Help -- Uncoloring, colored coin.

OnlyBuffalos · February 2, 2003 5:36AM

I have a barber half which has been colored an ugly boxcar brown. What lies beneath is likely tooling or some other undesirable attribute. Looking for some suggestions as to how to proceed. Thinking of trying 100% acetone but maybe there is something better. Thanks.

sinin1 · February 2, 2003 8:01AM

I do not think the acetone will do anything, good luck ( it can not hurt)

You might be stuck dipping out and losing luster or be happy with present color.

Dog97 · February 2, 2003 8:17AM

Just what are you trying to do?
If there are problems under the toning why do you want to expose them?
If it's something like tooling you should be able to see it without removing the tone.
Unless it's been painted acetone won't faze it.
If you use coin dip you will probably ruin it because dark coins ARE NOT good dip candidates.
You are probably trying to ruin an original Barber. If I saw a picture of the coin I could advise more but I will say very few coins are actually improved by attempts to improve them.

dorkkarl · February 2, 2003 8:22AM

don't try to "fix" it. accept it for what it is, & move on.

not everything is "perfect".

K S

stman · February 2, 2003 8:25AM

Dog, I agree it might be another original Barber about to be ruined. Doesn't sound like this person has seen any defects under the toning but just assuming there is. Well, here goes another one.

redhott · February 2, 2003 8:31AM

The toning may be the result of storage in a leather coin purse, since "pocket change" is rather recent. You might (???) have an original coin, rather than a colored coin.

Dog97 · February 2, 2003 12:19PM

Well I got a picture. It's a dark, very dark looks blue or black AT or QT in an ANACS slab.
Since we're not sure of how it's colored OnlyBuffalos might could swish it around in some acetone or MS70 and maybe if he's lucky somebody had painted it with a magic marker there's a slim chance he could save it.
If that didn't work he could dunk it in the JeweLuster but as dark as it is it would probably come out dull grey & lackluster and be even further damaged.

DHeath · February 2, 2003 12:28PM

OnlyBuffalos,

I thought you'd like a little photoshop foolery. Here is a negative of Dog's image.

Dog97 · February 2, 2003 12:34PM

That's probably what it would look like after it was dipped. Probably ATed to hide the slide marks on the neck.

stman · February 2, 2003 1:27PM

Well, I guess in this case after seeing the image I think maybe it's a hopeless case. This might be one of the only times I could understand wanting to do something about the coin. It's just I see all too many times people wanting to ruin a nice original Barber, that when I see a post of how can I fix this? I cringe.

Draco · February 2, 2003 1:48PM

Do you know where this coin came from? I can't help but think that it's been exposed to an excessive amount of sulfer and if thats the only contaminate the coin has been exposed to, you may be in luck. The following should not hurt the coin at all but will require lots of time and patience: go buy an all aluminum cooking pot or use a new pot and find some nice uncoated aluminum (the more, the better and sanding it a bit with 100 grit sand paper doesn't hurt). Put in about a quart of water and a box of baking soda and bring the solution to a boil. Remove from heat and soak your barber. Because the sulfer penetration appears to be very, very deep - you'll be repeating this very often. If it's worth it to you, give it a try because this process removes the sulfer and leaves the silver. I should mention that this will only work with if there is no other surface contaminate. You may end up with a ton of black spots if there is something between the silver sulfide and the solution.

OnlyBuffalos · February 2, 2003 7:08PM

Thanks for the suggestions. Not sure what I am going to do yet -- going to think about it some more. The coin can be traced back to the Santa Clara show. Prior to that, do not know. The color is a dark brown similar to the color on the bottom rim of the Barber in the scan.

dorkkarl · February 2, 2003 9:08PM

again, please ACCEPT the coin for what it is! perfection is impossible in this hobby, really it would not be a good thing if "perfection" could even be approximated. diversity is what makes a hobby great.

leave the coin alone, if you don't like it, SELL it as-is, & get 1 you like.

K S

Dog97 · February 3, 2003 6:04AM

I would only go as far as acetone or ms70, if that doesn't help it nothing will.
I've never tried the baking soda trick but that might lighten it some.

Twowood · February 3, 2003 6:48AM

Have you thought about NCS? Twowood

OnlyBuffalos · February 3, 2003 10:25AM

No I haven't considered that. May be worth a shot. Thanks, Twowood.

Help -- Uncoloring, colored coin.

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