Verdigris Growth... Unbelievably Speedy!

Broadstruck

So I bought a raw bronze medal in 2014 and transferred it to a new Saflip Mylar holder.



I had a collector friend visit me last fall who wanted to see the medal in hand.



As we went out to dinner afterwards I sorta just placed it in the bottom of a drawer and instead of taking it back to the bank and just forgot about it.



Moving forward 6 months or less....



While in the drawer last week I discovered the medal and could see there was a whitish green spot on the reverse stating to escalate into a tiny mountain.



The base of the drawer is luan and I'm wondering if the adhesives in this plywood product are to blame of not?



I've had it soaking in mineral oil since and just checked it.



The white mountain is gone and there's now just a thin coating of green on the surface which should vanish with more time spent soaking.

kaz

Seems odd that just one spot would be affected by vapors from the luan. Maybe there was a tiny pinhole in the flip?

Broadstruck

Originally posted by: kaz

Seems odd that just one spot would be affected by vapors from the luan. Maybe there was a tiny pinhole in the flip?

Not sure as the flip was tossed prior to being inspected as I considered it contaminated.

kaz

Even though it was a new flip maybe there was a speck of some chemical inside it that reacted with the bronze. I have coins sitting in a drawer with luan bottom (some copper) in saflips for a long time with no apparent damage. Very unusual. I'll be interested in how the mineral oil treatment works out.

Broadstruck

Originally posted by: kaz

Even though it was a new flip maybe there was a speck of some chemical inside it that reacted with the bronze. I have coins sitting in a drawer with luan bottom (some copper) in saflips for a long time with no apparent damage. Very unusual. I'll be interested in how the mineral oil treatment works out.

You might very well be correct that there was a speck of something in the flip which was not noticed.



Or something microscopic on the edge of the medal fell into the flip while placing it in?



Mineral oil should remove it all... It just takes time.

ricko

Yep... should be ok... if no surface damage.... Before and after pictures would have been

interesting though...Cheers, RickO

TopographicOceans

Was it stored in your underwear drawer?
That could explain a lot.

lkeigwin

You might find it a little shiny underneath that verdigris, once its removed. Should tone over again.



I used Verdigone (now Verdicare) on this. One application and a rinse.

Lance.

CaptHenway

For those unfamiliar with the term "luan," as I was:



http://ths.gardenweb.com/discu...s/2646884/what-is-luan

Broadstruck

Originally posted by: ricko

Yep... should be ok... if no surface damage.... Before and after pictures would have been

interesting though...Cheers, RickO

It's just growing atop the surface as the green that remains is somewhat transparent.



Sorry I didn't take a picture before soaking



However once I noticed the growth doing a show-n-tell thread was the furthest from my mind.

Broadstruck

I peeled back the plastic wrap once more last night used to keep dust particles out.



While still submerged in oil I gently without any pressure swept the spot with a well soaked q-tip and the verdigris is gone.



Still leaving it in mineral oil for awhile until I pad it dry to degrease.