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 Replies: 17 / Views: 1,744 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3237 Posts |
I have a few nice varieties with a little zinc rot setting in that I would like to mitigate if possible, however, I don't want to accidentally leave the surfaces of the coins looking disfigured/cleaned. What are people's thoughts on using verdicare on zincolns, especially ones that already have early-stage zinc rot?
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
94367 Posts |
Doesn't sound like a good idea to me, especially since I don't think Verdi Care would have much effect on zinc rot. But it's cheap to experiment!  What say the chemists? Edited by Coinfrog
01/23/2021 5:12 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3237 Posts |
@CoinFrog I meant to address the verdigris that is still attacking the copper in the affected areas. Photo for reference.  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
8923 Posts |
I've done it before, and done it on decently scarce coins. No issues on my end.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3237 Posts |
@GrapeCollects does it leave weird discolored marks in the areas that the verdigris was removed from?
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21593 Posts |
If they already show signs of rot, they are already gone. Therefore Verdicare would just be a waste.
Just let to Zincolns continue to rot. That's what was intended.
The best use for rotted Zincolns is to return them in bulk to the bank. Issued currency, both bills and coins, are a liability on the U.S. Treasury.
If they cannot be reissued, the U.S. Treasury sustains the loss, not you.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
6244 Posts |
The Zinc oxidation is amphoteric oxide. Cleaning this oxide from coins, with out scrubbing is with lemon juice. BUT, then after must be protected from next agents, in particular oxygen. Maybe an light oil film will help. Good Luck.
Follow some explications. (quote from chemistry)
PS the oxide it is silver color and do not affect the surfaces. it is just a reaction between the zinc and oxygen oxide. The surface of the pure metal tarnishes quickly, eventually forming a protective passivating layer of the basic zinc carbonate, Zn 5(OH) 6(CO3) 2, by reaction with atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Zinc burns in air with a bright bluish-green flame, giving off fumes of zinc oxide.[36] Zinc reacts readily with acids, alkalis and other non-metals.[37] Extremely pure zinc reacts only slowly at room temperature with acids. Strong acids, such as hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, can remove the passivating layer and subsequent reaction with water releases hydrogen gas.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8923 Posts |
Quote:
@GrapeCollects does it leave weird discolored marks in the areas that the verdigris was removed from? Not from my experience.
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
I definitely would not use Verdi-Care on Zinc rot Zincolns . Why waste a rare solution that is virtually impossible to get anymore . It will not help those coins .
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
16078 Posts |
Quote:
Just let to Zincolns continue to rot. That's what was intended. As a matter of interest, is it reaction between the copper and zinc, or moisture getting between the two metals, which causes zincolns to rot? I was working in Austria in the summer of 2000 and used to visit banks to swap bills for the zinc 5-groschen coins, which were seldom seen in circulation and were due to be replaced by the Euro in 2002. I found numerous 5-groschen coins from the 1950s (the oldest was dated 1948) in quite reasonable condition. Occasionally they had a bit of white deposit on them, but it wasn't unusual to find a 50-year-old coin in VF.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3237 Posts |
Is there any way to conserve a coin like this? I would rather not just let it disintegrate into zinc dust - even if it has little value, the coin in question is a very rare 1996 FS-101. Would be a shame for one of the only 10 or 20 known examples (from what I understand) to just crumble away.
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Pillar of the Community
2145 Posts |
If I read this article right then removing the "zinc bloom" around exposed areas on the coin is actually a bad thing and the rot will only get worse. Now if Verdi-Care or any like product will seal the zinc from reacting with the carbon dioxide in the air I have no idea Zinc Deterioration On Lincoln Cents: http://www.error-ref.com/zinc-deter...ncoln-cents/ |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
For those new to the collecting field, I would not recommend the unstable copper-plated Lincoln cents from 1983 to the present. They're prone to deterioration over time, even when left undisturbed or in slabs.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5858 Posts |
If you have VC try it, then try coating with nose oil or spray a "test" Zincoln with clear lacquer. Back in the day many would lacquer their coins..Just my thought
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Greasy , It would still be a Details coin .  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
16861 Posts |
Zinc rot and rot rates... I'd imagine the rate of zinc rot would vary, given the variety of environmental agents out there which a zinc coin could encounter. I've held on to select Zincolns for many years and have not been aware (visually) of any progression in the rate of rot (if they have any to begin with). I don't take any special care with them, other than placing in 2x2s, Danscos, and tubes. At this stage, I'm not concerned with coins turning to dust anytime soon. Can't say the same for a Zincoln lying in the dank grass of a ditch meandering along a Mississippi back road.
Saving an 'important' Zincoln could involve an acetone swim and quick Verdicare treatment (if you have the stuff), then placing the coin in a quality 2x2 or capsule.
Edited by ijn1944
01/24/2021 1:09 pm
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Replies: 17 / Views: 1,744 |
Posted 01/23/2021 5:13 pm
