Mint mark gunk question.

[Jacob]

Every once in awhile you find a wheat cent with black substance in and around mint mark. I usually use a toothpick and carefully dig out gunk. Sometimes a toothpick or rose thorn etc... isnt enough. I dont like using q-tips for it will mildly scratch surface even for as soft as it is. My debate is whether or not to use some type of glue to pull it out. Glue discolors coins in a way but is there a certain type of glue that will not affect color of coin and just remove the black gunk. I just found a 1927 S and the mint mark is really small to be able to dig out gunk. The mink mark looks like it might be an RPM. The bad part is I noticed someone prior used something that scratched around area a little. It looks like toothbrush scratches. So.... any ideas of a cheap way to take care of the problem?

[GrumpyEd]

Be careful, if it's stubborn and you try too hard sometimes you end up with no toning in the spot or the gunk was there before toning so that spot looks bright when you get it off. I've boiled a cup of water in the micro then let the coin sit in it, that softens the gunk for easier picking.

[jfines69]

It may take a long time to get the gunk removed... With stubborn gunk all you can do is remove a small layer at a time... Soak the area for a minute or so remove a layer then repeat... The wooden toothpick and green thorn should work the best... Use a qtip, don't rub it just drip, to put acetone on the area... Like Ed said tho removing it may leave a nice brite undesirable spot!!!

[Jacob]

It may take a long time to get the gunk removed... With stubborn gunk all you can do is remove a small layer at a time... Soak the area for a minute or so remove a layer then repeat... The wooden toothpick and green thorn should work the best... Use a qtip, don't rub it just drip, to put acetone on the area... Like Ed said tho removing it may leave a nice brite undesirable spot!!!

It already had that bright undesirable spot along with scratches. I wasnt to happy about it but what ever.

[jfines69]

It already had that bright undesirable spot along with scratches. I wasnt to happy about it but what ever.

To bad... All you can do then to prevent further damage is to go slow... So slow a snail would appear to be flying warp one

[Jacob]

To bad... All you can do then to prevent further damage is to go slow... So slow a snail would appear to be flying warp one

The last snail that messed with this must of been named turbo

[jfines69]

The last snail that messed with this must of been named turbo