What is that white crud on ZINC coins?

PuddlePirate

I've been noticing alot of "white crud" on alot of ZINC coins from Europe. Anyone have an idea of what it is and what I can do about it? It appears to be very common and not only on WWII german coins.

farthing

Just a guess - If I remember correctly - zinc oxide

wybrit

Zinc oxide. That's the white stuff that comes in a little jar and is used for those...personal problems.

boz

farthing

Think of it as zinc rust. Some of the medal in the coins have turned into powder.

lordmarcovan

The white crud is oxidation. All too typical, I'm afraid. Zinc sucks, as a coinage metal.

Hitler and his Nazi minions are roasting in hell right now, not just for the Holocaust or their escapades in occupied Europe, but ALSO for polluting the continent with crappy zinc coins that are invariably overvalued by Krause (while they lowball the good circulated silver and copper from the 1700's).

What can you do about it? Not a whole lot. A Vaseline rub helps a little, but it won't undo active corrosion or pitting.

At least our own worthless modern Lincoln cents have a little copper plating over the zinc.

ccrdragon

Don't hold back Rob - tell us how you really feel!!!

wybrit

cladking

Some of the zinc coins are probably overvalued by Krause considering it's hard
to believe that none of them were saved. You can look a long time and not find
any of the zincs from this era in true unc other than the Belgium issues and an
occasional Swedish coin.

The zinc Lincoln is liitle better than some of the nazi junk.

Ryana

<< <i>At least our own worthless modern Lincoln cents have a little copper plating over the zinc. >>



They do hold up fairly well for most part. I'm sure you know what can happen when you dig them up though. I've seen some that were only a decade or two old that looked worse than many wheaties I've dug up.

PuddlePirate

Zinc oxide.... hmmm as I remember I used to spread that as an ointment on my little babies bottoms when they got a rash. Perhaps I could add them to my homeopathic medical inventory if I can figure out how to keep them in place... hmmm

Thanks everyone.

theboz11

<< <i>Zinc oxide.... hmmm as I remember I used to spread that as an ointment on my little babies bottoms when they got a rash. Perhaps I could add them to my homeopathic medical inventory if I can figure out how to keep them in place... hmmm

Thanks everyone. >>



You mean, If I stick the coin between my cheeks, I won't get a rash.

Philip

Since we are discussing zinc coins, I'd like to ask a question about Austrian zinc. I have a 5 Groschen coin that I first thought was nickel. Does anybody know if these were plated or the coin has simply not corroded yet (it's from 1991, one of the last issues).

PuddlePirate

I haven't run into any of those yet, one of the others may have the information you need though.

I really hate that white crud on the European coins I've been getting. I thought about trying to clean them up, generic world coins worth about 10 cents, something to play with but if I clean them I can't sell them with the rest of my bulk lots
The only ones I can sell after cleaning and not catch any flak are my ancients

Philip

Would it really hurt your sales if you cleaned them and then stated something like "Zinc coins lightly cleaned to remove heavy zinc oxide encrustration"?