I think I've discovered PVC

EVillageProwler

I have a bunch of low grade, low value silvers that I placed years ago in soft plastic flips and then placed them in an album. These coins feel sticky now. I think they have PVC. How shall I take care of them? I don't want to pay for them to be professionally conserved because a '37-D Walker in VG doesn't seem worth the expense.

Can someone post (or email me) explicit instructions on what to do? This includes what materials to buy, and from where to obtain them. Any gloves, etc. ...

Thanks,

EVP

EVillageProwler

Also, can PVC get on non-silvers? I think they're on some as well...

EVP

darktone

EVP, PVC is a minor problem to get rid of with acetone(unless it has etched the surface of the coin)- in fact I have a silver dollar soaking right now. The only problem being acetone is very flameable so you must be careful. I'll be back in a second with more info. Mike

darktone

EVP-here's the exact information that was given to me.

If it's simply pvc contamination you are in luck because this is relatively easy to remove and is one of the few things that can be successfully done by someone who has never tried it. If you go to your local hardware store and ask for acetone you will have all the solvents you need. Simply put a little fresh acetone in a dish and submerge the coin in the acetone, use just enough acetone to comfortably cover the coin. Allow the coin to sit in the acetone for two or three minutes, you may want to swirl the dish to get a current, and then remove the coin and discard the acetone. If there are especially stubborn spots of pvc you can wet a Q-Tip with acetone and very lightly apply pressure to the coin with the Q-Tip and this should remove pvc spotting. After the acetone rinse you will want to take a fresh dish and place fresh acetone in it and submerge the coin in the fresh acetone for 30 seconds or so and maybe swirl the dish so there is a bit of a current and then remove the coin and it will air dry within a few seconds. Instead of air drying you may want to rinse the coin for 3-5 seconds in cold water before it dries from the acetone rinse and then give it one last squirt with fresh acetone and let air dry. So, to re-cap:

1) Place coin in shallow dish for a couple minutes with enough fresh acetone to cover it, swirl the dish

2) Discard the acetone and add more fresh acetone and allow to sit for a few seconds, swirl if desired

3) Rinse coin with cold water for a few seconds immediately after removing from acetone

4) Squirt coin with a little acetone after the cold water rinse and it will dry almost immediately

If you try this please remember the following; Acetone is extremely flammable and must be used with adequate ventilation and never used near a spark, flame or source of ignition. Sounds pretty scary but it is fairly harmless if used appropriately. Acetone evaporates very quickly in air and any acetone you want to get rid of you may either evaporate outside or just add water to it as water and acetone mix at any ratio. Good luck.

EVillageProwler

Thanks, DT. Three more questions:

1. Are non-silvers susceptible to PVC?

2. I have MANY coins to conserve. Any way I can batch 'em? Like, put as many in a dish as I can w/o stacking and w/o being too tight?

3. If I place 'em in a dish, then will I have to flip the coin over to do the other side?

EVP

darktone

EVP-yes PVC can form on anything in those holders. I have done several lower priced coins at one time before but the expesive ones get thier own cleaned dish and fresh acetone and yes I always turn them over. I think you should probably start with just one coin to see if it cures the problem first though. mike

Spinynorman

I hope it's alright if I butt in here, but I recently bought a coin that was obviously covered in PVC just to see what it would take to remove it. The coin is a copper-nickel centavo from El Salvador.

This is what it looked like to start.


and this is the end result...


I soaked in acetone for about an hour and then used a toothpick under magnification to work it out of the devices. I also put a drop of mineral oil on the area I was working on. It seems to help loosen the embedded stuff and possibly helps reduce the risk of scratching the coin.

It took me a couple cycles of this to remove this much PCV.

sinin1

I agree with all of the statements before -

Be very careful with Q-tips on AU or MS coins

I use a shot glass which works good for one coin, gets both sides - without using alot of acetone (although acetone is not extremely expensive) - my local hardware store has it on the shelf near the paints - I think about $4/qt and $12/gal.

jbsteven

very informative. can anyone post more PVC before and after photos or at least before photos of PVC coated coins?

thanks

Spooly

MS-70 is good for removing PVC. (Good for getting it out of the devices, without using a toothpick)

Spooly

Spooly

Spooly

Spooly

EVillageProwler

I realized that I had full container of MS70. I'm glad someone (Spooly?) mentioned it. I just conserved 6 avg circ late date Walkers, and now they don't have the goopiness and haze to them. (THey're still old, toned coins though, which is what they're supposed to be!)

Now onto the next batch...

EVP