OILY coins!

Dick · Expert Member

Does anyone know of a way to rid the coins of the ioly, slippery coating? I have tried boiling water, and no effect. It is as though the coins "absorbed the oil", and slowly emit it later. Any possibility of this?
I have a bunch of very oily coins that I want to check, but the oil makes it hard to work with them! I am about resdy to run them thru some "sheep-dip"!
Thanks,
Dick

coop · Expert Member

These are circulated right? Some BU coins have been coated with various sealers. Nail polish (Clear)/ Lacquer/ Varnish or ETC. These would be a layer over the coins. Thinner/goo Gone/nail polish remover might be tried on them. You just need to try this on the most valueless to see what will help. Don't bulk try this as it may mean a lot of ruined coins. (I remember the aluminum pot episode) It could be old soaking with mineral oil. So get a few ideas from those here on the site and start with them one at a time. See what helps and re-post to get another direction. I would probably try my mineral oil bath with a tooth brush first, then go to another solution. Make sure you are happy before proceeding with other coins. Experiment with the worst one first Exclamation

eagames · Expert Member

Try acetone. (pure acetone and do it outside)

If you don't have acetone try nail polish remover but be sure to rinse it with alcohol.

Smile

Dick · Expert Member

Hi Guys, Been there, done that, and did not care for the results. Currently trying something new: AWESOME. Not an acid, not a bleach, not ammonia, and, it's not flamable. I troied some on my ioly '56's, ans lke the way they came out. NO oil! NO indications of surface change, or damage. Of course I rinsed right away with fresh warm water. The firse few were immersed, and then blotted dry. Then I left them in foe a few minutes, and rinsed, and dried with a paper towel, So far, so good. I am leaving another batch, (with a lot of crud), etc, and will do the rinse, afterward. The mixture is about 7-1/2:1.
My wife says it is the best thing she has ever found! I'll let you know what these coins look like in a few days, weeks, months, (if they haven't disolved completely)! Shocked

Dick

eagames · Expert Member

Dick,

If it's soda/cola it will clean the coins but they will look copper and bright if they soak too long.

Dishwashing soap might work.

Be sure to try it on junk coins before doing any good coins.

Good luck!! Smile

Dick · Expert Member

Hi d! Yep Tried the dishwashing detergent,,and don't care for the false color. I am trying the product AWESOME, and it really does a nice fast job of getting rid of the oily suurface. I was surprised how fast it qwoeks. The surface look natural, and don't have that oily feel, amnd look anymore. I used a 7-1/2:1 ratio, and for the coi9ns that have a lot of crud, etc, I am goint to allow them to soak overnight. Then I'll check to see how much of it has dissolved. Hopefully, a lot! Evwen if it is still there, mayvbe it will be soft enough to remove with a jet of water.. If not, there is always the AJAX!
Dick

Dick · Expert Member

Ed, I looked at some coins that soaked overnight, and a lot of the crud uis coming loose. It hardens rapidly, if exposed to air. The other coins that were treated with Awesome, (7-1/2;1) mixture, came out beautiful! Clean, and not a bit oily, or slippery. I was very surprised, and happy. The coins look very natural.
Dick