Removing PVC from circulated Buffalo Nickels

I recently went through my childhood Buffalo Nickel collection and noticed that a number of them had PVC damage. They had been stored in albums that contained PVC in the 1970s and 1980s, but I removed them from those albums a number of years ago and put them in PVC-free holders. Still, the damage was done. And it appears that the damage continues to spread even though they are now stored in PVC-free holders. I'd like to stop the spread of the PVC damage and get the green off the coins, if possible. Most of it appears to be deep in the crevices of the Indian and the buffalo. So, how should I go about doing this? Should I:
1. Use some acetone and a Q-tip to try to carefully remove the green?
2. Just give the whole coin a quick acetone bath?
3. Something else?
I would of course start with the least expensive coins first to see how it went. Most of the coins in question are in the VF to AU range, none are too valuable, but a few might be slab-worthy. If I use acetone to remove the PVC damage, is there any chance they could get into a problem-free PCGS holder?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
1. Use some acetone and a Q-tip to try to carefully remove the green?
2. Just give the whole coin a quick acetone bath?
3. Something else?
I would of course start with the least expensive coins first to see how it went. Most of the coins in question are in the VF to AU range, none are too valuable, but a few might be slab-worthy. If I use acetone to remove the PVC damage, is there any chance they could get into a problem-free PCGS holder?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
David
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
0
Comments
Hope this helps.
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
<< <i>IMO acetone is the best thing to use to remove PVC. But if the coins feel very greasy, a quick acetone bath won't get it done. You might have to soak the coins for a while, i.e., several hours. You might have to change out the acetone also if it gets too polluted with the removed PVC. Acetone should not damage the coins, but you are correct in trying it with the least expensive coins first. Also, use acetone in a covered container (not plastic as acetone will eat thru many plastics), and in an area with adequate ventilation (outdoors is best). Acetone is also flammable, so don't use it anywhere near heat or an open flame.
Hope this helps. >>
Yup let it sit and soak for a day or two and change your acetone so it's clean or it will not come out right. It's all good.
Hoard the keys.
As for acetone and open flame, I've never heard or read of a single numismatist becoming a fire casualty. It's right up there with razor blades in apples on Halloween as a false, ginned-up urban legend. If it were true, a million female smokers would have gone up in flames while doing their nails. Then again, we're in an age where we need to be told not to use lawn-mowers as hedge-trimmers.
Experiment on some low grade examples first just to see what happens. Do not use finger nail polish remover!
"Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
Say that I successfully removed the PVC damage with an acetone soak. Would the coin be slabable? Or would it be considered "cleaned" by our hosts?
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
<< <i>Say that I successfully removed the PVC damage with an acetone soak. Would the coin be slabable? Or would it be considered "cleaned" by our hosts? >>
Acetone should not make them consider it cleaned.
It won't remove the "PVC damage", it will only remove the PVC to stop it from causing more future damage.
Any damage that is already etched into the coin will still be there and if it's bad then it will effect the grading.
acetone msds
Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.
I took two low-value Buffalos, one with a small amount of PVC damage, the second with a moderate amount of PVC damage. First, I tried the Q-tip with a little acetone on it: no change to either. Then, I gave them a quick acetone rinse all over: no change to either. Then, I let them soak for a day: no change to either. Finally, I let them soak for three weeks. The one with a small amount of PVC is completely cured, all the PVC is gone. The one with a moderate amount of PVC is 98 percent clean.
Now I will try it with the rest of my collection that had PVC damage. When it is all done I may submit some of the more valuable ones to PCGS to see if they will holder.
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
...
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
https://imdb.com/name/nm1835107/
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.american-legacy-coins.com
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
Acetone -> cans of quarts or gallons near paint department of hardware stores.
caution as very flammable and fumes can make you sick.
I tried several quick soaks in various concentrations of white ammonia to ensure it wouldn't change the coloration of the coin very much. None of them worked on the spot in those short periods. I soaked it in a 50% solution for 12-24 hours as I recall. I created some light agitation. The blob of bright green nearly the size of a "star" was gone. All that remained was a very faint silvery hue shadow that you probably wouldn't notice unless you know it was soaked. The coin was sent back in to another TPG and graded PF65. All was well. Start gradual with ammonia as besides removing dirt and grime, it will take off layers of toning, though rarely all of it. In this case, the toning wasn't affected at all.
becomes the problem. Roadrunner, I have heard dilute ammonia can work, but have not tried that solution - glad you were successful. Cheers, RickO
A year later... I ended up soaking about two dozen PVC damaged circulated Buffaloes for 6-8 weeks. I would say that for about 2/3 most or all of the PVC is gone. But you can tell that the coins have lost that original, circulated look. For the other 1/3, it is hopeless, the acetone did not work on the PVC. I then submitted the best four to PCGS. Two came back in problem-free holders and two came back with details grades marked "cleaned."
The loss of that "original, circulated look" is due to acetone's removal of accumulated oils on the coin from handling and the environment. Often you will perceive a dried-out look. The acetone did not damage the coins and did not "clean" them in the negative sense.
I like to apply a little Blue Ribbon or Coincare after an acetone dip on circulated coins, and brush most of it off with a soft camel-hair brush.
Lance.