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The Ugly Morgan Dip Experiment
adamlaneus
Posts: 6,969 ✭✭✭
I selected three of the ugliest morgan dollars from my collection. The ones that are so bad to begin with that I felt that I could not possibly hurt them any more by dipping them. How can one go down from melt? Well...let's see...
Coin #1...half of the obverse was "toned" in jet black. It looked like a coin involved with a chemical spill. What does this? Chlorine bleach? I've always thought that this coin is the result of a failed experiment in artificial toning.
About 5 seconds of dip, and most of the black is gone, replaced with a much more subtle tan.
If I had this one to do over again, I probably would have painted the dip only onto one side of the coin and left the reverse alone.
My conclusion on this one? Well... It doesn't stand out quite like it did before. I guess that is an improvement. This hole filler is still just a hole filler, but now at least doesn't scream out it's defects as much as it did.
Coin #1...half of the obverse was "toned" in jet black. It looked like a coin involved with a chemical spill. What does this? Chlorine bleach? I've always thought that this coin is the result of a failed experiment in artificial toning.
About 5 seconds of dip, and most of the black is gone, replaced with a much more subtle tan.
If I had this one to do over again, I probably would have painted the dip only onto one side of the coin and left the reverse alone.
My conclusion on this one? Well... It doesn't stand out quite like it did before. I guess that is an improvement. This hole filler is still just a hole filler, but now at least doesn't scream out it's defects as much as it did.
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Good call.
A little less than 5 seconds in the dip erases the light toning. Except that now, there is a tiny section on the rim that actually looks darker. Perhaps this is where I was holding the coin?
Conclusion? Meh. This coin has just a touch of luster left which is a little more apparent post-dip. Did the overall quality of the coin improve? Nope. A hole filler is a hole filler.
Did I say luster? I guess I meant Brillo Pad cleaning lines.
Ah, but coin number 3. Saving the "best" for last...
Ugly
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
This coin was selected for it's mottled dark appearance. Some of the mottling, when held under the light, was iridescent.
Unfortunately, in 5 seconds of dipping, the coin changed little. 15 seconds...just a slight change. TWO MINUTES in the dip gets it to where you see it now...stripped but not stripped. Ouch.
My opinion? Worst of both worlds. <sarcasm>The miracle of chemistry.</sarcasm>
Whatever happened to this coin, the toning is deeply etched into the surface and I shudder to think what would happen if I left this coin in a jar of dip for the 10 minutes necessary to completely remove the dark patches.
I'm sorry I dipped this one.
The second coin...well...I don't think I have any more love for it than I did before.
The third coin is just awful.
I guess the one positive thing about having such awful morgans around...I am not in the least tempted to play chemistry with the better morgans!
Lots of neutralization with mild soap; lots of rinsing in water. Back they go into the Dansco.
That last coin might look a little better if I melt it into a blob with a torch.
RARE VAMS
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
These need to be cheap melt coins. Chemically damaged vams? That would suck.
Where were these coins purchased? Between 1 and 2 years ago, I went through a phase of purchasing groups of raw morgans from eBay. Most have since been sold back into the waste pit which is eBay. But I kept a few hole fillers for the Dansco.
Although I tried to buy groups that were of a better quality...folks sneak in real dogs here and there. But for melt prices, I don't complain too much.
I am also not remotely interested in what dipping a gold coin does. I've got a few raw gold coins. I'll be darned if i'm going to do anything with them other than look at them.
Now, I do have a few more modern coins that have a greasy haze on them from the mint packaging. Greasy haze, I believe, is removed with acetone.
Some one-time-purchase loser. I did not record my bulk morgan purchases carefully, so I don't know exactly who.
(It would really make Russ angry if I said Russ, wouldn't it?)
(My apologies for even mentioning His Name in this thread)
Before:
After
This was a special "Luxury-Special-Dip" that I used on this one! But I think it only lasts a few hours.
<< <i>Not bad, though the reverse looks to have had a brutal cleaning revealed. >>
i noticed this right away. make this a pocket piece with some other junk 90% silver and it will look better