Cleaned I presume; what chemical?

coinpictures · December 31, 2009 4:50AM

The yellow/gold in the recessed areas looks funky. What chemical would have caused this look and is it salvageable?

Hyperion · December 31, 2009 4:54AM

looks like only half the problem,
the other half is what happened to the rest of the coin.

IMHO nice for type, and a shame.

PTVETTER · December 31, 2009 4:57AM

try soaking it in acetone for a long time like two or three days

Can't hurt to try!

Broadstruck · December 31, 2009 5:00AM

Looks like it may have been poorly plated to pass as a $5 Gold piece

SilverEagles92 · December 31, 2009 5:04AM

<< Looks like it may have been poorly plated to pass as a $5 Gold piece

>>

That was my first thought - gold plating.

Walkerguy21D · December 31, 2009 5:26AM

That gold certainly is unusual.....I have read that many years ago, cyanide was used treat large cents (and half cents I suppose) to brighten them. Over the years they would slowly reoxidize, but not to a truly original color. This kinda, sorta looks like it could be the case here, sans gold spots maybe. It does not look like the typical acid dip and treated with Deller's Darkener.
To add - I do not think you could do much to positively alter the coin.....maybe keep it exposed to warm air for a long period of time to let it continue to oxidize?

halfhunter · December 31, 2009 5:38AM

Other than the aforementioned acetone, I don't know what can be done to the gold color.

Have the stars been tooled?

HH

yellowkid · December 31, 2009 5:41AM

If it wasn't a coin I would say paint remover.

PerryHall · December 31, 2009 6:41AM

<< If it wasn't a coin I would say paint remover.

>>

Isn't acetone a primary component of paint remover?

PerryHall · December 31, 2009 6:45AM

<< Looks like it may have been poorly plated to pass as a $5 Gold piece

>>

Very unlikely since $5 represented a lot of money back then and gold coins received a lot of scrutiny due to the prevalence of real counterfeits in circulation at the time.

fc · December 31, 2009 6:54AM

my only thought is that the yellow only seems to take place where any
remaining luster would be.... thus it was probably improper storage
over a long period of time?

Flatwoods · December 31, 2009 1:39PM

Interesting coin. I tend to agree with fc.
I'm not sure anything needs to be done.

I like pieces like this makes you think.

zeebob · December 31, 2009 3:07PM

NCS.

blueifalcon · January 1, 2010 12:21AM

ditto zeebob

joecopper · January 1, 2010 1:28AM

What struck me was the almost "cameo dull" look of the portrait and wreath, almost like it has been etched?

ksteelheader · January 1, 2010 1:46AM

<< 

<< If it wasn't a coin I would say paint remover.

>>

Isn't acetone a primary component of paint remover? >>

Sometimes.

yellowkid · January 1, 2010 2:00AM

<< 

<< If it wasn't a coin I would say paint remover.

>>

Isn't acetone a primary component of paint remover? >>

I didn't have any Zip Strip around right now so I did some checking and yes, acetone is the main ingredient. I use Zip Strip on antique iron to get old paint off, that coin has the exact same look as a hitching post that has been stripped.

ksteelheader · January 1, 2010 2:06AM

<< 

<< 

<< If it wasn't a coin I would say paint remover.

>>

Isn't acetone a primary component of paint remover? >>

I didn't have any Zip Strip around right now so I did some checking and yes, acetone is the main ingredient. I use Zip Strip on antique iron to get old paint off, that coin has the exact same look as a hitching post that has been stripped. >>

Other ingredients in different paint thinners:

# Acetone
# Mineral turpentine
# True turpentine
# Naphtha
# Toluene
# White spirit
# Xylene
# Methyl ethyl ketone

lkenefic · January 1, 2010 2:15AM

Interesting piece...

just a cautionary note.... I couldn't help but notice methyl ethyl ketone as an ingredient in some paint thinners. This organic solvent is quite powerful, volatile, and will melt plastics. Wear gloves if posible and definitely use this stuf in a well ventilated space! MEK is about the strongest organic solvent I've ever used.

Leo

notwilight · January 1, 2010 2:31AM

Coinpictures, Your photos have awesome saturation. Is this gold tone exaggerated? In hand does it look much milder? I've seen similar toning on many near unc large cents and wouldn't totally rule out NT. More likely, it is just something on the surface. The oil and brush technique that EACers use should do it. --Jerry

Frankcoins · January 1, 2010 2:33AM

Many of these were surprisingly brassy in color when new due to alloy variances. Possibly, it's original color because it's all in protected areas with mint luster. If it were plated, there would be gold in the denticles.

BobSav · January 1, 2010 2:35AM

Do you know where the coin came from, that may lead to some clues .

Bob

coindeuce · January 1, 2010 2:37AM

Ditto what notwilight wrote. Try an application of the Blue Ribbon that you just purchased from me, combined with a light brushing.

coinpictures · January 1, 2010 3:24AM

<< Coinpictures, Your photos have awesome saturation. Is this gold tone exaggerated? In hand does it look much milder? I've seen similar toning on many near unc large cents and wouldn't totally rule out NT. More likely, it is just something on the surface. The oil and brush technique that EACers use should do it. --Jerry >>

Hi Jerry,

I do my best not to overaccentuate color in my photos. The gold/yellow in hand is as it appears in the pictures. The only potential difference is that the coin overall is darker in hand unless you're under direct lighting; not uncommon when photographing copper - showcasing the coin in a brighter light so as to expose more detail.

But as for color, it's on the money.

Right now I'm struggling with whether or not to keep the coin or return it. It clearly has issues, but it also has character. I'm into the coin for a C-note. What do you think?

Walkerguy21D · January 1, 2010 3:37AM

Not a bad coin for the price paid - maybe a little high given that it's not original. Yes, it has issues, and would not slab, but it is not unattractive. An original, choice AU would run maybe around ~$175 or so. If it bothers you, or you are a purist, return it, and pay more and get the real deal. These coins are not hard to locate.

JRocco · January 1, 2010 4:26AM

I believe that this coin has been boinked severely and is also tooled.
Have this one checked.

keets · January 1, 2010 4:32AM

it's possible that it was cleaned/dipped and then re-colored with something like Deller"s Darkener or some other paste and the lighter color at recessed areas and around the devices is the result of a poor job.

notwilight · January 1, 2010 4:43AM

I'm at work now and can't see the photos. If I were you I would probably keep it and try to conserve it, more for fun than anything else. If you aren't interested in conserving it then I would make the decision based on eye appeal in hand.

I see one respected forum member thinks it may be tooled so I would check that out too.

--Jerry

coinpictures · January 1, 2010 5:13AM

<< I believe that this coin has been boinked severely and is also tooled.
Have this one checked. >>

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the technical term "boinked". Also, what details do you believe to be tooled?

JRocco · January 1, 2010 5:42AM

<< 

<< I believe that this coin has been boinked severely and is also tooled.
Have this one checked. >>

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the technical term "boinked". Also, what details do you believe to be tooled? >>

Hey CP,
First off, this is not a series I have specialized in, but with that said after I looked at the
date on this piece my eye went straight to the thirteenth star. It just did not look right. I
then looked at stars one and two and they also do not look right. Most of these pieces that
I recall seeing have generally poor star detail to begin with, this one looks like someone tried to possible
enhance the stars.
As for the term boinked. It is a kind of catch-all word meaning that the coin has been worked on. I believe that this one
might have had some detail smoothed in some way. But please have this checked by a copper guy.

coinpictures · January 1, 2010 6:21AM

I guess I'm missing the tooling diagnostics. When I compare the star details to that on the closeup images for this MS66 at Heritage, the stars look almost identical.

notwilight · January 1, 2010 6:47AM

I can't see the photos now but stars vary a lot. They get full of "grease" which is really gunk. Or the strike can affect the stars. It is not unusual at all to have stars vary a lot on a coin. So it could be that the lower stars are good and the other stars are poor.

--Jerry

mozin · January 1, 2010 10:58AM

Don't know what has been done to this coin, but send it back.

Cleaned I presume; what chemical?

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