What are all the substances coin doctors put on coins?

tjkillian

I am trying to think of all the things coin doctors use to alter coins that would stay on a coin.

My first thing that would be detectable would be putty, as in automobile putty for hiding scratches on gold.

Acetone would completely evaporate, so it would not stay on the coin or would it?

zeebob

Pure acetone will evaporate. "dirty" acetone will leave impurities on the coin's surface.

tahoe98

...many recommend rinsing after the acetone with distilled water.

joshieboi

Acetone would evaporate but their would be traces of the substance on the surface of the coin. Putty could be used but easily removed, if needed. It would probably be something along the lines of Laser cutting or shaving to decrease the amounts of scratches on the surface of the coin as well as applying a new pliable metallic surface to coat the coin. Then one would use the laser, after scanning 1,000 of surface images of the coin, to alter and/or enhance it's appearance, you wouldn't be able to tell real from fake unless you use the "Coin Sniffer" to check for particular chemicals that would be applied to keep both surfaces together. The sniffer would help with hard-to-tell artificial toning but I still believe that they're ways to bypass it.

AnkurJ

Putty and clay. Maybe some wax.

TwoSides2aCoin

Well, there are probably only a few "specialists" in this endeavor and I don't know them or their tricks.

PerryHall

From what I've seen at coin shows---mustard, mayonnaise, catsup, chili, soda, .......

adamlaneus

Once in while, there is a coin with an unusual planchet. Perhaps it's an error; perhaps it's a pattern. Certainly it's a mystery.

I wonder if PCGS new 'coin sniffer' is going to be used to reveal the truth behind some of these mystery coins. There are certain off-metal items that might benefit from such analysis and one might eventually deduce a few new things about coinage history.

LindeDad

Lets see who remembers any of this stuff. Nic-a-date, Deweres darker, MS70, Eazy zest and the list goes on.

jhdfla

<< <i>From what I've seen at coin shows---mustard, mayonnaise, catsup, chili, soda, ....... >>



Ha, that's good...

BlindedByEgo

Will the sniffer detect nose grease? If it does, I really like the symmetry

MsMorrisine

Taco Bell napkins????
(not that I do it)


what are the various chemicals in paper rolls?

What about inside purses? leather purses? vinyl?

etc.

ocon4008

<<What are all the substances coin doctors put on coins?>>

Are these not very covert Trade Secrets?

derryb

This would be a good time for Don to chime in with some "stuff" they consider to be "doctoring." Hopefully, someone at PCGS realizes that they need to address this issue directly with their fee paying membership.

WTCG

Anything and almost everything that's a foreign substance has been tried before. Wax, putty and artificial frost are the commonly known substances, but I have heard of almost everything else being tried before - substances like vaseline, iodine, butter and even gasoline and cyanide.

Teva

Metal plating platics applied or removed metal would be my guess.
Once a coin is circulated it could be exposed to many things so I would say that we are not talking about neutral solvents.
I have seen tooled coins that were real foolers also.

BaseballAbs

Coloring, Sulfur maybe. I think you could add the goofy president stickers to the list. It's Coin doctoring if you ask me.

Griv

Every coin I have EVER submitted was soaked in concentrated goat urine for at least 60 days. After that they have been known to dissolve.

I DO apologise for those that were not wiped off. I'm pretty sure you know who you are.

greghansen

Read the 'coin doctor' Complaint filed by PCGS this past week. It lists several methods.

grip

<< <i>From what I've seen at coin shows---mustard, mayonnaise, catsup, chili, soda, ....... >>



Is that whats on the front of the dealers shirts?LOL

ricko

Natural toning will occur due to specific chemical interactions with the coin metal. For example, sulphur and silver, (one of many) - anyone who has silverware (that you eat with, or a silver tea set etc) knows that they must be periodically polished or they tarnish. This is natural. Now, that being said, these chemicals can be used in such a manner to 'accelerate' tarnish - that is, make it occur faster. If done properly, this will likely be undetectable. We shall see. Cheers, RickO