Has anyone ever seen damage to a gold coin after removing PVC residue?

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Baylor8670
Baylor8670 Posts: 291 ✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

I know PVC residue can react with and eat away at copper but I wonder if the damage would be enough to destroy the numismatic integrity of the coin.

Whether the PVC is a film or a little red blob, I imagine any pitting or other damage on a 90/10 gold coin would usually be too minor to matter but please let me know if you have experience with this. Thank you.

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  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,072 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    It's not likely but not impossible. It's acid etching. It would need to be equivalent to 22k acid in a test kit.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • PeakRarities
    PeakRarities Posts: 4,858 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I haven’t seen any gold that had permanent damage from pvc contamination. Plenty of ruined silver, but gold always cleans up nicely with no etching for me.

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  • CaptHenway
    CaptHenway Posts: 34,175 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Gold? No.

    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
  • jacrispies
    jacrispies Posts: 1,638 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I've seen many slimy green PVC soaked double eagles, and they turn out fine. The coins are very resilient.

    "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you" Matthew 6:33. Young fellow suffering from Bust Half fever.
    BHNC #AN-10
    JRCS #1606

  • zer0man
    zer0man Posts: 84 ✭✭✭
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    I have not seen damage, but the PVC may have been present long enough that the underlying surface appears to have a different hue upon the PVC being removed in comparison to the remainder of the coin.

  • Typekat
    Typekat Posts: 732 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 10, 2026 6:32AM
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    “Red blob” on a gold coin is not from PVC.
    The usual red (and sometimes darker) spots on gold can not be safely removed.

    Edited to add: I routinely removed PVC from gold coins with no harm whatsoever, using acetone.

                        Also, gold coins with ambient rust stains can be slathered with Rustoleum 
                    overnight to good effect. 
                    But:
                    NEVER  monkey with planchet streaks! you can remove them, but then 
                    PCGS won’t grade the coin.

    30+ years coin shop experience (ret.) Coins, bullion, currency, scrap & interesting folks. Loved every minute!

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