Pennies w/ dates obscured

[J_Dodge]

I've got several wheats w/ various degrees of green grundge on them. In most cases, a bit of water and
a scrub w/ a tooth brush helps. Have also tryed ketchup (ie Hienz) at the suggestion of a local coin
shop - it works - lifts the grunge, but radically changes the color of the metal.

Last night I found a Wheat w/ grunge that is a hard green - thick and solid - completely obscuring the
date and mint mark. The water/toothbrush trick doesn't phase the green. I tryed using my thumb nail -
didn't phase it a bit.

I used search, and read the Verdigress Removeal thread - but it seems to suggest that the results
of the method's there equal the results of my use of ketchup.

Suggestions?

JD

[JobIII]

You could also try a using a metal scrubber and carefully address the areas with the verdigris. Obviously it depends on the wear. If you have a coin that you think could be a rare or key date I would recommend you take it to your LCS for advice.

They may say the coin is worthless because it's so corroded, and this is likely true.

~JobIII

[spacemanX]

try soaking in olive oil for several days. it loosens up the grunge.

good luck

[fasteddy]

Welcome to the neighborhood, J_Dodge

Inhibited hydrochloric acid works quickly but also changes the color...but if you leave the coin outdoors it will naturally patina. Of course never try this with a valuable coin but is a coin with nasty green grunge valuable? Not with the grunge on it.

If trying the acid method please be sure to follow the safety guidelines listed in the MSDS.

[Computer Jones]

try soaking in olive oil for several days. it loosens up the grunge.

good luck

After the Olive oil soak, use a toothpick to scrape away what green you can.

You can redo the oil soak and toothpick scrape over and over again, usually gaining a little bit each time.
You usually keep the original color and the wood is softer than Cu, so you don't scratch the coin badly.
A final rinse with alcohol removes the oil and reduces the chance of residual oil oxidizing and creating a smell.

If you don't care at all, soak it in hot sauce (or vinegar and salt) until it's all shiny pink and has absolutely no numismatic value.

[J_Dodge]

quick update....

I tryed the olive oil soak/wooden stick that spacemanX suggested for several weeks - was gaining no ground - simply could not get the green to come off. Finally gave up last week and got out the ketchup - it took several applications, but I can now see the copper - the two low order characters of the date are gone - the metal was completely pitted /eroded by the corrison - the coin edge is actually thinner in the date area. <sigh>

JD

[dbalek]

Try soaking in 100% pure Acetone, in a glass container, outside (fumes are nasty/combustible)

[scyther]

I have a coin kind of like this. The full date wasn't legible, but I could tell it was 191?. I first soaked it in lemon juice, then it vinegar. It looks terrible, of course, but I'm not sure it's any worse than it was to start out with. I'm pretty sure it's a 1910. Into the the junk copper bag it goes...

It's hard to resist getting to the date by any means necessary. I'm sure a 1909 S V.D.B. would still be worth at least 50 bucks in that condition...

[J_Dodge]

Try soaking in 100% pure Acetone, in a glass container, outside (fumes are nasty/combustible)

I had read about that somewhere here on Realcent...had some other coins which were nasty, so I dumped the penny in for a community soak. It made no difference.

That is when I said 'give it up - get the ketchup.'

JD

[copperhead57]

Cut a slit into a raw potato, and stick the coin inside. Leave it in the potato overnight.

I had a really badly encrusted 1885 Indian Cent, and the potato improved it considerably.

[plus1hdcp]

Cut a slit into a raw potato, and stick the coin inside. Leave it in the potato overnight.

I had a really badly encrusted 1885 Indian Cent, and the potato improved it considerably.

I hope to remember this, I might give it a go as a science project for my son anyway.

[LooseChange]

Cut a slit into a raw potato, and stick the coin inside. Leave it in the potato overnight.

I had a really badly encrusted 1885 Indian Cent, and the potato improved it considerably.

I hope to remember this, I might give it a go as a science project for my son anyway.

Red, White, Yukon Gold, Sweet or does it matter? If this was brought up as a science experiment, I'd test many types of spuds and see which ones work the best.

[willy13]

Ketchup works because it has vinager in it. It works but will ruin the numismatic value of the coin. I am surprised a coin shop recommended it.

[Engineer]

Cut a slit into a raw potato, and stick the coin inside. Leave it in the potato overnight.

I had a really badly encrusted 1885 Indian Cent, and the potato improved it considerably.

I hope to remember this, I might give it a go as a science project for my son anyway.

Red, White, Yukon Gold, Sweet or does it matter? If this was brought up as a science experiment, I'd test many types of spuds and see which ones work the best.

Couch potato?