The modern Cents are so cheaply made, how do...

Boom · April 1, 2004 12:39PM

you safely remove the crud and "water spots", maybe even fingerprints off this alloy without damaging

it? Even brand new uncirculated pieces turn cruddy so fast! Any ideas from the experts? Thanks

coppercoins · April 1, 2004 12:43PM

You spend them...when they turn brown, the water spots disappear.

Sorry, I had to do it.

Actually there is no good way to do it, because once copper is turned, there's no good safe way to change it back to red without a good chemistry set and a lot of experience, for which newer coins aren't valuable enough to bother. Just find some that aren't screwed up already. There are plenty of them out there.

ConstellatioCollector · April 1, 2004 12:43PM

The "Sad" Sac also has so much maganese that it turns cruddy!

Boom · April 1, 2004 12:49PM

I had stashed some 98 and 2000 Type II's away in Saflips but the humidity got to them I guess. Would

Acetone do the trick?

yeah, it's the same with the Sad Sacs. This cheap alloy is indeed a sad sac!

CD, I believe you're on to something. One got run thru the washer and dryer and , let's just

say, it has Unc properties and no longer has to worry about the aforementioned "problem."

coppercoins · April 1, 2004 1:03PM

Acetone will not take care of them...in fact, if the spots have turned the copper brown, even in tiny spots, acetone will likely turn those spots purple...it will NOT make a brown coin red.

Boom · April 1, 2004 6:17PM

What conerns me CD , is this nasty Green crud that has developed in certain areas of a few pieces!

cladking · April 1, 2004 10:07PM

Best bet is to rinse these in acetone before they go bad and then store them properly.
The zincs are extremely reactive and if the core is exposed at any point then it will pro-
bably turn eventually. Fortunately the very high grade pieces tend to be struck on good
planchets so many of these will survive.