Hi everyone, I have an 1973 British Virgin Islands proof set. For some odd reason, the coins aren't sealed or anything and the reverse of the coins are just exposed to air. As a result, they have lost their proof mirror-like finish, and only the obverse of the coins still have their proof finish. Is there any way to restore the proof finish without damaging the coins? I've attached pictures below so you can see the difference between the two sides.
Air exposure doesn’t do that to coins, I am having a hard time believing that these are two sides of the same coins. Please take a photo with a mirror to give this post credibility.
As for turning the damaged side of the coins back to proof - no chance, that side has been cleaned, circulated or sand blasted. A Time Machine is you only hope.
„If your reply or post in the Forum stinks of AI, I will call you out! Knowledge comes from experience, the I in AI stands for incompetence.“
Answer to question - NO, any polishing would make it artificial and the tone would be destroyed. The coin would no longer natural - just modified
Plus its only 1970s Franklin mint stuff anyway - such coins are never worth more than melt, and usually just one coin was good silver, one half silver and the rest were muck metals. There were some silver sets though.
I also suspect that set is not Proof, just standard Uncirculated finish, which was a slightly more budget version.
UPDATE - I think all those coins are Cupronickel or Bronze, so technically near worthless anywat.
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
No sorry, this set was not well loved over the years and what is done is done. As well as the unappealing tarnishing, some have scratches / defects. Cleaning would only make them less appealing. The only real value in this set is the silver value. 181,000 sets minted.
I have seen tarnished silver proofs looking like new after a “very” quick silver bath (probably not your run of the mill one though and meticulously neutralised afterwards of course). But scratches etc. are permanent.
I had assumed that the reason why the other side had lost it’s mirror like finish was because it was exposed to air, because it was the obverse with Elizabeth II that was facing down the case and didn’t lose its finish. From the comments, am I to gather that it’s not possible it lost its proof finish as a result of contaminants in the air? Also here is the certificate of authenticity, which claims it’s a proof set.
Hi, for anyone who is doubting the credibility of this post, here is a mirror image. You can see the proof side on the facing the mirror.
I was half joking about the mirror 😉 this new photo doesnt look as bad as the previous one for this coin. Maybe the previous photo made the one side look worse than it actually is.
If you are wanting to sell the coins on eBay you will almost certainly get silver value ca. €20 for the set, people normally pay silver price.
If you wanted to try and get them looking a bit better, a silver bath (sulphuric acid) will help on the silver dollar - but only use on the silver coin. Dip, remove, rub between your fingers to remove what ever is making it look so dull on one side. Then remove acid in water bath and blot dry with kitchen paper.
For the rest you could try hot soapy water, same with fingers and rinsing and blotting dry. However here I have less hope…
sorry
„If your reply or post in the Forum stinks of AI, I will call you out! Knowledge comes from experience, the I in AI stands for incompetence.“
This Proof came “disassembled.” The instructions to assemble the set were to remove them from their sealed protection and put them into the holder. Who knows how many times them were handled over the past 50 years. It's definitely possible to get air exposure on one side and not the other affecting their appearance.
One word of caution. Do not immerse them in sulfuric acid then rub them with your bare fingers. You will be sorry very quickly.
Acid on coins. There is an less drastic alternative if you insist on making your coin shiny. I can PM you if you would like to know how to do it. If the results are not are not satisfactory, you can always try the acid method.
Purpose made silver baths for coins are not simply bunch of acid or bases (especially not concentrated ones), they are balanced to be a reducing environment with little as possible dissolving of actual surface material. It also sounds like you have no experience with them which is asking for trouble.
Ezest is a well used American silver bath, coin cleaner. It probably has other chemicals in as well, so it isn’t pure sulphuric acid - it also isn’t going to burn through your skin like the blood of an xenomorph, just follow the instructions on safety.
