My 'experiment' with dipping a set

ajaan

I know to many of you the dipping of coins is a touchy subject. Some collectors are totally against the 'playing' with any coin. Others find dipping to be fine. All TPGs allow dipped coins to be graded and certified.

I recently bought a set of (7) 1887 Victorian silver coins ranging from the three pence to the crown. All the coins were dully (is that a word?) toned and unattactive IMO. They were not colorfull, just dull.

After some consideration, and experimentation, I decided the dip all seven coins. Just a quick 4-10 second dip followed by rinsing in distilled water. I must say I am pleased by the results. The coins are much more attractive now IMO. They do not looked 'cleaned' or artifical, just white Jubilee coins.

It worked out well for me this time. I do not, and will not, make a habit of dipping coins. But there are times when a quick dip improves the aethetics of a coin.

cosmicdebris

Images please

wybrit

Do you have some "before" and "after" pictures?

I'm one of those collectors who avoids doing such things. I have some coins that are candidates for such action, but I can't bring myself about to do it. I have no doubt that in some special cases it might be warranted.

ajaan

Here's a 'before' photo.




I don't have an 'after' yet.

SYRACUSIAN

Don, if it's the set I have in mind, I believe you should have left out the threepence and sixpence.
One of them was quite colorfull I remember, although it's been quite some time since I last saw them.

The florin, halfcropwn and double florin on the other hand, must have improved vastly.
Again, if you're happy, we're happy.

ajaan

Dimitri, it is the set you are thinking of. I didn't see that much color in the 3p, some in the 6p. I want the set to be all the 'same' so it was either dip all or none. I dipped them all.

a2labmom

anxiously awaiting the after pics.

ajaan

As has been well documented, my photography skills suck. Here's a quick photo of the crown and a scan of the Halfcrown. Geez, I've gotta spend this summer learning how to take photographs of coins.

SYRACUSIAN

I want the set to be all the 'same' so it was either dip all or none. I dipped them all.


Makes sense. I can imagine that the set looks better now.
The problem is that I'm afraid and inexperienced to do such things, so I prefer to leave the decision to someone else.

And the guilt too.

drjules

Apologies for my ignorance but what do you dip the coins in? I guess it is something with a corrosive property but are there different solutions for different metals?

Dr J

MSD61

I agree with dipping when it is truly needed and when great care has been taken. So I guess I am one of those collectors that others would frown upon.


I have done the same with coins that I thought really needed it but really I use MS70 more than the acid dips. But I feel a 4-10 second dip is not harmful at all. It's almost like a quick in and then right out action. I think where the problem lies with some who dip their coins is the lack of proper rinsing. I will rinse a coin that has been dipped for at least a good 2 mins while turning the coin to make sure that all of the surface has been rinsed well. Then I place the coin in acetone, remove and let air dry. I have always had very good results with this method but only on silver coins. Copper is another story.

ClausUrch

A solution of baking soda and water also works well right after the dip to neutralize the acid. The coin should then be rinsed well in distilled water and then an acetone bath. This procedure eliminates the yellow/brown perimeter ring that improperly dipped coins often develop over time.

MacCrimmon

<< <i> Apologies for my ignorance but what do you dip the coins in? I guess it is something with a corrosive property but are there different solutions for different metals? >>



Most likely, ajaan employed something like Jewelustre. It's acidic and the main active ingredient is thiorea (sp?).

If doing this, you would also be advised that you'll get the best results by "degreasing" first. That is, rinse the coins thoroughly in acetone or xylol to remove any non-oxidation surface scum, and only then DIP.....if you are going to DIP. I say to treat first with the solvent because many times the slight dullness will only be because of surface contaminants and not the 'darkness' of the toning.

Case in point; I recently was reviewing a virtually perfect 1920 1 franc. It has full booming lustre, as they all do (fairly large hoard "found" in the 80s), but it had the tiniest, tiniest black speck......which of course bothered moi. What was the speck and should I have dipped it to remove the speck? NAY!!! Perish the thought. I applied a few drops of xylol to the area and 'lightly dobbed" with the end of a soft Q-tip (CAUTION: never use a Q-tip with the plastic sticks when using solvents....it will melt the plastic goop onto the coin's surface). Low and behold, the speck was probably die grease from the original striking because the xylol dissolved it leaving the tiniest, and unnoticable 'tick area' where the foreign particle on the die surface had impressed itself 85 years ago. For the record, this speck was maybe 8-10 mils (1/4 millimeter for Euro guys ) in diameter.

So, what was accomplished? I removed the offending speck in a non-corrosive manner, and have not affected the original lustre.

FWIW, generally, I would not recommend dipping a coin if you think it will take more than 2 seconds to alleviate the offending haze. Much more than this and it will affect the surfaces to such an extent that it will in most cases render it non-certifiable.........but, it just all depends. Cheers, Mac

historygeek

Try putting some toned silver coins in some Mr. Clean for about 24 hours.

And here is a good link for tips on cleaning coins.

Link

Aethelred

I have used the blue juice (E-Z-est or Jewelluster for the old-timers) on thousands of coins and get good results. With experience (read ruined coins) you learn what will and will not dip. In general coins that have light toning will do better than those with heavy toning and those with thicker light colored toning will do better than those with darker colored toning. When considering dipping a coin be sure that you check the surface under the offending toning with great care, you don't want to expose something worse than what you are taking off!

Cherwood

Isn't fingernail polish remover acetone?

I have used Wright's silver cream with good results. It comes with a very soft sponge and I have noticed any ill effects from it. Is this OK?

Cheryl

historygeek

<<<Isn't fingernail polish remover acetone?>>>

Not pure acetone. Fingernail polish remover contains many other chemicals, for purer acetone visit your local hardware store.

Askari

Always a timely subject. I have always avoided cleaning except an acetone dip. I actually had someone recently send me a valuable medal in a Saf-T-Mailer w/o anything protecting it. There were streaks where the glue was deposited on the medal. An acetone bath took care of it without any harm to the bronze medal.

Aethelred

<< <i>Always a timely subject. I have always avoided cleaning except an acetone dip. I actually had someone recently send me a valuable medal in a Saf-T-Mailer w/o anything protecting it. There were streaks where the glue was deposited on the medal. An acetone bath took care of it without any harm to the bronze medal. >>



The way some people will mail things!