The JCM Coin Rescue Foundation

JCMhouston · January 7, 2013 11:49AM

You too can save a wild coin! Every dollar helps so please give generously!

I am particularly happy with this coin. I bought it from a UK coin auction where it was described as having some light PVC, and naturally being very 19th C. they even shipped it in a soft PVC holder. I took a chance since I was able to get it very cheap, on receipt though it was absolutely covered in a thick film of PVC. I mean thick, as if you had dissolved PVC in petroleum jelly then coated the entire coin. Did I mention it was thick, when you touched the edge of the coin it was actually sticky. I had some high purity acetone and went to work. Over several weeks, and many trips through fresh acetone, followed by a warm water rinse, then blown with compressed air, it finally cleaned up to what seemed to be the original coin.

Before

After

I had it graded recently and it made PF63 BN, so all is well, it is a little bit darker in hand than the 2nd image shows.

Zohar · January 7, 2013 11:54AM

Thats excellent what a win!!

1960NYGiants · January 7, 2013 12:58PM

Great save!

wybrit · January 7, 2013 1:01PM

I am impressed - not only did you get rid of the PVC, wonderfully well, but you saved a coin from its British PVC coffin. Between the humidity and the holders, coins remaining in the UK will be so much metal salt.

coinsarefun · January 7, 2013 2:27PM

Looks awesome, please give me a little more detail. How long was the coin in acetone?
Did you leave it in for a long time or was it short dips?

Inquiry minds want to know

nicholasz219 · January 7, 2013 8:27PM

What a stellar job you did with this coin!

marcmoish · January 7, 2013 10:31PM

How cool is that!

Must be an amazing feeling to go from inception to end result here. wow!

JCMhouston · January 7, 2013 10:41PM

I started off thinking each dip should last less than a minute, but that wasn't getting me anywhere after 4-5 dips. Then I started letting it sit for 10-15 minutes at a time and I could see the PVC coming off in the acetone. I'd then rinse under warm water and used compressed air to blow dry.

NJMark1 · January 7, 2013 11:43PM

Great save of a great coin..Congrats!

coinsarefun · January 8, 2013 2:15AM

<< <i>I started off thinking each dip should last less than a minute, but that wasn't getting me anywhere after 4-5 dips. Then I started letting it sit for 10-15 minutes at a time and I could see the PVC coming off in the acetone. I'd then rinse under warm water and used compressed air to blow dry. >>

Thanks for the information......coin looks great!

Hussulo · January 8, 2013 5:03AM

Thats a superb result, well done for rescuing a fantastic coin!

ajaan · January 8, 2013 6:35AM

1d or 2d?

airplanenut · January 8, 2013 7:33AM

<< <i>1d or 2d? >>

With that relief, I'd guess 3d.

ajaan · January 8, 2013 8:30AM

After reading it is a PF coin, I'm saying 1d. Are there any 2d proofs?

JCMhouston · January 8, 2013 9:52AM

It's one of the 1d patterns of 1797, P-1095 if I remember correctly.

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