I got this 1938-D Walking Liberty Half back from NGC. They said it had PVC damage. It does not look that bad to me. How long should I soak it in pure acetone?
I actually just got a 34-s in the mail today soaked it for 15-20 minutes problem gone. acetone works pretty quick,but don't be afraid to leave it in for a day or so or longer if need be.
PVC DAMAGE will not be corrected with acetone. Acetone will remove the PVC and keep it from further damage, but once the coin is damaged, it will be damaged forever. As for how long, until you cannot see it. Them rinse it a couple times with acetone. Once you cannot see it, the rinse should guarantee it is gone.
What he said ! And it will. The problem is some folks can't see it to begin with because they don't know what they are looking at when they do see it. In other words, they don't even recognize that it, the PVC contamination, is even there on the coin. And even folks more don't recognize the damage that was caused by previous PVC contamination because they don't know what that damage looks like. Neither NGC nor PCGS will grade or slab a coin that still has PVC residue on the coin. So when you see a coin packaged like the OP's coin is, that's what it means - that PVC residue is still physically present on the coin. That said, if a coin was previously damaged by PVC contamination, but there is no longer any PVC residue on the coin, then they will slab the coin and put it in a slab with the Damaged designation or code.
Many years ago ANACS would sometimes send a note back with coins with PVC contamination. It said that the coin might grade if the PVC was removed and there was no damage. I thought it was cool that they shared that information.
You could use Verdi-Care. But there would still be damage to the surfaces of the coin if PVC really was present on the coin.
I could be mistaken but has that coin already been soaked in acetone? Usually, when I see PVC it is like this blueish/blueish green color and when I soak it there is damage underneath, unless it is mild. As far as verdigris on coppers I have used Verdi-care to remove it but there is usually damage underneath so sometimes it is not worth the bother if the coin is not worth much. This looks like PVC to me. I soaked it for a few days in acetone even though I do not recommend soaking coppers in acetone, I avoid it. I do see some of the PVC was removed exposing the damage.
If the coin is removed from the pvc slip without soaking or rinsing with acetone, does the damage continue to worsen?
Once the PVC gets on the coin, it will continue eating the coin until the PVC is physically removed from the surfaces of the coin.
Thank you! Another question if you do not mind, is the green material on the coin surface the actual pvc, or a chemical that contains the metal AND the pvc?
If you want the technical answer, it is none of the above. PVC is actually perfectly safe, but it is brittle. In order to make it more pliable, they add a plasticizer. That is the problem. It migrates out of the PVC and onto the coin. It is hydroscopic (i.e. it attracts water). The water makes hydrochloric acid which eats the coin. Copper makes it green. However, before it turns green, it forms a haze on the coin. The haze can be removed usually without any damage. The green says there is definitely damage.
Am I correct that this coin has pvc damage and should be soaked in acetone? Once soaked would a trained eye be able to spot the damage?
That would definitely be my guess. BTW, at least for silver coins, acetone will do no harm provided you use pure acetone. If in doubt, soak it. There is a debate about how safe it is with copper coins, but it, at worst, rarely causes problems. But some coins turn colors, but the exact cause remains open - be it bad acetone, something on the coin, or just the coin itself.
