I'm desperate -- what's the best way to rid a coin of PVC damage?

perro

Of course I don't mean the damage inflicted by the PVC, but rather the black dot's that it has left on the coin I received from bidding on eBay.

Will PCGS grade coins with PVC damage? From those of you who are extremely experienced in your submissions, if PCGS does grade a coin with PVC damage, what are their tolerances? For example, I have an 1884 S and on the obverse there are some pitch black specks in the grooves of her hair, about 10 little dots of black, and one pockmark. You don't see it when you look at it head-on, but when you turn it to an angle, it becomes obvious. Besides the PVC damage, the coin is a decent condition. What say ye?

A few questions about PVC damage:

1. Is it really possible to get the black out without damaging the coin? Someone mentioned acetone (pure) and I forget exactly what he said. Could you dip the coin in the acetone in order to try to loosen up the PVC and then take a Q-tip and lightly rub those areas, or would that cause damage to the coin. What is the best way with acetone to accomplish this removal?

2 .What are some other opinions of the best way to get PVC off of the coin?

I would really appreciate some insight on this. I'm sure it's been asked one million times, but being a newbie, repetition is always inevitable. Since this is a rarer date Morgan I'd like to clean it up (the PVC) without the coin appearing to be cleaned.

Boom

Delicate subject.Very, very carefully with acetone. I've been up so long I'm numb in the brain...can't think straight...isn't that weird-they call it a Brain fart, it's called acetone-pretty sure. You could offer me a million bucks right now and I be dog-gone if I can remember. Tomorrow- later today, when this "brain-lock" leaves, I'll remember. The guys around here will help you if I don't get back with you in time. There's a procedure but you have to be very careful or ruin the coin if you want it PCGS certified!. Had the same thing happen to me. Someone shipped some coins in those rubber flips...ain't worth a damn to keep coins in-but they stayed in there too long and got hot and I'm afraid the coins (proofs at that) are now suitable to give to young collectors as gifts! Hope this at least helps a little. Russ would know. He's good at stuff like that. Gotta give credit where credit's due!

perro

thank you, are there any others? It's late & I'm off to bed for now--brain dead myself

ccex

I started my type set in a Harco album with removable rows of square pockets for each coin. After it sat for 12 years, a dealer warned me of PVC damage from these albums, and I could see a few horrible green spots developing on a few of my coins. My favorite was my Reeded Edge Bust Half, which developed a spot near the obverse rim at 12:00. Another dealer's suggestion - a Q-tip doused in rubbing alcohol and applied gently -- did the trick. He suggested acetone if Q-tip and alcohol didn't work.

Deadhorse

Acetone dip is the best way and the whole coin will be cleaned of any objectionable material, smog, pollution, etc. No need to go to the trouble of detailing with a Q-tip.

Really, it's quite easy. Do a search and you will get a night's worth of reading, most of the threads being redundant. Just remember to use glass as the container and keep it well ventilated.

In the garage with the door open would be perfect. No smoking or open flames nearby. Leave it to soak for a few minutes and you might want to cover it as evaporaton of Acetone is quite rapid.

I prefer to do a second dip and swirl in a smaller batch of fresh acetone as a final measure. No need to rinse, lay on cotton towel for just a few seconds and coin will dry through evaporation.

A 3 dollar can of acetone has made me many hundreds when it comes to shipping off for grading. No damage can come to the coin simply from acetone.

nwcs

Acetone can remove the contaminants off the surface of the coin. Although the black dots you mentioned makes me wonder if they are carbon spots. Acetone will not remove carbon spots. PCGS will not grade a coin with PVC damage as a rule. I'm sure some slips by, but they bag it where possible.

You can rinse the coin in acetone. A general good way is to have three bowls of acetone. Put it in the first, rinse through the second, and put it in the third for a few moments and let air dry. Takes about 10-30 seconds to dry without anything touching it.

perro

Thank you all for your suggestions, they are very helpful!!! By the way, NWCS, what are carbon spots, is there anything you can do to limit their visibility, and finally, will PCGS grade a coin with carbon spots.

sinin1

PVC damage is green layers and corroded pits

It does not sound like you have PVC causing those black specks


to be safe, you could soak it in acetone for a few hours - just don't smoke or get high on the fumes
- possible take a wetted q-tip and try rotating around the area without actually scratching



the black spots should still allow PCGS grading - depending on how noticable and whether they distract from the eye appeal - might drop -> none or 1 or 2 points depending on how big

got pics?

lathmach

Try spending it.
Circulation of coins does wonders on removing pvc.

Ray

LAWMAN

Acetone 100% pure. Run a search on Acetone and Dipping for threads on here by real experts. Be very very careful with acetone and study up on the dangers.

PCGS definitely bodybags for PVC, I have a few. PVC is often a green slime and you do find it in coins in old albums with PVC plastic inserts -- I have an old album of Buffalo nickels with PVC green slime oozing all over them.

roadrunner

I have used straight clear ammonia from the grocery store on nickel and silver coins. I had a Lib nickel proof with a bad green stain in the field. After soaking for several hours all but light shadow remained. It was graded PF65 by NGC after submittal. Had been in a Hallmark 65 holder prior to that and the PVC grew in the holder over several years. Ammonia will take off layers of toning so be careful in that respect. You may show up some more hairlines. But ammonia removes grime and dirt as well as some contaminants like PVC.

Black carbon spots don't come out as a rule.

roadrunner

ClausUrch

I believe Perro is asking about getting rid of the black spots that are left on the coin after the green PVC is removed with acetone. The acetone will get rid of the PVC quite nicely but does no good on the black spots which are on the coin's surface caused by the PVC.

perro

How badly do the spots effect the grading? Will they grade coins with these black spots?

deltadon

Same thing happened to me. Purchased a raw BU Barber dime and a raw BU Walking Liberty half on E-Bay at what I thought was a good price but not bargains. Great looking coins so when I got them I sent them off to PCGS for grading right away. When I got them back ungraded with the PVC designation I almost flipped out. But PCGS Forum to the rescue. Several members guided me through the acetone process. I soaked both coins in separate clean glass containers of acetone overnight and then rinsed them thorougly with DISTILLED WATER and let them air dry on both sides. BE VERY CAREFUL with the acetone - it is highly flammable and not the greatest for your skin. I didn't wear gloves in handling the coins because I was afraid of contaminating the coins with something from the gloves. Maybe other Forum members have ideas on how to handle the coins. Sent them back to PCGS and the Barber dime came back MS65 and the Walker MS64.

Dog97

Like a few others said I don't think it's pvc but rather carbon spots or slag spots on the planchet. Anyway a dip like jewelluster would be the way to go about POSSIBLY removing them.

MacCoin

sell it

JrGMan2004

I have a 40-D Merc with carbon spots in an MS-66 PCGS holder... three small spots, all near the rims, I don't think it hurt the grade any though... so I guess with carbon spots it depends on number, size and postition in focal areas... it's still a beauty though, even with the spots

perro

For Mac Coin--I won't sell it because the coin is an 1892 S Morgan and I'm willing to try--heck it's only a few bucks. It looks like it could be an MS60. It has tremendous detail on both sides, detailed & very textured hair & bangs. The surface looks good & the face as well. The hair has the dark spots in some of the grooves. The book value of an MS60 1892 S Morgan, according to PCGS is $24,500. Wouldn't that motivate you?

perro

For Man of Coins--How long did you soak in the acetone?

Coinosaurus

I sent a PVC coin into NCS & was quite happy w/the results.