Getting carbon spots out of copper coins

FC57Coins

This has probably been posted a million times, and if someone has a link to a good thread I'd appreciate it. However, my question is this: I have raw lincolns from the 30's on up in uncirculated condition, but I've noticed that some of them have carbon spots on them and I was wondering if there was a way to remove these without damaging or upseting the surface of the coin.

Thanks!

Frank

Spooly

I know of no way to remove them. But I was told that NCS can to it. (How? I have no idea)

DHeath

Frank,

No way I know of. I've never had the nerve to try the chewed toothpick, or the sharp instrument method. I think I'd prefer the spot.

IrishMike

Frank I have posted this question across the street at ASK NCS, hopefully they will provide some insight this week.

FC57Coins

Thanks for the info guys - I figured it might be a losing battle but it was worth a try.

Mike - I'll keep an eye on your posting from across the street and see what they have to say. Bytheway - I submitted a Morgan to NCS to see if they could work their magic on it - as soon as I get it back from NGC I'll post the story behind it and see how they did.



<< <i>No way I know of. I've never had the nerve to try the chewed toothpick, or the sharp instrument method. I think I'd prefer the spot. >>



Don - I've tried the toothpick method on a Kennedy half and it worked, but it was a bear getting the carbon spot off. I would agree with you, it's not worth gouging an otherwise ok coin.

Frank

KAJ1

I have been told , even IF you can get the spots off,
sometimes you will have a pitted surface where the carbon once was.
I have never tried it myself.

Kevin

darktone

I was thinking of sending this to NCS to see if they could remove the carbon spot on the E in states- it's just too nice of a coin not to try. I eagerly await replies to this thread because I have about a dozen with similiar spots. mike

leothelyon

I've removed these with a toothpick and a needle under magnification but you do not want to scratch the coin. Microscopic volcanoes what they are but off to church. Ultrasonic waves is probably the way it's done. More later,

Leo

DrawTwo

I was told by someone at NCS that they can remove carbon sopts, but I have yet to try it.

dpoole

NCS was able to get some recently-appearing moisture marks removed from a proof Lincoln I had, with apparent success (remains to be seen if the marks return). I've seen examples of carbon spots removed from Lincolns by needles or some such like that, but the marks of removal are obvious, and the areas of removal are of different color than the surrounding fields and details.

I'd be very interested too, if somebody found a way to remove carbon without materially changing and "doctoring" the surfaces.

dingodog

Soaking the coin in acetone then thoroughly rinsing in distilled water might do it. Old hands suggest olive oil, or better, old engine crankcase oil for a long time (months!). Ultrasonic can sometimes do it but watch out for the "ultrasonic" fluids - they usually contain acids and you will have a beautiful, clean and very PINK copper. Then, someone will have start a thread on how to re-tone the coin to a nice original red, which is easy if you know how.

oreville

I have had some success dabbing the carbon spots with mineral oil repeatedly keeping the sopots moist and if necessary, keep the entire coin in the mineral oil as in a bath. I have found over the years about 1/3 of the severity of the spot is removed without damaging the underlying surface or around the spot. It can take up to 2-3 years for the oil to work its way through the spot. After all, it took at least that long for the spot(s) to grow so why expect to remove it any faster than its original birth and growth?

There is something about mineral oil and copper spots that somehow the mineral oil manages to dissolve part of the spot without harmiong the coin in any way!

FC57Coins

thanks for the additional tips guys. I don't know if I'd have the patience to go to those extents, especially with small coins like that - Im getting to the point where I have to take out the magnifying glass to get a good look at the date and mintmark on some of the small coins. I'll probably leave those to the pros and keep concentrating on big saucer like coins

toothpuller

I would not suggest attempting to remove a small carbon spot from a valuable mint state copper coin or doing anything that may damage the original skin.

D. Poole - I heard rumor that PCGS recently had a large payout because of a small pin removal of a spot that was missed when grading a very expensive IHC. This pin scratch was grade reducing and the coin in question is much less valuable at the now lower grade.

Mike - I would be curious if NCS will attempt a carbon spot removal and if they did would they pass the coin onto NGC for grading or would they put it in one of their curated NCS slabs.