1884 Liberty Nickel Conservation attempt.

I found this nickel in a U pick 'em box for 3 bucks. I bought 2 others just to mix it in with more common dates.

My question is: Is there a way to conserve this coin without rubbing it or dipping it in any corrosive chemicals. I already tried acetone, because it is relatively safe, no results. I have seen this black rust (I Don't know what it is called), on other nickels but this one would look out of place in the album.

Any suggestions?

* I currently don't have an 84 so Id like to put it in one of my two empty slots (the other is the 85). oh yeah and the 12-S

 

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I do not know any. Nickel is so much more resistant than copper or silver. You could experiment with other nickels you might find in change, that fit your definition. I would just leave it as it is now as it won't get worse without moisture around it.

 

Thank you ... I encased it a plastic self slab for now. In regular light it is hard to see any details. I've always been taught not to clean any coins, so I will abide, until I can think of a safe solution.

 

Since you already tried acetone, I think the next thing to try might be xylene. IIRC, it's a little more aggressive, or attacks stuff that acetone doesn't, but is just as safe as acetone. Hopefully others will opine, but maybe some MS70 would help this coin? If you try MS70, I'd practice, practice, practice on some other nickels, as from my understanding, MS70 can be bad if not done correctly. Nice pick up anyway!

 

It's worth more than $3 as is.
It may not clean up and may get ruined unless you are an expert.

 

I agree. This looks similar to the environmental damage found on a lot of nickels that had been buried. The alloy is 75% Copper and 25% nickel. Others have offered some suggestions such as acetone and Xylene. They can't hurt but I don't think you're going to see any significant improvement. I think if you try anything else, you are much more likely to make it worse.

 

From the way I was looking at it yesterday I was thinking that this could be the 1884 RPD. I wouldn't want to ruin that.

But yeah I agree with most of you.... looks like environmental damage, but I would so much like to reveal those details I see under there!

Now let me think, if I remember correctly from my last painting project, Xylene is a petroleum based paint thinner... right? Kinda like Mineral Spirits or turpentine? Might be worth a try. If I get home and decide it's not the RPD, THEN onwards to Menards, or better yet Home Depot, where I found that 1940 Wheat cent in the auto checkout last Columbus day.

 

Agree on the ED someone probably got this metal detecting.
But how could you let that treasure go no matter what condition?
This is probably my favorite coin, and I have found some silvers and old wheaties.
They's be burying me with that 1884.

 

Pretty cool Bicentennial lke; a Type I right? Not sure which is which, but I mean the type with the larger broader letters. I can't tell from the pic D or S but it's that a silver one, the mint marks from this time period always fool me until I bust out the extra small 10X triplet.

Did you find this yourself? Id love to go metal detecting. I've been eyeing Whites Pinpointers on eBay lately. I went once before but didn't have the pinpointer... a must have for actually finding something. ....


I've got a treasure alas with locations where ghost towns existed and where gangsters hid their loot back in the 20's. I've never seen another one like it. The thrill of the find sounds like something I can get into! I'm always watching guys on YouTube make incredible finds in this area.

 

Not to hijack the thread, which ever is the more common Ike, that's what it is. I have found many dollar coins, and large objects the size of Ikes, (Silver dollar sized medallions, an old Mexican coin similar size and weight.) I knew it was possible. I had been wanting to find an Ike and I finally got one.
My coin is more ED than the OP, and this stuff is not coming off.

 

OP?

 

Origional post.

It would take something abrasive to clean the ‘84, I’d leave it be, you’re more likely to cause major damage than have it look much better. If anything, I’d do a distilled water or olive oil soak like the ancient guys.

 

I imagine that there is quite a bit of treasure where you are located. Especially through the passes of the Santa De Christo mountains.

I bet there is quite a bit of treasure in the Sangre De Christo Mountain passes. My grandparents used to live right outside Albuquerque in Placitas... Bandits burying their loot there in the mountains before the authorites could catch them. Hope you find some gold coins out there.

Btw.. thanks for having my back in that post about the round pound coins. Some people just like to argue I guess.

 

I imagine there is a Shrodinger point when the environmental damage is not just on the surface anymore, but is etched into the coin.
Unless there is a numismatic conservation specialist with some secret formula, the only way to get this crud off the coin would be either abrasive (steel wool, grinding wheel, rock tumbler). Or some very strong acids or other solvents, which would only damage the coin by scraping off a layer of metal along with the crud. We have all seen these shiny coins.
Even if the OP were to do a very gentle cleaning which would not damage the coin, you could end up with various patches of light and dark, and it would still look worse than it does now. Leave it alone and just shrug your shoulders and label it ED. Still a good date coin in decent condition (apart from the ED).

 

With an alloy, whatever chemical, acid or alkaline, each metal will react differently . Ultrasonic may loosen some of the crust, special equipment required. Electrolysis using Direct current would require using the coin as one pole, and another metal on the opposite. It is tricky, but a low voltages may loosen some crust. These are techniques to try on a wasted low value piece first. Soaking in distilled water or olive oil, would be a first choice- use time and patience.

 

If the surface of a coin is pitted, by whatever means or method, the coin probably will never look good and all you can do is to call attention to the pitting.

 

Im not sure I'll ever know. Too mucked up to see pitting. I'll just save it until I find out what the top substance is. Then I'll try to dissolve it.

 

Worth a try, wish you luck. Things to try...acetone and xylene have been mentioned, they would dissolve any organic residue. Water is always good for the inorganic substances that are just stuck on. Any other thing you try, first try on a worn nickel so you kind-of know what you are getting into. Things that occur to me include a baking soda solution, a caustic lye (NaOH) solution or perhaps some lemon juice. Let us see it if you try anything.

 

I've got the ultrasonic cleaner. Ran it through 3 cycles.... no change yet. Thanks for the tip. I'll be working on it more this weekend.

 

I don't believe the discoloration is a coating or surface layer that can be easily removed. The corrosion probably goes below the surface, almost like staining a piece of wood. If the wood is painted, you can usually remove most of it without too much damage to the surface, but if it's stained, you have to sand to get rid of the original wood that has soaked up the stain. I think you're in the same situation, where you'll need to remove the original metal and that has a high likelihood of leaving you with a coin that will look even worse