SS Central America treasure undergoing curation before grading. Coin World Article and Video

Rich49

Wonder what the solution is Vinegar and Baking Soda ?
https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/2018/02/ss-central-america-treasure-under-curation.all.html

FredWeinberg

I happened to have breakfast with Bob Evans
early Saturday morning at LB - and we talked
a bit about the video of him using a special
'paint brush' (don't know what exact type),
removing the rust from the $20's, in a large
clear plastic bin with his 'special sauce' (my term).

He just smiled when I asked about it. That
response did not surprise me at all - it's
proprietary, I'm sure.

By the way, last Saturday was his birthday !

Rich49

@FredWeinberg Thanks for commenting . Article said he uses a soft sable-hair brush.Looks like an Artist paint brush.Wish I could have been there just to watch !

Insider2

Thanks! Very interesting. They sure make conserving salvaged gold coins look very time consuming and difficult. I especially like the part about the "mystery" solution the coins are in. Perhaps he is paid by the hour.

FredWeinberg

He has a 1.5 year contract with Dwight.

LanceNewmanOCC

.
page for pdfs - they gave me a little trouble but got them in the end.
.

Connecticoin

@Insider2 said:
Thanks! Very interesting. They sure make conserving salvaged gold coins look very time consuming and difficult. I especially like the part about the "mystery" solution the coins are in. Perhaps he is paid by the hour.

To minimize damage to the coin and maximize value, I would imagine the process would (or should) be time consuming and difficult.

ricko

Much like archaeology, it is painstaking, finite work and care must be taken not to damage the object, yet remove the 'detritus of the ages'.... I could do that on one or two coins, but for a year and a half? Sorry, I need some excitement and variety in my days.... JMO... Cheers, RickO

shorecoll

Rick, you're supposed to be slowing down and starting to get excited watching paint dry. Ha!!!

jonruns

I agree that I don't have the patience for the curating...but I can't wait to see the final product!!! And maybe even buy one!!!

LanLord

I'll bet you can buy a brush like that at the same place where you can get the "magic pad" that removes damage from 10 dollar gold pieces.

Insider2

@Connecticoin said: "To minimize damage to the coin and maximize value, I would imagine the process would (or should) be time consuming and difficult."

I was going to give you a "disagree" but that would be unfair as you may not have conserved any "rusty" seawater salvaged gold. It is nice that we get to see Bob in action. BTW, I don't wish to disparage Mr. Evans. In fact, I envy the fact that he got to go out with the ship and conserve the coins.

I have used other proprietary methods to restore the coins to their original condition w/o leaving any evidence of the treatment. Any chemist has already figured it out while watching that archaic method in the video. That's why I joked about an hourly wage.

@LanLord said: "I'll bet you can buy a brush like that at the same place where you can get the "magic pad" that removes damage from 10 dollar gold pieces."

He is using a sable hair artist's paint brush. Hopefully, they have refined their techniques because many of the gold from the first batch appear to be scrubed. Bob's method in the video should not have caused that.

Anyway, the important thing is when you send your ugly coin away, you don't need to know what was done to it - only that it was not harmed and looks much better.