Nicest dug V nickel I've seen...Tarn-X experiment

[Wyatt Earp]

Our generous webmster gave me this V-nickel, an 1883 w/o cents last saturday. I got some tarn-x last night and decided to try a Jefferson nickel to see if this stuff would restore the color of the coin...and it does.

When Greg gave this to me it was absolutely black. The surfaces are a little porous and there's still a little green that an ammonia soak will remove, but I'll have to wait until I get to the store. I'm out of ammonia. Overall, I'm impressed that I was able to make it resemble a nickel again.

Thanks Greg. Thought I'd pass along the tip in case somebody digs an outstanding V-nickel with nice surfaces and wants to restore it to its natural color.

Wyatt

[Wyatt Earp]

It does remove sulphated silver. If it's not too heavily damaged, it removes it completely. If it's heavily sulphated and blackened, it leaves a tan colored residue. It also appears to work on clad. I put some in a gatorade bottle with water....just enough to cover the coins and then added an ounce or so of the tarn-x and am leaving the stuff soak. There are wheaties in there too.

I'll let you know how this batch of "regular" coins turns out.

Wyatt

[ROOT66]

GREAT CLEANUP JOB WYATT!! I'LL HAVE TO TRY IT ON A FEW BUFFALO NICKELS I RECENTLY FOUND.

[Wyatt Earp]

It'll be really nice when I get some ammonia and get the remaining green deposits off of it. I'll repost some pics...obverse and reverse when it's completely finished.

Wyatt

[Gregory]

You did a nice job on it I'm suprised it turned out so nice

[Wyatt Earp]

I'm surprised too, Greg. I didn't know what to expect but decided to try it anyway. I've never found anything else that will restore the color of a dug nickel.

Wyatt

[Wyatt Earp]

The Steelers are supposed to lose in the pre-season. If they kept the first team in for the whole game....they'd find a way to win.

Went out for a little while tonight. Best find was a high end ballpoint pen with gold plated clip and trim....amazing...I dug it at 2 inches and it's still perfectly functional. Got 2.04 in modern money (and a few wheats)...but no silver tonight. Batteries crapped out on me....so maybe I wasn't getting down as far as I have been the past couple nights.

Wyatt

[Wyatt Earp]

I let that V-nickel soak for about an hour....and used...brace yourself...0000 steel wool to accentuate the details. The Tarn-X alone leaves a very dry and damaged surface. Burnishing it with steel wool makes it look good. After that...thumb it awhile.

Remember....this V nickel was discolored, but the surfaces appeared smooth. If the coins are really in bad shape....you may just make them worse....but the right color.

Wyatt

[Wyatt Earp]

In case anybody is following this.....I just dipped a 2000 Sacagawea in the Tarn-X....and it did a wonderful job of restoring the surface and color. It was almost the color of a penny, it had become so heavily toned.

Next time I dig a Sac....I'll try it on the dug coin. I spent the last one I found.

Wyatt

[elkco]

Has anyone else seen the commercial for Easy Off BAM? They show soaking a penny for 1 minute and it comes out clean. Has anyone tried this or is there some reason NOT to try it?