Should this Trade $ be soaked in mineral oil?Updated with pictures of the coin.

TennesseeDave · November 27, 2009 6:32AM

I just got a Trade $ that has some green spots that at first looked like pvc,but after a soak in acetone it did not budge the spots.They appear to be hard and very stubborn.Would a mineral oil soak hurt it?I can't get pics close enough to see what I'm talking about.

edit:Here's the coin.The spots are scattered on the obverse mainly around the date and on the reverse around the word OF.

KISHU1 · November 27, 2009 6:41AM

I have used olive oil and let it soak for a month changing it every week and it has worked on copper, not sure if it would work on silver.

Good Luck

Frank

AUandAG · November 27, 2009 6:44AM

Have you tried to encourage the green gunk to leave with a rose thorn, cactus needle?

Soak and gently pic (acetone) and that may help greatly. Warm water and liquid detergent for
a soak may be a way to go as well. Just no scrubbing and I think you'll get one or the other
to work.
bob

PS: I've done both successfully on silver

TennesseeDave · November 27, 2009 9:29AM

Anyone have any experience with this?The coin is an 1875-S Trade $ that is AU-58/MS-61 and Chopmarked that also has prooflike qualities that I would like very much to conserve and try to get into a Pcgs holder.

LindeDad · November 27, 2009 9:40AM

Could the corrosion be a copper spot that has turned or developed vergitias?

bumanchu · November 27, 2009 1:47PM

Yes, but watch out for the laxative effect.....
and malabsorption of fat soluble vitamins A,D, E, & K!

Caution: May be habit forming.

bumanchu, R.Ph.

Bear · November 27, 2009 2:54PM

Lubrication , is what keeps the economy moving.

oreville · November 27, 2009 3:03PM

mineral oil will not harm it at all. Its gentleness will probably not remove much or any of the PVC. But no harm in trying. A oil softened wooden toothpick may also do the trick in loosening the PVC but I hesitate your using it on any coin graded higher than AU-53.

Mineral oil is a tried and true method. Squeeze dry with soft tissue when finished. Rinse with acetone.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

GrumpyEd · November 27, 2009 3:05PM

If it has PVC use acetone.
I think mineral oils main use is halting corrosion.

oreville · November 28, 2009 2:06PM

<< <i>If it has PVC use acetone.
I think mineral oils main use is halting corrosion. >>

No argument there but the initial poster already stated that he used acetone without any success so trying the mineral oil is just another harmless effort to see if any of the PVC can be removed

TennesseeDave · November 28, 2009 11:17PM

TTT with pictures added for more opinions.I think the spots may be Vertigris if that is possible on silver.

sinin1 · November 29, 2009 12:48AM

can you tell how the spots are relative to the surface?

are they pits, lebel with, raised above the surrounding coin

kaz · November 29, 2009 12:56AM

If acetone didn't take away the green, it isn't PVC. I believe that mineral oil soaking, and gently picking at the spots with a wooden toothpick or rose thorn every few days is your best bet. When done, acetone soak as recommended previously. Beware the fumes!

TwoSides2aCoin · November 29, 2009 2:27AM

Something as non-toxic as mineral oil won't hurt that coin.

SamByrd · November 29, 2009 4:13AM

<< <i>Have you tried to encourage the green gunk to leave with a rose thorn, cactus needle?

Soak and gently pic (acetone) and that may help greatly. Warm water and liquid detergent for
a soak may be a way to go as well. Just no scrubbing and I think you'll get one or the other
to work.
bob

PS: I've done both successfully on silver >>

That is good advice I think. The coin wont in any way be harmed further and it will still end up in a genuine holder in the end anyway.

one could send to NCS but its doubtful the coin would be improved
very much.

ProofCents · November 29, 2009 4:16AM

<< <i>Yes, but watch out for the laxative effect.....
and malabsorption of fat soluble vitamins A,D, E, & K!

Caution: May be habit forming.

bumanchu, R.Ph. >>

Funny.....

Should this Trade $ be soaked in mineral oil?Updated with pictures of the coin.

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