Rust stains on gold coins.

keets · March 20, 2014 1:14AM

Is there an effective way to remove rust stains/spots from gold coins?? Thanks in advance.

Al H.

BAJJERFAN · March 20, 2014 1:19AM

You can try ascorbic acid aka vitamin C or there is one caller Rover which is a mixture of I believe sodium sulfite and sodium hydrosulfite. Use the Rover outdoors as it is sort of noxious stuff, gives off SO2 sulfur dioxide. Stinky sodium thioglycolate works too. The drift is to convert the iron in rust from the ferric state Fe3+ to the ferrous state Fe2+ which renders it soluble in water.

Billet7 · March 20, 2014 1:21AM

Never done it before...maybe CLR or LimeAway, possibly Hydrogen Peroxide. I don't think acetone will do anything. I don't think these chemicals will react with the gold in a negative way, but best to get a second opinion.

Billet7 · March 20, 2014 1:23AM

<< You can try ascorbic acid aka vitamin C or there is one caller Rover which is a mixture of I believe sodium sulfite and sodium hydrosulfite. Use the Rover outdoors as it is sort of noxious stuff, gives off SO2 sulfur dioxide. Stinky sodium thioglycolate works too. >>

Wow...breaking out the "Big Guns" early I see....

Billet7 · March 20, 2014 1:26AM

I also hear vinegar, lime juice, baking soda or potato juice can work as well.

ModCrewman · March 20, 2014 1:38AM

I have been successful with Rust Remover on silver...can't speak to it's effectiveness on gold.

derryb · March 20, 2014 1:42AM

Are you sure it's not copper spotting. I don't believe there is any metal in gold coins that should rust.

pmac · March 20, 2014 1:43AM

<< You can try ascorbic acid aka vitamin C or there is one caller Rover which is a mixture of I believe sodium sulfite and sodium hydrosulfite. Use the Rover outdoors as it is sort of noxious stuff, gives off SO2 sulfur dioxide. Stinky sodium thioglycolate works too. >>

And maybe have some of your silver around to do some toning.

RYK · March 20, 2014 2:40AM

Depending on how they got there, some of us might like them better with the stains.

Broadstruck · March 20, 2014 2:50AM

If a Goat is good for recoloring copper... A Sheep might remove stains on gold

keets · March 20, 2014 4:14AM

that picture is just not right!!

IndianHeadMan · March 20, 2014 4:48AM

ask the dudes that conserved the Saddleridge hoard.

coinhack · March 20, 2014 4:54AM

Maybe ask Don Kagin? Their work looks pretty nice.

dcarr · March 20, 2014 5:31AM

<< I also hear vinegar, lime juice, baking soda or potato juice can work as well. >>

Hmm, what am I doing wrong. I can't seem to get any juice out of this here potatoe

Lakesammman · March 20, 2014 6:48AM

Keets:

Any pictures?? I'm with RYK on this one.

steveben · March 20, 2014 8:11AM

you may want to leave it. gold doesn't rust and it could be just copper spotting/staining...which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

ricko · March 20, 2014 9:33AM

It is copper spotting. It appears rust-like. Cheers, RickO

BAJJERFAN · March 20, 2014 12:05PM

<< 

<< I also hear vinegar, lime juice, baking soda or potato juice can work as well. >>

Hmm, what am I doing wrong. I can't seem to get any juice out of this here potatoe

>>

Get one from Idahoe!

keets · March 20, 2014 8:32PM

It is copper spotting. It appears rust-like.

definitely not copper spotting and not something in the alloy, it is either a stain of some type on the surface of the coin from storage or a foreign substance that is the color of rust. I left it soaking in acetone overnight while I consider what to do. thanks for the input, I'll update in a few hours.

astrorat · March 20, 2014 9:13PM

<< that picture is just not right!!

>>

The picture is odd, but it's the smiling that makes it a bit too creepy!

keets · March 21, 2014 9:18AM

after an overnight soak in acetone and gentle prodding with a toothpick I was able to remove most of whatever is on the coin. in-hand with no magnification the color is almost imperceptible, but with a 10X loupe it is clearly seen, not bad since it is near the rim and around two stars. after this and from seeing quite a bit of mishandling/poor storage over the years I have to think that the next generation of collectors will benefit from much of what goes on at this site, even though at times we seem to get bogged down on the negative aspects of collecting. the positive thing is that collectors nowadays have a better grasp on what harms coins and we are equipped with better storage/preservation. hopefully that translates into coins we can pass along which look close to how they were when we acquired them

I guess I should mention that the coin in question was a 1915 raw $10 Indian in AU grade that was part of a large collection that came to us mid-week. absent the stain/contaminant it had an MS reverse with clean, mark free obverse fields and only light chatter and rub on the cheek and headdress. what a great design.

MGLICKER · March 21, 2014 9:44AM

<< Depending on how they got there, some of us might like them better with the stains.

>>

Agree.

Rust stains on gold coins.

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