Coin problem

[ggx51]

Hi, can you tell me what the issue is on the coin between the B & the R, can it be removed without damaging it?

[Paddy]

Welcome to the forum @ggx51!

It is difficult to see exactly what you have there - the picture appears black and white - is there any colour? That might indicate verdigris or some attached organic material. I take the coin is a Victoria Sixpence?

The usual approach is to try things in increasing strength. Start with warm water and soap. If the material is organic a soak in Acetone would probably shift it. All these arevery unlikely to damage the underlying coin. Obviously don't scrub with anything abrasive!

Thereafter you are into chemicals, which is more risky. The recent trials of Sodium Sesquicarbonate solutions have been successful on Bronze and Copper coins, but I have no idea whether it would work on silver. It is very gentle and slow, so should do little other damage. (Buy it as Borax substitute on Amazon.)

Mild Ammonia solution is the next level up, but that will remove all the patina. So if you are unwilling to do that, best left as it is. Verdicare is a commercial product that might help, but it is difficult to get in the UK.

I hope that helps.

[ggx51]

Hi paddy thanks the reply, the photo is in colour, that’s what it looks like. The coin is actually a Victoria young head crown, not a sixpence, thanks for the advise, I’ll give it a go!

[ggx51]

Thanks very much paddy! As you can see it’s gone! Just soaked in warm water & washing up liquid, you’re a star!!

[Citizen H]

As Paddy mentions... circulated coins can benefit with a long soak in warm soapy water...a ultra fine/soft tooth brush will remove a multitude of crud and hand grime.... rinse off with fresh cold water.... I tend to let them air dry rather than rub them,,,, it works well for me 👍    

[Paddy]

I am glad it worked so easily.

It looks like a nice coin - any chance of pics of the whole?

 

[ggx51]

  I’ve tried but keeps saying file size to big, even after allowing format change, so may have to upload in different parts!

[ggx51]

[Paddy]

Looks good!

There are ways of shrinking images to the 500Kb limit - depends on you operating system. I think there are tips in the technical section. (I know what to do in Windows but I am hopeless with anything else!)

[ggx51]

[ggx51]

[ggx51]

[ggx51]

Hopefully these give an idea 😂

[absence of uniformity]

On 4/9/2026 at 10:37 AM, Paddy said:

Welcome to the forum @ggx51!

It is difficult to see exactly what you have there - the picture appears black and white - is there any colour? That might indicate verdigris or some attached organic material. I take the coin is a Victoria Sixpence?

The usual approach is to try things in increasing strength. Start with warm water and soap. If the material is organic a soak in Acetone would probably shift it. All these arevery unlikely to damage the underlying coin. Obviously don't scrub with anything abrasive!

Thereafter you are into chemicals, which is more risky. The recent trials of Sodium Sesquicarbonate solutions have been successful on Bronze and Copper coins, but I have no idea whether it would work on silver. It is very gentle and slow, so should do little other damage. (Buy it as Borax substitute on Amazon.)

Mild Ammonia solution is the next level up, but that will remove all the patina. So if you are unwilling to do that, best left as it is. Verdicare is a commercial product that might help, but it is difficult to get in the UK.

I hope that helps.

@ggx51 I hope you dont me mind me asking a similar question in this post. @Paddy do you have a suggestion please for the black crud to the left of Britannia's bicep, its quite soft. Originially I was going to sell this coin but it has grown on me alot I love the size and thickness of the coin and decided to keep it.

Edited 1 hour ago by absence of uniformity

[absence of uniformity]

The black stuff goes right across the coin from VIC GRA

[Paddy]

Very difficult to tell what the black stuff is. In some ways it looks like excessive patina, but the stuff by Britannia's bicep looks thicker.

I would go through the same sequence, starting with warm soapy water, and if that doesn't shift it, on to Acetone. This may reveal underlying Verdigris, in which case you are onto the Sodium Sesquicarbonate or Verdicare options. I suspect nothing will shift it without taking off all the rest of the patina, turning the coin pink.

If you do get to that stage, there is a way of restoring some of the patina: if you apply a thin coat of vegetable oil and then leave the coin on a sunny windowledge the dark patina will slowly return.

Don't hold me responsible if none of this works!