dust is always going down, and remove your shoes at the door (#1 source of dust) or at least get these adhesive dust removing floor mats if you're like me and don't like being shoeless at your desk.

https://a.co/d/0g2sHlw

IkesT

@FriendlyEagle7 said:
no no no!

the rocket blower for cameras is a soft plastic, soft plastics mean plasticizers = PVC

The blower is silicone and works just fine for blowing off a little dust, thank you. The purchases you are suggesting are silly and unnecessary.

IkesT

@PerryHall said:
Would a rinse with pure acetone remove the dust by washing it away?

That would certainly work, but would likely require handling the proof coin outside of the capsule. Handling means more opportunities for damaging the coin, so it is best avoided, especially for a new collector.

PeakRarities

@FriendlyEagle7 said:
no no no!

the rocket blower for cameras is a soft plastic, soft plastics mean plasticizers = PVC

canned air for dusting electronics is full of chemicals from manufacturing like various lubricants

that rechargeable duster might work, but who know whether its fan bearing is sealed or what other contaminants it might have, and you probably aren't using it in a clean room anyway.

if your coin is valuable and you really want to be sure, this is the solution:
https://www.americanrecorder.com/products/nitroblast-dust-particle-remover-18-gram

this is what I remember them using in laser physics labs where the laser was so powerful a single spec on your mirror would get so hot it would destroy the mirror

there are $30 versions on that site that use CO2 instead of N2, I don't know if N2 is really necessary for coins but if I was removing dust from a $5k coin I think I'd spend the $200 just for peace of mind.

If you want your coin room to be a basic clean room, you want a hard floor, preferably epoxy. No fans. Get a MERV filter for your HVAC or at least put one over the vent in that room (so you won't have to change it so often, and to reduce turbulence from the vent, shut the door so the return air has to go under it so the dust is always going down, and remove your shoes at the door (#1 source of dust) or at least get these adhesive dust removing floor mats if you're like me and don't like being shoeless at your desk.

https://a.co/d/0g2sHlw

This is so extra, we’re not talking about an 1804 dollar here….the little silicone blower from Amazon should be fine.

4Redisin

@MFeld said:

@IkesT said:
Don't blow on it with your mouth; you'll get spit on the coin.

Use a blower like this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C3PJQXM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Or canned air?

I'm a photo hobbyist. If you do not use canned air properly the propellent (the puff of haze) will go all over the coin. You must clear the mist out. The device above will work fine.

FriendlyEagle7

@PeakRarities said:

This is so extra, we’re not talking about an 1804 dollar here….the little silicone blower from Amazon should be fine.

The one I got definitely has that "shower curtain smell" which is vinyl.

Depends on the coin, I linked to the $200 lab grade duster because I know it's the best option, but that site has $30 CO2 dusters as well, which don't have the bitterant and other chemicals in most compressed air dusters.

IkesT

@FriendlyEagle7 said:

@PeakRarities said:

This is so extra, we’re not talking about an 1804 dollar here….the little silicone blower from Amazon should be fine.

The one I got definitely has that "shower curtain smell" which is vinyl.

Depends on the coin, I linked to the $200 lab grade duster because I know it's the best option, but that site has $30 CO2 dusters as well, which don't have the bitterant and other chemicals in most compressed air dusters.

The one that I linked to is silicone and blows pure air, so there you go.

FlyingAl

@FriendlyEagle7 said:

@PeakRarities said:

This is so extra, we’re not talking about an 1804 dollar here….the little silicone blower from Amazon should be fine.

The one I got definitely has that "shower curtain smell" which is vinyl.

Depends on the coin, I linked to the $200 lab grade duster because I know it's the best option, but that site has $30 CO2 dusters as well, which don't have the bitterant and other chemicals in most compressed air dusters.

Given the coin is silver, I don't think it's very cost effective to buy a $200 lab grade duster that's probably worth triple what the coin cost.

Heck at that point just buy a new coin.

PerryHall

If I were impatient and didn't have access to canned compressed air or one of those squeeze-bulb blowers, I would just blow the dust off with my mouth and then give it a quick rinse with pure acetone. The pure acetone will quickly evaporate and a rinse in distilled water is unnecessary. Problem solved.
Don't forget that those fold and staple cardboard coin holders have cardboard dust on their windows from the manufacturing process which can result in spots on coins. I usually use a clean cotton cloth to wipe off any dust on the inside windows before using them.