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Coins in Wax
WWCARSONCITY
Posts: 5
I am new to this site (referred by a friend).
I used to collect coins as a child and teenager, but have been out of it for many years.
I recently inherited my father's coin collection.
He ordered bags of Silver Dollars in the 1970s. At some point he put these in mason jars containing wax.
I have no idea how to get these out of the wax other than slowing melting the wax (on the stove?) and using a soft cloth to clean the (hopefully) melted wax from the coins.
I have a similar situation with half dollars, dimes and nickels.
Thanks,
Randy
I used to collect coins as a child and teenager, but have been out of it for many years.
I recently inherited my father's coin collection.
He ordered bags of Silver Dollars in the 1970s. At some point he put these in mason jars containing wax.
I have no idea how to get these out of the wax other than slowing melting the wax (on the stove?) and using a soft cloth to clean the (hopefully) melted wax from the coins.
I have a similar situation with half dollars, dimes and nickels.
Thanks,
Randy
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Comments
Interesting dilemma. Avoid rubbing them with a cloth if they are uncirculated. I don't know if any solvents will dissolve solid wax, but it is possible. If not, a gentle warming may be necessary. Don't overheat them any more than what is needed or they may become discolored.
hummm.. are they submerged in the wax? or is the jar lid wax sealed? wiping the coins will leave hairline scratches on the coins. can you post a pic of one of these jars? try setting one out in direct sun to see if it melts this way. i don`t know if this will help, keep us posted on how you make out.
Would acetone remove the wax?
I would consider using a solvent such as acetone. Try some out on a piece of the wax and see how it goes.
Spud beat me to it with as edit!!!
Dipping the coins in acetone will then remove the residual wax.
Remember that acetone is flammable, avoid breathing in the fumes, and don't get it on anything plastic or the plastic will dissolve and get all over everything.
Edit- I see others are saying similar things
That would be a bad idea; I like the pot of hot water part of it, but just to soften, not liquefy the wax.
"Dipping the coins in acetone will then remove the residual wax."
Forget this part, acetone will NOT remove candle wax.
<< <i>Acetone will have no effect. I would heat up the wax to the point where the coins could be pulled-out. I would then try soaking them in this stuff (try one coin first to make sure it doesn't react with the metal) LINK to Wax Away >>
It is correct that acetone will have no effect in dissolving wax. A less dipolar, hydrophobic solvent is required.
Finally, I knew a real chemist would show up eventually. Do you have any solvents in mind?
BTW: The wax completely envelopes the coins.
Outhaul said:
"Put jar in freezer overnight, remove, rap gently with hammer and wax should break cleanly away. Hot water rinses should eliminate any residual wax."
This would seem to be a non invasive way.
This also seemed reasonable
Millinneum said:
"Try this.....set the jar in water so the top of the jar is just under the surface...Make sure that the water covers all the coins and the top of the jar...with the jar OPEN. Raise the heat on the water until the wax starts to float to the surface of the water, and remove it by dipping it off.....This should remove the wax, try not to boil the water though. Remember you are just trying to cause the wax to leave the surface of the coin and float for removal......Afterwards, wash them in acetone to remove water , it will not remove the wax. Repeat if necessary."
Could someone please explain why acetone is needed to remove the water from the silver coins. Like I said, I am very new to all of this.
thx again, a very nice group here,
Randy
<< <i>Finally, I knew a real chemist would show up eventually. Do you have any solvents in mind? >>
The Merck Index states that Paraffin wax is soluble in oils, therefore mineral oil would work. The Merck lists other solvents too like ether, benzene, chloroform and carbon disulfide; however, if the wax is soluble in something as inert to both coins and humans as mineral oil is then why not just use the mineral oil?
i would put them in the plastic collander you drain spaghetti in and run hot water over them
once the wax is gone pick the coins out with nylon or plastic tongs,drain on paper towels like you would drain fried bacon,dont pat dry
Then the acetone dip followed by distilled water and drain again
<< <i>What outhaul said,but
i would put them in the plastic collander you drain spaghetti in and run hot water over them
once the wax is gone pick the coins out with nylon or plastic tongs,drain on paper towels like you would drain fried bacon,dont pat dry
Then the acetone dip followed by distilled water and drain again >>
Then you would call a plumber to clean out your drain pipe.
Jonathan
"is submerging them in wax a common way to store coins? I've never heard of it before"
My Dad was a bit eccentric. Where he got this idea, I don't know....
Randy
I also wouldn't worry too much about the little warmth from a water bath. It should do nothing to the coins. On the other hand, if you choose to use a blowtorch to remove the wax, you may in fact, damage the coins.
Wax coatings are easier to apply and remove than are lacquers, but they provide less protection. To prepare a wax coating, mix equal parts of a good-quality paste floor wax and odourless mineral spirits (a solvent). Apply the mixture to the medal's surface with a soft cloth. Use a hair dryer to heat the wax so that it melts into all the surface recesses. Then, wait until the solvent evaporates and buff the surface lightly with a soft cloth. Wax coatings can be removed easily by applying a solvent (odourless mineral spirits).
I think wax was very popular in England. jws
I used to be a Materials Science guy for Uncle Sam and we use a preservative compound on aircraft not unlike a paraffin wax. We cleaned / removed it with P-D-680 Dry Cleaning solvent.
Mineral spirits gets my vote. I'd also take a stab at lighter fluid. Aliphatic Naptha (lighter fluid) just might do the trick.
John
Never view my other linked pages. They aren't coin related.
My icon IS my coin. It is a gem 1949 FBL Franklin.
<< <i>Try this.....set the jar in water so the top of the jar is just under the surface...Make sure that the water covers all the coins and the top of the jar...with the jar OPEN. Raise the heat on the water until the wax starts to float to the surface of the water, and remove it by dipping it off.....This should remove the wax, try not to boil the water though. Remember you are just trying to cause the wax to leave the surface of the coin and float for removal......Afterwards, wash them in acetone to remove water , it will not remove the wax. Repeat if necessary. >>
This is the method you should try. DO NOT use any of the solvents already suggested here. The reason is you do not know what type of wax the jars contain. About 99 % of all waxes are lighter than water and as it melts it will rise as noted. Do this slowly and eventually practically all wax will be lefted off the coins.
DO NOT use chemicals of any kind to dissolve the wax unless you know the chemical composition of that wax. Certain waxes from a long time ago contained numerous impurities that may react with some of the chemicals mentioned here and create an explosion, high intensity flames or give off poisonous gasses. Again, DO NOT use chemicals of any kind to remove the wax and ABSLOLUTELY do not add the chemicals to the wax if heating for any reason.
<< <i>heated xylene >>
That would be the charcoal starter fluid.
<< <i>Given the past few suggestions, my first suggestion might not be that outrageous. Try a stick of dynamite.
I thought the same thing when I read this thread!
I do know first hand that WD-40 dissolves candle wax, chewing gum, duct tape glue and a host of other things from the skin and clothes...this includes grease and grime. It kills bugs on contact, displaces water, suffocates burns and speeds the healing process, it eliminates the itch from bug bites, and will clean a wound if there is no antiseptic near (without any pain)...... and I never tried it on hemmorhoids, so don't ask !
Whether it will work on coins, I don't know, and I wouldn't try it unless it were worth face value only.
I would consider the same for half dollars, dimes, etc. if they are the same vintage (1970's).
<< <i>While the wax might be a headache to remove, it was probably a good way of preserving the coins long-term. >>
Reminds me of the current fad of having your head cryogenically frozen. Sensible way to preserve your essence long-term, but even in the 23rd century I bet it's going to be a "pain in the neck" to undo
Read his posts, these are silver dollars, not Ikes.
"I used to be a Materials Science guy for Uncle Sam and we use a preservative compound on aircraft not unlike a paraffin wax. We cleaned / removed it with P-D-680 Dry Cleaning solvent."
You may have solved the mystery of the wax.
My Dad was a CMSGT AF in charge of maintenance for SAC B52s at Westover AFB in the early 1960s.
I am still sifting through all the responses, thinking: The melting in hot water, dip in Acetone is in the lead. Also considering the freezing, cracking off the glass, then pour hot water over a plastic collander.
I will experiment on some lower value coins (i.e. some pennies (for some reason there is a jar of these too)), and then lastly on the Silver Dollars.
thx, Randy
PS: Is P-D-680 Dry Cleaning solvent = Mineral Spirits? Will this actually remove the wax?
<< <i>
<< <i>While the wax might be a headache to remove, it was probably a good way of preserving the coins long-term. >>
Reminds me of the current fad of having your head cryogenically frozen. Sensible way to preserve your essence long-term, but even in the 23rd century I bet it's going to be a "pain in the neck" to undo
could I send you a buck through Pay Pal ?
That laugh was worth it , plus.
"DO NOT use any of the solvents already suggested here. The reason is you do not know what type of wax the jars contain. About 99 % of all waxes are lighter than water and as it melts it will rise as noted. Do this slowly and eventually practically all wax will be lefted off the coins.
DO NOT use chemicals of any kind to dissolve the wax unless you know the chemical composition of that wax. Certain waxes from a long time ago contained numerous impurities that may react with some of the chemicals mentioned here and create an explosion, high intensity flames or give off poisonous gasses. Again, DO NOT use chemicals of any kind to remove the wax and ABSLOLUTELY do not add the chemicals to the wax if heating for any reason."
Thank you so much Carl. I am not sure when he did this, I am guessing the 1980s, but am not totally sure, could have the early 1990s.
Most likely, I plan on melting the wax low temp on stove, then going out into an open garage (with no gasoline etc in the garage) and dipping the coins in Acetone, then letting them dry on paper towels, a plastic collander may fit in this scenario as well as rubber gloves and perhaps rubber tongs
Anyone see a problem with this?
Randy
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
Wes
I am not sure what it would do to the metal.
Al
<< <i>Goo Gone >>
Principal ingredient is toluene.
Personally I'd try the warm water to melt the wax and skim what is floating approach. It seems like it might actually work and won't do much harm if it doesn't.
The reason for a final rinse in acetone is to remove all water. Water has minerals in it that leaves spots on coins. A quick but thorough rinse should be enough to do the trick. In any case any wiping, rubbing or scraping could leave microscopic or larger marks on the coin greatly reducing the value if you are lucky enough to find the coin was high grade in the first place.