'13-S Lincoln....... What Should I Do?

bottleguy

Here's a completely unmolested 1913-S Lincoln. It's been in an old "push-in" Dansco for at least 35 years and this is the first time it's seen the day of light since the late '60s.

It's part of a complete Lincoln set collection and has some cancer above the date and it's spreading. What should I do? Leave it or treat it?

And if I can do something to help it out, what should I do??

Any input is appreciated.

Thanks,

Rick

ArizonaJack

I myself, and I might get a whoopin for this, but since the coin already has cancer, get out the acetone and a superfine brush like in a woman;s makeup kit, and just try to remove the cancer. It is a goner and you cannot do much more damage to it. I do not advocate harsh cleaning, but in this situation..........

Shortgapbob

I would let it soak in acetone a bit to see if some of the green corrosive area lightens up a bit.

woodardcoin

sell it to me for $10 LOL

woodardcoin

on a serious note soak it in baking soda water no brushes needed It should get that one nice and clean without hurting the color at all

ArizonaJack

<< <i>sell it to me for $10 LOL >>



I'll pay $11. Hey, we're on to something here, an ebay aletnative

bottleguy

I was thinkin' about an olive oil soak first?? Just to stop the corrosion? Maybe then (if necessary), a quick acetone bath? A good finger rub and then a Brillo pad?? (just kidding about the finger rub and Brillo pad).

I'm just hoping the coin is not toast, and want to put it back into the collection before it infects the others.

Thanks,

Rick

ArizonaJack

baking soda will certainly neutralize the acid, but any rubbing will turn the high points " dipped" red, no a good idea, only soaks or a SOFT SOFT brush

woodardcoin

Ok the $11.08

CarlWohlforth

I soaked a coin like that in olive oil with good results. From comments I've read here I would probably go with a mineral oil soak next time - I don't do these things often. The oil will stop further damage right away though it will take weeks, if not months, of soaking to remove much of the junk. I would definately do it. You could try acetone first, but I think you would be wasting your time.

rhedden

I would try acetone first in case there is PVC on the coin. Then I would try the olive oil soak, and I would use a cotton swab to GENTLY scrub the afflicted area. It looks like loose material that can be mostly removed, but I could be wrong.

TexasNationals

no acetone, try olive oil, not extra virgin, but olive oil. Let is toak for a few weeks then q-tip the area and see what comes off, then repeat. No acetone! When will you guys learn acetone turns circulated copper pink, I just don't do it.

TexasNationals

also after the olive oil soak try plastic tooth picks to tr to knock of some of the heavier material.

lordmarcovan

I would use Vaseline or mineral oil and a hardened rose thorn to work at the green crap. Then give it a good Vaseline rub. Wax on, wax off.

DieClash

<< <i>no acetone, try olive oil, not extra virgin, but olive oil. Let is toak for a few weeks then q-tip the area and see what comes off, then repeat. No acetone! When will you guys learn acetone turns circulated copper pink, I just don't do it. >>




Before acetone bath:



After 72-hour bath in acetone and some gentle swabbing with a Q-tip dipped in acetone. Looks like it removed the foreign surface coating/plating to reveal the original luster beneath!

Oh! And the best part is the 'S' mintmark didn't come off after all that acetone exposure!

Imaged at three different angles. Pics are a little better than the OP.





Link to Original Acetone Bath Thread

TexasNationals, your post here is the very first time that I've heard that acetone turns copper red! It is my experience that acetone is a harmless solvent and is effective at removing minor contaminants like glue, tape residue, light PVC film, grease and dirt.

Cheers!

TexasNationals

glue, pvc, yes i a quick bath, corrosion, heck no, that is a long bath and will turn it pink. Not the right solution to the problem.

DieClash

<< <i>glue, pvc, yes i a quick bath, corrosion, heck no, that is a long bath and will turn it pink. Not the right solution to the problem. >>



TexasNationals, if you follow the link in my previous post, you will note that this '09-S VDB spent 48 hours in the bath. When is it supposed to turn red, immediately after the bath or does it gradually turn red over time? FYI - six months after the 48-hr bath, it's still chocolate brown.

Thanks!

Edited to add: I did not use pure acetone, rather I used the product branded as KOINSOLVE, which contains multiple ingredients, acetone being the main solvent as I recollect.

TexasNationals

I had an 1888/7 IHC start to turn red in less than 10 minutes in 100 pure acetone, this is the 6th time it has happened and it had similar corrosion to the 13-S. I gave my warning, feel free to do as you wish. My 2 cents.

TexasNationals

many experts with their own views.

DieClash

<< <i>I had an 1888/7 IHC start to turn red in less than 10 minutes in 100 pure acetone, this is the 6th time it has happened and it had similar corrosion to the 13-S. I gave my warning, feel free to do as you wish. My 2 cents. >>



Ouch! I wonder if anyone else has had this experience with 100% Acetone.

If you search acetone on these boards, there's lots of advice for going to your local hardware store and buying commercial-grade acetone (I am assuming it is 100%). Anyway, I always use Koinsolve and I've bathed hundreds of copper coins, both IHCs and Lincolns with no adverse effects.

In response to the OP, I don't know which to apply first, acetone or olive oil/mineral oil. I have no experience with the olive oil application. But, I can say that acetone will not even touch a truly corroded coin, no matter how long you bathe it. In my experience, Koinsolve does an excellent job in removing many unsightly contaminants without causing undo harm to the coin.

Good Luck!

TexasNationals

PM sent

CarlWohlforth

There seems to be no downside to soaking a silver coin in acetone. Copper is different. There seems little downside to soaking copper in mineral oil. As LordM says try Vaseline. He cleans up loads of coins he digs out of the ground so I would trust his advice. Vaseline is a trademarked name for generic mineral oil and gelatin (petroleum jelly).

kevinstang

Try some warmed up olive oil on it followed by a quick dip in ice water (a method I read about I think here on this forum or across the street), has worked wonders on the dug coppers I found this year, see the following post about it below- especially on the before and after pictures of the 1852 large cent I found this year.1852 cent post . I have used it to clean probably a hundred or so indian heads and other old coppers that similar green muck on them, success varies, but some come out with hardly any trace left, while others might be pot marked or discolored- the ones that were really badly corroded. That 13-S the stuff should lift right off with a qtip after.

anoldgoat

Pass

lordmarcovan

I generally prefer Vaseline (petroleum jelly) or mineral oil to olive oil, because in my experience, olive oil has left a sticky residue.

Here's an eBay guide I wrote on the topic. Of course everyone has their own preferred methods.

secondrepublic

Usually I would recommend sending it to NCS for conservation, but the cost of doing that is more than the coin is worth. So proceed VERY CAREFULLY on your own!