Need some help with coin conservation and preservation

EVillageProwler

I received as a gift a booklet that contains "coins" (actually, 70% silver rounds) of the 12 emperors of the Qing Dynasty of China. The problem is that each "coin" was encased inside the booklet in a soft plastic holder, and now each "coin" smells plasticky.

I'm looking for ideas on how to appropriately clean these coins of the beginnings of PVC contamination, as well as how to store them going forward. Each "coin" is 1-1/2" in diameter and 3/32" thick. (Do they make Kointains in those dimensions?)

Thanks,

EVP

JCMhouston

A good acetone dip should do the trick.

Steve27

Is this a trick question? Those dimensions sound almost exactly the same as a Morgan/Peace/Ike dollar. Give them a bath in acetone and then get a bunch of 38.1 mm Air-Tites.

syl

After the acetone dip, rinse coins always with distilled water.

neildrobertson

Originally posted by: syl
After the acetone dip, rinse coins always with distilled water.

This step is optional if the acetone rinse is thorough enough and you don't use basement grade acetone that has residues.

EVillageProwler

Thanks for the responses. Looks simple enough: buy acetone from local CVS or Home Depot type of store. Make sure it is pure acetone, not nail polish remover. Can get Kointains. Yes, it seems exactly the size of a USA silver dollar (pre-SBA). I compared it against the only USA silver dollar I can find in my house: a 1986 SoL in an Air-Tite capsule.

Final question: do I just pour the acetone into a ceramic or glass container and let each coin sit? That is, no dilution necessary? How will I know when the bath is done? Is it safe to have skin contact?

From my post, folks can correctly assume that I am not an accomplished coin doctor.

EVP

EVillageProwler

Found this too: discussion about using acetone to clean coins

Nap

I haven't played with acetone since college, but I remember it's volatile and flammable. Would not use indoors. I think it's carcinogenic but minor skin contact is probably not dangerous. It feels cool when it evaporates off your skin. It will melt anything plastic. Glass eye protection and ventilation are important to avoid hazards.

brg5658

I'm very surprised you made it this far in your collecting life without having to use acetone.



Use a glass container/bowl, no dilution of acetone. Acetone dissolves many plastics including PVC. After a soak, make sure you rinse with fresh/clean Acetone to remove the plastics that are dissolved.



You may wish to purchase an Acetone safe squirt bottle, so that you can rinse the coin's surface more thoroughly after a soak. There are "lab safe" plastic bottles (a special type of acetone safe plastic) that you can fill up with acetone and then use to direct the flow of the acetone with a bit of pressure to both dissolve and wash away the PVC.



I have found the best source of pure acetone to be home good stores -- beauty stores often over charge for it. Acetone safe rinsing bottle can be found with a simple search on Amazon (or elsewhere online).



After the coins/rounds have dried, I store in Kointains or in Saflips.

brg5658

Originally posted by: Nap

I haven't played with acetone since college, but I remember it's volatile and flammable. Would not use indoors. I think it's carcinogenic but minor skin contact is probably not dangerous. It feels cool when it evaporates off your skin. It will melt anything plastic. Glass eye protection and ventilation are important to avoid hazards.

It will melt most common plastics, but there are some used in laboratory equipment that are acetone safe (but not recommended for long term storage of acetone).



If you wear gloves make sure you are careful -- many gloves on the market are made of vinyl or synthetic latexes -- which can be melted by acetone also!



Acetone is relatively safe, if used in a well-ventilated area and away from ANY fire, flame, or chance of fire -- it is wildly flammable!