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Care of Zinc coins - question

ASUtoddASUtodd Posts: 1,312 ✭✭
in World & Ancient Coins Forum
I know that with Copper we can soak them in some olive oil to get the green meanies off and with silver a quick dunk in acetone....but what about Zinc coins? These are some super fragle coins once the metal begins to break down. Any thoughts on proper care and removal of the white/yellow crusties that get on them? I store them like I do my copper and silvers, in 2x2's, but here recently I have seen some zinc coins that were left in 2x2's doing weird things. Could have been something on the coin before it was put in the 2x2 that was breaking it down but I didn't see anything on them when they went in. I have had several folks tell me that keeping the old nazi zinc coins in good shape is almost impossible. Any thoughts????
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Comments

  • 7Jaguars7Jaguars Posts: 7,744 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Uggh, well water has to go and so hope you have those crystals and them as dry as possible. What you are speaking of is corrosion/oxidation that you may have trouble getting back. I would be scared to try those electrolysis reduction reaction as these can occasionally end up with disasters. Anyone else?
    Love that Milled British (1830-1960)
    Well, just Love coins, period.
  • ASUtoddASUtodd Posts: 1,312 ✭✭
    I thought about an acetone bath to see what happened.... haven't picked out the sacrificial lamb yet.
    www.GoASU.com
  • drwstr123drwstr123 Posts: 7,049 ✭✭✭✭✭
    CLR...try it as a last resort. Then something to bar oxygen.
  • 1960NYGiants1960NYGiants Posts: 3,532 ✭✭✭✭
    Try Blue Ribbon or Coin Care. Lightly apply with cotton swab. Let sit o'nite. Soak up excess with new swab. Repeat the sit and soak until no residue is picked by the swab. Also works on iron, aluminum, white metal, etc.
    Gene

    Life member #369 of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association
    Member of Canadian Association of Token Collectors

    Collector of:
    Canadian coins and pre-confederation tokens
    Darkside proof/mint sets dated 1960
    My Ebay
  • tbirde56tbirde56 Posts: 2,161
    The bad thing about zinc is that it develops white rust spots from contact with moisture in the air that will inevitably consume the coin and destroy any value it may have. That white/yellow stuff IS the coin slowly disintegrating. Oxygen and humidity are the culprits.
    Brad Swain

    World Coin & PM Collector
    My Coin Info Pages <> My All Experts Profile
    image
  • ASUtoddASUtodd Posts: 1,312 ✭✭
    Hrrm... that would mean an airtite capsule to hold them along with silicon packs near them to draw away the moisture in the air...
    www.GoASU.com
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