Tarnished coin cleaning

5 rubles · June 16, 2015, 06:57:59 AM

I have had a number of coins in vinyl sheet pockets without a cardboard holder for many years and as the result the coins have developed a smoky appearance which wipes off easily. I am reluctant to touch them. is there a liquid or solvent that could get rid of the smoky appearance?

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trout · June 16, 2015, 07:28:17 AM

What you have here is typical PVC residue, If it hasn't started to eat away at the surface of the coins yet then they are salvageable.
I lost a lot of my pre decimals because of this very thing because I got to them far too late :dash1:
Try soaking in acetone for a couple of days then rinsing in new acetone after the soak.
Do NOT be tempted to "rub" the coins , let the acetone do the work :ok:

When you have treated all the coins put them in 2x2's or saflips, Then get hold of some archival quality pages and binders to house them in safely .
These are what I and many other collectors use
http://www.thepurplepenny.com/2,pvc-free-coin-album-and-slip-cover-with-10-pvc-free-album-pages-to-suit-2x2-coin-holders.html

Once you have done all that, Take great satisfaction by taking all the old PVC laden albums out the backyard and BURN those puppies :diablo::good:

5 rubles · June 16, 2015, 08:19:38 AM

Thanks trout, are the PVC sheets those old nice feeling soft plastic that also react with laser printed pages, transferring the text from the paper to the plastic? I have had them for 20 years at least. It seems all my old coins have survived better in a big lacquered box better than those in "numismatic PVS sheets", quite awful...
I have bought new sheets from purplepenny and will now replace all PVCs.

Is this the culprit PVC sheet?

trout · June 16, 2015, 08:27:57 AM

Yes, I hate those thing with a passion because of the damage they caused me.
Those things burn beautifully Mate :good:

JeffH · June 16, 2015, 09:43:16 AM

Don't buy acetone at a pharmacy -about 5 times dearer than Bunnings, Big W, hardware store or paint store.
Even though nail polish remover is basically acetone don't use it; has all sorts of (possibly undesirable) additives.
Soak in a sealed container or acetone will all evaporate within minutes.
A final rinse in distilled or demineralised water is desirable and pat dry with towelling or tissue. Look in the ironing products section of a supermarket for suitable water. It is quite cheap.

5 rubles · June 16, 2015, 09:51:18 AM

But to be fair to the PVC those coins that are in cardboard sealed or stapled holders have survived well, only those coins that were in pouches without any protection have suffered.

Fulvio · June 16, 2015, 12:25:17 PM

Quote from: '5 rubles' pid='74398' dateline='1434414078'But to be fair to the PVC those coins that are in cardboard sealed or stapled holders have survived well, only those coins that were in pouches without any protection have suffered.

That's because the BoPET (Mylar) in the mounts acts as a barrier to the relatively large molecules of the fumes leaching from the PVC.

However, if the seal isn't perfect, they offer little protection. And the glue on the self-adhesive ones lets go after a while, especially with larger, heavier coins. Better to use non-adhesive mounts and iron them shut for a perfect seal.

Goldseeker · June 16, 2015, 02:38:56 PM

How can an "Ironed" mount seal itself if there is no glue etc to stick too?

trout · June 16, 2015, 02:42:51 PM

Quote from: 'Goldseeker' pid='74409' dateline='1434431336'How can an "Ironed" mount seal itself if there is no glue etc to stick too?

Same principle of using a heat sealer on saflips.
The plastic "welds" itself airtight due to the heat applied.
Pretty much like we used to do with glad wrap on the cut off sleeves on our "pollys" in the Army Mate :ok:

Goldseeker · June 16, 2015, 11:09:49 PM

I understand that trout but Fulvio's last comment is what my question is aimed at.

Fulvio · June 17, 2015, 02:02:20 AM

Quote from: 'Goldseeker' pid='74431' dateline='1434461989'I understand that trout but Fulvio's last comment is what my question is aimed at.

Like he said, ironing them (carefully so as not to melt the window, or yellow the cardboard) fuses the plastic together and makes it a single piece.

5 rubles · June 17, 2015, 06:45:34 AM

So all my original RAM coins in these old covers are getting sick too, those covers feel same as the PVC album sheets. I have to put another order to purplepenny to replace all my album sheets and order more staple cardboard covers.

5 rubles · June 17, 2015, 09:45:53 AM

This leads to my notes, I assume that notes are effected by PVC storage sheets too. any advice what to use for them, I did not see storage sheets for notes on their website.

Fordprefect · June 17, 2015, 10:33:32 AM

Quote from: '5 rubles' pid='74441' dateline='1434500153'This leads to my notes, I assume that notes are effected by PVC storage sheets too. any advice what to use for them, I did not see storage sheets for notes on their website.

Refer to topic -

http://www.australian-coins.net/showthread.php?tid=1002&highlight=vario

5 rubles · June 17, 2015, 02:47:51 PM

These RAM folders don't survive well in PVC sheets either or is the reason something in the folder cardboard that stains the coin? I have other coins in stapled cardboard covers right next to them that are much shinier.
Is it better to pull these coins out of the RAM folders and soak in acetone too, which is making a big difference in some of the coins in less that one hour.