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What's the procedure for "conserving" old copper (lg cents)

These have verdigris and/or some corrosion. Acetone soak, then olive oil soak?
Thanks
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Comments

  • Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 11,718 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I think your method will be fine for preventing further damage; unfortunately there is no cure for corrosion, and
    not much can be done about verdigris either, if already present. Not sure if that product Verdigone would be helpful
    or not, I've seen mixed results with it posted, and no personal experience.
    Blue Ribbon or Coin Care could used in place of the olive oil, but those can be hard to come by.
    Good luck in your endeavor!

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  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
    soak in mineral oil and work with a toothpick.
  • Rose thorn of a certain age I can't recall was suggested a few times here as well.

    Eric
  • coinbufcoinbuf Posts: 11,853 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Rose thorn of a certain age I can't recall was suggested a few times here as well.

    Eric >>



    A young or soft rose thorn can be very usefull in removing some things from the surface without scratching the surface.
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  • cucamongacoincucamongacoin Posts: 3,478 ✭✭✭
    Thanks! mineral oil is much cheaper and probably much purer than olive oil.
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  • Type2Type2 Posts: 13,985 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Let me know if you need some care Mark? I can drop it off to you. image


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  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,875 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Thanks! mineral oil is much cheaper and probably much purer than olive oil. >>


    Some people like olive oil because it's mildly acidic but it can turn rancid after a period of time.

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  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,875 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Rose thorn of a certain age I can't recall was suggested a few times here as well.

    Eric >>



    A young or soft rose thorn can be very usefull in removing some things from the surface without scratching the surface. >>


    A sharp toothpick always works fine and is a little softer than a rose thorn in my experience and they are easier to find.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
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  • Steve27Steve27 Posts: 13,275 ✭✭✭
    I have not tried it myself, but Verdi-Care is probably your best bet LINK
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  • DentuckDentuck Posts: 3,824 ✭✭✭
    I remember buying a quantity of British Victorian pennies that looked
    like they'd been packed in gun oil.

  • Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 11,718 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Yes, the rose thorn, or in my case agave thorn, is fine - IF the material actually softens up after the soak.

    The OP stated his coins have verdigris and corrosion on them.
    Good luck using mineral spirits and a thorn to remove that.
    My guess is anyone who ever had success with these, wasn't really dealing with actual verdigris and corrosion.
    Not much short of using a dremel and burnishing will 'remove' verdigris and corrosion.


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  • lkeigwinlkeigwin Posts: 16,893 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Verdicare works great on newer verdigris. Old stuff, like corrosion, is irreversible.

    A lot of early copper guys prefer xylene over acetone. I think the commercial brand is Xylol.
    Lance.
  • RayboRaybo Posts: 5,341 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Verdicare works great on newer verdigris. Old stuff, like corrosion, is irreversible.

    A lot of early copper guys prefer xylene over acetone. I think the commercial brand is Xylol.
    Lance. >>



    YUP!

    [URL=http://s249.photobucket.com/user/Banershka/media/1850LGCentobv.jpg.html]image[/URL][URL=http://s249.photobucket.com/user/Banershka/media/1850LGCentrev.jpg.html]image[/URL]

    Two + years in mineral oil didn't help this lg cent.

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