Verdigris....how to remove?

[TrpnBils]

Did a quick search on here but couldn't find what I was looking for.... and let's get this out of the way too - I have no intention of selling this coin...it's a common date IHP worth about $5 for a good, non-dug coin. I know cleaning "devalues" but I'd rather it look good in my collection, which is where it's going to stay.

I dug an 1890 IH penny yesterday that I initially thought was so corroded I wouldn't even be able to get a date off of it. When I got home I soaked it for a few minutes, scrubbed it lightly with some dish soap and a soft toothbrush (based on recommendations from the IHP king himself, "Goes4Ever" on his website). Turns out, it's in quite good shape on the obverse (the reverse is pretty worn), minus several rough, raised green areas. The numbers on the date are very distinct around the edges, and the Liberty is visible, so it'd be nice if I was able to get rid of this crap that's on the front.

I've tried peroxide in the past but every time I do I'm always left with something worse than when I started (never turns out like everybody's "before and after" comparisons I see on the forums from time to time. Beyond that, any other suggestions?

 

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[G.A.P.metal]

Rub with a toothpick...takes off crud .
Gary

 

[CoilyGirl]

Did a quick search on here but couldn't find what I was looking for.... and let's get this out of the way too - I have no intention of selling this coin...it's a common date IHP worth about $5 for a good, non-dug coin. I know cleaning "devalues" but I'd rather it look good in my collection, which is where it's going to stay.

I dug an 1890 IH penny yesterday that I initially thought was so corroded I wouldn't even be able to get a date off of it. When I got home I soaked it for a few minutes, scrubbed it lightly with some dish soap and a soft toothbrush (based on recommendations from the IHP king himself, "Goes4Ever" on his website). Turns out, it's in quite good shape on the obverse (the reverse is pretty worn), minus several rough, raised green areas. The numbers on the date are very distinct around the edges, and the Liberty is visible, so it'd be nice if I was able to get rid of this crap that's on the front.

I've tried peroxide in the past but every time I do I'm always left with something worse than when I started (never turns out like everybody's "before and after" comparisons I see on the forums from time to time. Beyond that, any other suggestions?

Congrats on your IH and I too have trouble getting the crustiness off stuff too. I have found a U.S. large cent that was thick with green stuff and now a V-Nickel that is also cruddy and toasted green after being coated with pesticides and fertilizer from corn fields. G.A.P. Is that what I should try first if I'm lucky enough to find a non silver coin? The details were decent enough when I dug the coin,maybe I should have left it alone.

 

[G.A.P.metal]

CoilyGirl
yes it works, you must have some crudy coins or old flat buttons around.
I use a small piece of ash wood around 1 yr. old cured in the wood pile, works great on old Buffalo Nickels too.
Gary

 

[CoilyGirl]

I've got an old crusty flat button but I think it was burned in a fire. Just hoping I get lucky one day and find another largie or V nickel in better conditions without corrosion from harsh chemicals. trpnBills hope your IH comes clean with time.

 

[TrpnBils]

Here's what I'm working with, by the way... I hate my camera, but you get the idea...

 

[wainzoid]

If it were mine, I would tumble it in walnut shells.

 

[Nugs Bunny]

Use a ultrasonic cleaner, I picked up a decent sized one with heat for $35.00 at Harbor Freight. That is what they use at jewelry shops to clean jewelry, I use mine to clean carb jets, detecting finds, jewelry, old knives, etc...

Here are two items I cleaned with my ultrasonic cleaner.

[video=youtube;KeLq6Iky5sI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KeLq6Iky5sI[/video]

 

[CoilyGirl]

Not too shabby on that IH trpnBils,your coin has great detail. As luck has it today I found an 1895 V-nickel but she is well worn,not sure on what to do.

 

[TrpnBils]

Just in reading the forums over the past 12 hours or so I can count almost 20 V nickels that were found yesterday by only about 6 people. That's nuts...I got my first Shield last year but the V is still elusive to me.

 

[creade]

What I've done with Indians like that is put them in some lemon juice for 30-40 seconds then try to rub it off. Then I repeat, it seems to work good. Then I wash them with water to get the acid off. Last step I put them in mineral or olive oil for a day or two to kinda seal the coin. Just don't do that with old coppers, it will eat them. Don't forget about the Indian either or the same thing will happen,just a half minute at a time

 

[Skippy SH13]

Just in reading the forums over the past 12 hours or so I can count almost 20 V nickels that were found yesterday by only about 6 people. That's nuts...I got my first Shield last year but the V is still elusive to me.

I just bought a handful of them for a quarter a piece at our local gold/silver shop. I wanted to filll a bit of my nickel collection out. I used my CLAD finds to pay for them.

In the past couple of weeks, I stopped getting hung up on finding the elusive dirt dug coins, and realized I can add to my collection other ways.

I know this is NOT for everyone (some folks aren't in it for the collection, but the fact they FOUND the coin), but it's a nice way to fill out collections if you're just looking at it that way.

For me, finding clad and turning it into old coins is the same as finding old coins (sort of)... the end results are my metal detecting is resulting in old coin collection growth!

Skippy

 

[Higgy]

Dry ice. Apply - thaw. Chip off the crud with a sharpened popsicle stick. Repeat until done.

 

[CoilyGirl]

Here's my V nickel I found. The reverse isn't quite as clear.

 

[Mr.T]

Very Soapy water for a couple of minutes and leave it in the sunniest window from sun up all day- move it from window to window to follow the sun- closer to the glass the better- people have had great results on car dashboards. you have to do all day before you do anything else! The uv seems to start breaking up the Biological detritus (sic) !
Good Luck

 

[Skippy SH13]

While researching the original first half-penny (one went for auction for 2.53 million dollars or something like that), I came across an interesting note on a Certified coin. Specifically, it noted there was some verdigris that had been removed from the half-cent using ACETONE, which is apparently safe to use on coins?

I have NO idea if this works or not, but I found it immensely interesting. If acetone doesn't damage the coin, but will remove other crud, it might be worth a shot. Acetone, btw, is what is used in Nail Polish Remover.

It'll strip paint, for sure, but I don't know if it'll take off tarnish (which we'd want to leave on a coin). Have to check with some old copper pennies and find out! I'll post back my results in a few days.

Skippy

[Edit] Some quick research shows that ACETONE is safe, but you may be looking at DAYS of soaking for removal of Verdigris. In one post, the poster noted it took 3 days of soaking to remove a small green spot on a King Charles X 40 FF with green copperrot in the ear.

The other thing is, you can stop the rot, and you can remove the Verdigris, but there will ALWAYS be a mark where the damage was done... but you can certainly prevent further damage without affecting the value of the coin (if done properly).

 

[omahaorange]

For the "green stuff" (verdigris) try this stuff:

Verdi-Care Coin Fluid

I've never tried it, but it reviews well on several coin forums.

Acetone will losen dirt/grime, but I do not believe it works on the verdigris. As far as corrosion, you're on your own. There is nothing you can do about that.