I had some zinc coins that were showing some signs of oxidation so I did a little experiment. I removed the oxidation with a little lemon juice and decided to try waxing them. The process was to gently heat the coin until it was hot enough to prevent the wax from setting on contact and then quickly spreading it out with my fingers while it was still liquid. The results were quite pleasing, the layer of wax is so thin you can't even tell that it's there and the details are all clear and crisp and now I've got a coin protected from oxidation.
Has anyone else tried something similar and do you think this will affect the value of the coin? The wax is easy enough to remove if I want to by re-heating the coin and wiping off the wax.
It was an uncoloured plain candlewax, I found it to be good because it's not going to stain the coin and its' melting point is low enough that I can still handle the coin when it's warm enough to melt the wax.
They're mostly low value coins. catalogue value between 75 cents and $2, I just wanted to remove oxidation and protect them from furthur oxidation damage.
Well it was the first zinc coins that I'd had with the white oxidation on it. It wasn't all that expensive, just a dollar or so; it turned out nicely and now I don't have to worry about the oxidation coming back.
You know neilithic that back in the day they used Museum wax for ancient coins. Before air tight holders. And on other metal things. Ever since you put this up I have been looking for some info I had on it. Can not find, there was a place you could still get it. If I find I will let you know more.
yours daryl
found it It is called renaissance wax speciall formulatrd for the british museum it was like 22 dollars {US}for 200ml. But that goes back to the 1980's.
No, I haven't got any zinc, I don't think there was any (if there was theres not alot out there) zinc in our empire tin on the other hand... Is expensive and hard to find in good Nick !
Well thats why I'm a bit hesitant about the idea of waxing. lacquering coins does alter the way they look and hide flaws so I would advise against it.
I prefer the idea of waxing as its much easier to remove, and on a metal like zinc it will be partly absorbed by the coins surface making it less noticable.
I think its interesting that museums use wax to preserve exhibits I wonder whats in their special wax. My guess is its based on bees wax. Those pots of bee's wax furniture polish might work well? they normally have a solvent with the wax to help it get absorbed by the wood
Well thats why I'm a bit hesitant about the idea of waxing. lacquering coins does alter the way they look and hide flaws so I would advise against it.
I prefer the idea of waxing as its much easier to remove, and on a metal like zinc it will be partly absorbed by the coins surface making it less noticable.
I think its interesting that museums use wax to preserve exhibits I wonder whats in their special wax. My guess is its based on bees wax. Those pots of bee's wax furniture polish might work well? they normally have a solvent with the wax to help it get absorbed by the woodIn the advertisement on ebay it gives some good information why it's preferred by museums and collector's but I'll let you read it rather than me copy it to here.
Nope, but in the finished article you can't really tell they're waxed, you can only really tell when you pick it up and you can feel the waxy texture. It's a delicate balance, you've got to keep the coin hot enough to maintain the wax in its' liquid state so you can spread it round the coin and pour off any excess, but it has to be cool enough that you can still handle it.
ok the two on the left have not been soaked in vinegar or in oil yet though the third from left has only been soaked in a light oil where as the forth from left has had the full treatment
remember i for i coins
swap list under reconstruction!
Don't have a 
over it. 
