The perks of acetone restoration.

basetsb · April 4, 2017 11:08AM

I found this dime in one of my local coins shops junk silver tubes. It had lacquer on it and was otherwise filthy and very un appealing, which was probably why it was in there. I saw that it had some detail and knew that I could restore it. I have had prior success 'dipping' silver in acetone and using a q tip to lightly dab the areas that needed help. PCGS has graded out and slabbed a few coins that I have restored in this manner. Here is the coin in question.

Kudbegud · April 4, 2017 11:17AM

Great save !

basetsb · April 4, 2017 11:26AM

@Kudbegud said:
Great save !

Thanks!!!!

EXOJUNKIE · April 4, 2017 12:37PM

Well done and nice rescue!

Barndog · April 4, 2017 1:33PM

the obverse planchet defect in this half dime was full of green gunk (assumed PVC) and made it so it would not grade at PCGS. Some persistent acetone rinses resuscitated it

Azurescens · April 4, 2017 1:38PM

I just do continuous hot water baths and air dry. /shrug

You'd be surprised what boiling water takes off.

I'm gonna test some cents and nickels in 20psi pressure cooker this weekend.

1630Boston · April 4, 2017 1:41PM

Let me know how the pressure cooker method works

TomB · April 4, 2017 2:31PM

It looks to me like tape residue and not lacquer. Applying tape across the obverse of many coins in an album is not all that uncommon in older collections.

abcde12345 · April 4, 2017 4:10PM

Now pcgs will grade (FN12?) vs a genuine slab.

crazyhounddog · April 4, 2017 4:13PM

That thing was dirty. Well done my coin brother

abcde12345 · April 4, 2017 4:58PM

Filthy coins have no place among the civilized.

basetsb · April 4, 2017 7:12PM

@TomB said:
It looks to me like tape residue and not lacquer. Applying tape across the obverse of many coins in an album is not all that uncommon in older collections.

You may be right, actually looking at it I'm pretty sure you are right.

basetsb · April 4, 2017 7:15PM

@abcde12345 said:
Now pcgs will grade (FN12?) vs a genuine slab.

It's around VF30, but yeah, now it will grade out without the genuine designation.

ricko · April 5, 2017 7:01AM

Nice job.... acetone is a great help on coins.... removes the organics with no effects on the metal. Rinse well though, since the dissolved material can redeposit and it will look terrible later on. Cheers, RickO

asheland · April 5, 2017 7:05AM

Looks good. Well done!

to the boards!

basetsb · April 5, 2017 7:07AM

@asheland said:
Looks good. Well done!

to the boards!

Thank you very much!

asheland · April 5, 2017 7:29AM

You are very welcome!

boyernumismatics · April 5, 2017 7:44AM

I use acetone and a lukewarm water wash on my lowballs to remove unwanted or undesirable organic matter on the surface of a coin.

Here is one that I wanted the outline of the coin to remain. If i pleased, I could have run it with some acetone and a Q-Tip to remove it within seconds:

Here is one that was black with garbage previous to the acetone and Q-Tip treatment:

Just goes to show the wonders of Acetone, when used correctly. I have ruined a few coins with Q tips and acetone by rubbing too hard, but that's the name of the game.

basetsb · April 5, 2017 8:23AM

@boyernumismatics said:
I use acetone and a lukewarm water wash on my lowballs to remove unwanted or undesirable organic matter on the surface of a coin.

Here is one that I wanted the outline of the coin to remain. If i pleased, I could have run it with some acetone and a Q-Tip to remove it within seconds:

Here is one that was black with garbage previous to the acetone and Q-Tip treatment:

Just goes to show the wonders of Acetone, when used correctly. I have ruined a few coins with Q tips and acetone by rubbing too hard, but that's the name of the game.

Yes, I barely rub much at all when I do it. You have to be careful.

The perks of acetone restoration.

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