Alcohol on Coins

Planchet

Here is a question to which I was not knowledgable to provide an answer. Can you help. If you dip a Gold (US Classic) or 90% US Silver coin into isopropyl 70% rubbing alcohol will it hurt or damage the coin, or be considered coin doctoring. What about dipping a gold or silver coin into tap water?

Planchet

rgCoinGuy

If you dip in alcohol, you want to use at least 90-91% not, the 70%, and I do not believe it is considered doctoring.

moonshine

and what does alcohol do besides getting the coin drunk?

jmski52

70% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol also contains 30% water. Both IPA and water are good solvents for "dirt" and other water-soluble contaminants.

They won't hurt the metal, but they could possibly somewhat clean the surface, with a chance of changing the appearance.

The biggest caveat in using either IPA or water would be to dry the coin afterwards by patting it in a soft, absorbent cloth.

I wouldn't consider either approach to be anything remotely like coin doctoring.

Griv

<< <i>Here is a question to which I was not knowledgable to provide an answer. Can you help. If you dip a Gold (US Classic) or 90% US Silver coin into isopropyl 70% rubbing alcohol will it hurt or damage the coin, or be considered coin doctoring. What about dipping a gold or silver coin into tap water?

Planchet >>



I recommend that you have a couple of drinks of alcohol first and that alone will make your coins much prettier. Just don't chew your arm off in the morning.

BECOKA

Coin doctoring alters the surface of the coins metal. These solutions including acetone only affect the particles on top of the surface. i.e. dirt, grease, paint etc..

If the coin has a nice darker look due to the dirt and not the toning then the coin's appearance could become lighter by doing this method of cleaning.

zeek

I'm under the assumption that both the chlorine in tap watter and alcohol will "dry" a coin of luster. Distilled water is best. Am I right?

ricko

Distilled water is best.. but hot tap water used as a rinse and then a hot air dry will usually suffice for most coins. A DCAM would best have a clean, pure acetone rinse and hot air dry. Less chance of water residue spots. Cheers, RickO

Steve27

Forget the alcohol and use acetone (neither will hurt the coin).

aficionado

Beer doesn't seem to damage quarters.

BlindedByEgo

When I saw your title, I couldn't help but think that coins on alcohol would be a really bad idea.

The problem with any water containing cleaner is the potential for leaving residue. I stick to acetone (reagent grade) myself.

Griv

<< <i>Forget the alcohol and use acetone (neither will hurt the coin). >>



Maybe so but alcohol tastes a LOT better than acetone, believe me.

19Lyds

<< <i>I'm under the assumption that both the chlorine in tap watter and alcohol will "dry" a coin of luster. Distilled water is best. Am I right? >>



Distilled water is great since it contain no impurities which could contaminate the coins surface! Heck, you can't even get electrocuted with distilled water as it doesn't conduct electricity but to assume that the small amount of chlorine that exists in tap water and Isopropyl alcohol will "dry" or mute the luster on a coin is simply not true.

The only two things that will mute a silver coins luster is:

1. Handling through circulation

2. Dipping in a chemical agent. Jewel Luster or E-Z-Est takes a lot of dipping (and I mean a lot) to noticeably destroy the coins luster. A cyanide bath will do it in a second but then were referring to readily available dips now aren't we?

carl

<< <i>Distilled water is best.. but hot tap water used as a rinse and then a hot air dry will usually suffice for most coins. A DCAM would best have a clean, pure acetone rinse and hot air dry. Less chance of water residue spots. Cheers, RickO >>


NEVER, EVER use tap water on a coin. And especially HOT. Tap water, depending on where you live could contain almost anything ever found on Earth. In some areas tap water contains Chlorine and/or Fluorine. Some tap waters are run through a water softener. This adds NaCl to the water. In some areas the tap water is well water and only your Dentist knows what is in there. Hot air dry is also DUMB. Hot air increases Oxydation and that is not to good for coins.
So called 70% Isoprpyl Alcohol also contain 30% water by volume but the purity of that water is not disclosed on the lables. True it is antiseptic and great for cuts but unless you know the entire contents of that bottle, anything is possible. And note that most such solutions come in a platic container and if the item sat on a shelf for an extended period of time, may have picked up some of the plastic molecules. Minor but on your coin, who knows.
Therefore since Chlorine, Fluorine, Oxygen, Sodium, etc all may have adverse effects on a coin, know what you are using. Know what it could do. Always read the lables to see if the actual 100% of the incrediants are tabulated in their proper quantities.

39Special

Alcohol AND coins? Sure, I've combined the two many times. It's easier to pull the trigger on a big purchase while under the influence.

Oh, you meant Alcohol ON coins...that's not something I have any experience with!

PrivateCoinCollector

Alcohol is a nice non-toxic way to remove light PVC. Air dry.

Griv

Sounds like a waste of good alcohol. Why not use a some light grit sandpaper?

Walmann

You can only use alcohol on coins minted prior to March 1st, 1987 in the US.

BAJJERFAN

no and no and use distilled water from the store and not tap water or bottled water

LindeDad

Oh and BTW if you want to drink that kind of alcohol, be sure that your will is up to date first.
For me I'll just leave my coins the way they are.
SAY no to dipping.

Planchet

Thanks all. The goal is to disolve some dirt and crud that is on an otherwise nice AU oops-half dollar (walker).

Planchet

tahoe98

pure acetone followed by distilled water rinse.................VOILA!

tmot99

<< <i>pure acetone followed by distilled water rinse.................VOILA! >>



Why would you rinse in water after acetone?

I'd suggest a straight acetone rinse. Maybe even use a Q-tip to roll it around and loosen up the dirt. Depending on the coin and the type of dirt that I am trying to remove, rinsing in water of any kind isn't a big deal as long as you immediately follow it with a thorough acetone rinse. Acetone, in general, should be the last step and allowed to are dry for just a minute or so. I have used alcohol as my last step to rinse away contamentants from the acetone, but I now use a very high grade acetone that I bought from a chemical supply company.

tahoe98

<< <i>

<< <i>pure acetone followed by distilled water rinse.................VOILA! >>



Why would you rinse in water after acetone?


cause i feel like i really should...................just a hang up...i guess....

19Lyds

Do acetone and water mix??

moonshine

will this remove the spotting from new BU copper Lincoln cents that come out of the OBW rolls with little splashes of something on them?

acetone or alchohol - or neither?

TCoins

i]Beer doesn't seem to damage quarters.


Come to think of it, I dunked a lot of quarters in beer during my college days. I think the only thing that got hurt was my head in the morning.

seemyauction

The only time I use alcohol on my coins is when I spill my beer.........