Vinyl Residue

[glennm]

I just got a set of Ikes in a mid 1970s Harco coinmaster album dated through 1974.  Several of the coins have a greenish residue/sheen.  Is this likely PVC damage?  When did Harco shift to non-PVC?  It almost looks like the coins were dipped and placed in the album before they were dry.  Thanks for any help.

[Star City Homer]

If it looks like greenish slime it's very likely PVC.  It may or may not have affected the coins underneath.  If you could post photos it would be easier to tell.  Cell phone photos would likely be good enough to give us an idea (you can upload them buy using the little paper clip thingy on the bottom left the dialog box when making a reply). 

Have no idea re: Harco, but in 1970 there were a lot of coin holders made out of PVC containing material.

[DWLange]

HARCO albums used plastic with PVC until sometime in the 80s, when the company switched to safer plastic. It was too late to recover, and the line went out of production in the early 90s.

[Conder101]

It definitely sounds like they are in a PVC album that is degrading and leaching the plasticizer.  The fact that it has a greenish color indicates that PVC damage is occurring.  The coins should be giving an acetone bath as soon as possible to stop any further damage from occurring.  Only an examination of the coins after the plasticizer has been removed will tell you how bad the damage is.