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PVC damage: the green slime in old flips
Soft vinyl flips can leach plasticizer. Green or sticky film etches the coin. Cardboard 2x2s or inert flips. Do not scrub the slime off at the sink.
Old soft plastic flips can be vinyl with PVC. The plasticizer leaks. You get a green or oily film. It can etch the coin. That is damage. It is not toning. Hairlines vs toning.
What to do
Take it out of the bad flip. Do not scrub it in the sink. Do not use metal polish. A conservator or a shop that knows acetone on inert surfaces may talk you through the film. We will not promise a miracle. Don’t clean. How to store metal.
Use cardboard 2×2s with Mylar, or flips sold as PVC-free. Attics and car trunks cook the plastic faster.
A slab is not required. A better holder is. When to slab.
More on the coin and money library.