Dipping lesson...
ursabear
Posts: 1,888
Folks,
I've seen snippets here and there in threads about dipping and dipping techniques. I'd really like to hear your techniques, dos and dont's. I've got two '70s proof sets with very nice clad coins, but they are unattractively hazed.
I've got a few practice coins...
What are my next steps???
Inquiring minds want to know...
I've seen snippets here and there in threads about dipping and dipping techniques. I'd really like to hear your techniques, dos and dont's. I've got two '70s proof sets with very nice clad coins, but they are unattractively hazed.
I've got a few practice coins...
What are my next steps???
Inquiring minds want to know...
0
Comments
Cool!
My stress is lower already.
Yes, it's gold.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
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Long time no see?
"Several Sacagawea dollars dated 2000 were struck in real gold and taken from the mint despite the absence of any law allowing this to be done. It is believed that this was carried out on the orders of a key White House operative (not the president) for political purposes.
It is not clear at the time of this writing what will become of these rather special gold coins."
Sounds valuable to me; or should they be?
Dipping? Corn Chips: Salsa Hot Wings: Blue Cheese
Dipping those Sacs for even a half second will give them a washed out look....tried it on those 'spotted from he!!' Sacs in Mint Bags
from 2002.....total bags of junk!
MacC.
P.S. Habanero salsa is a fine dip!!!
<< <i>What are my next steps??? >>
Dip some chips or some wings.
No, really, never dip clad or copper coins. Silver comes out nice but it will always be identified as a dipped coin (ie. downgrade) if you're looking to resell.
On a lighter note; go to Hooter's, get the 3 mile island wings with some blue cheese and dip away.
I would only dip silver coins, but I've never used MS70. Maybe it is less caustic, but, the other acid based dips turns the copper too bright.
MS-70 - Good for most silver and clad coins. MS70 is not acid based, and is in reality a super detergent. Works very well on silver proof coins, and clad coins as well. There is not much danger of harming a silver or clad coin using MS-70. It is essential that you rinse the coin very well after using MS-70 though. That stuff really clings to the coin, and does not rinse off easily. Follow the water rinse with an acetone dip. Air-dry for a few days afterwards if you can.
E-Z-Est or JewelLuster. This product is acid based. Use it with extreme caution. This product "eats" the surface off the coin, and the longer you leave it in the solution (or the solution on it before the water rinse), the more metal it removes. It is usually best to dilute the solution by 50% with distilled water, and dip for a few seconds at a time between rinses until the desired effect is achieved. This product rinses off easier than MS-70, but you still need to be sure and rinse the solution off well, as it will continue to react to the metal, and can damage the coin.
I don't collect copper coins, so I can't speak from first-hand experience regarding dipping them. I have read that copper coins are very difficult to dip without damaging the coin (it turns the copper unnatural colors like orange).
I have never damaged a coin using MS-70, and I recommend that it be tried first. If the MS-70 does not clean the coin well enough, then move on to a more aggressive cleaner like JewelLuster/E-Z-Est. I have had best results on uncirculated coins, and I stick mostly with the proof coins (silver or clad). A conservative dip will not hurt a coin's grade. A bad dip job will.
Practice on some inexpensive coins (I used pocket change at first). You will develop an eye for how much dip is enough - and not too much. The grading services do not object to a coin having a dip that does not harm the coin. If you are nervous about trying dip on your good coins, there are companies out there that professionally conserve coins (they do the dip). Good luck!
Also for the record, copper doesn't react with dilute sulfuric acid either but dipping a copper coin will generally screw it up. Silver and clad coins dip just fine. Coins will not spot if rinsed with a 90+% isopropyl alcohol solution after the dipping and rinsing.
Coins aren't as fragile as many would have you believe. I once got a PCGS MS62 grade on a Morgan dollar I cleaned with a toothbrush and baking soda. (after being involved in a house fire) Oxidation (toning) will destroy a coin's surface more effectively than any dip will. The reason this isn't widely known is the damage is usually hidden by silver sulfide which also tends to be dark. Professional dealers usually call this damage "color" or sometimes "monster toning".
Huh? Thiourea is acid the last time I checked, but even you go on to describe it as a "very dilute sulfuric acid." I can't argue if it is sulfuric or not, but it sure is an acid.
Also for the record, copper doesn't react with dilute sulfuric acid either but dipping a copper coin will generally screw it up.
How will it generally screw it up if there is no reaction? Tell you what; slip your copper cent into a thiourea solution and leave it there for a while, than let us know if there was no reaction.
BTW, IWOG - been on vacation?
I knew I was going to get a reaction to my comment on copper. Jeweluster isn't sulfuric acid, it's a mixture of thiourea, acid, water, blue dye, and god knows what else. Without knowing the specific reactions involved, here my chemistry geek guess as to what's going on. It also explains why long exposure to coin dipping solution will etch away the surface EVEN THOUGH silver and copper do not react with Thiourea or sulfuric acid.
Thiourea reacts with the silver/copper sulfide on the surface of the coin. This oxidation/reduction reaction releases sulfur molecules as the silver sulfide is reduced, and one of these minor products is almost certainly hydrogen sulfide (hint hint). Hydrogen sulfide as everyone knows is the enemy and causes toning on coins, therefore will readily react with the clean silver surface to produce more silver sulfide which will in turn react with the Thiourea to produce more hydrogen sulfide and so on and so on........(hydrogen sulfide will also react with the water to make sulfuric acid, but this process is slow and there are probably lots of other minor reactions going on which CAN oxidize the silver/copper even if sulfuric acid and Thiourea cannot)
It illustrates one point about using dipping solution that hasn't occured to me before. Jeweluster that has been used by many coins will probably have more sulfur products disolved in the solution and will probably be more dangerous to your coins. Therefore fresh strong Jeweluster is probably the safest. Once again, this is only an educated guess.
Yup, I've been on a coin vacation. I'm gearing up to sell a bunch of coins on ebay so am scanning the boards again.
question: I noticed that sometimes after you dip a coin in eZest the coin becomes sticky feeling.
Whats that glue-like stuff.Some by-product of the chemical reaction?
I suppose you,d say its PVC but it does it on normal circs.
Maybe the dip is contaminated but it appears clean.
If you dunked one silver round in the whole jar will that contaminate the solution?