Removing gold plate
 

Hi,

I just purchased an old silver british crown from 1819 but it is gold plated.

Is there a way to remove the gold without damaging the silver underneath?

Thanks.

Re: Removing gold plate
 

Hmmm. I'd say reverse electroplating would do it, but it will also start to remove the silver. There may be a "happy medium" wherein you can remove the gold plate and just a little of the silver.

Why remove the gold plate anyway? It is what it is.

Re: Removing gold plate
 

:rolleyes_m: Agreed :applause_:applause_:applause_

I do some electroplating myself.

The process will remove the gold in one pass if you're careful.
Subsequent passes will start removing silver in light steps and degrade the coin...so be careful and use very low voltage.

Chemically ? Don't think so...

Does anyone make a gold solvent ?

Never heard of one,but that doesn't mean such a product isn't available.

:rolleyes_m::rolleyes_m::rolleyes_m:

Re: Removing gold plate
 

We make a gold leach that will do the gold and most other metals but will not touch the silver.

I TRIED TALKING ABOUT IT ON HERE BEFORE BUT -ONE- DECIDED I WAS TRYING TO COMMERCIALIZE THE SITE. So I just deleted the thread.

But not only is it possible, we use it in commercial operations every day.

But I am not trying to sell anything.

CC

Re: Removing gold plate
 

I would leave it alone

Re: Removing gold plate
 

Yes, probably the best move. Maybe I'll carry it as a "piece" and it'll rub off.

Re: Removing gold plate
 

It is called aqua regia and has been known for centuries. It is a combination of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid and will totally dissolve gold. Neutralize the acid and the gold will precipitate back out, neat. Don't stick your finger in it.

Re: Removing gold plate
 

Aqua Regia will disolve gold, but will disolve silver as well, leaving a white precipitate of silver chloride..

Re: Removing gold plate
 

you can cathodically remove the gold plate by imersion in an dilute acidic electrolyte (any) I would go HNO3/HCl/H2SO4 (as someone mentioned), you place stainless (anode -'ve) next to item (NOT TOUCHING) and attach 12V/6V battery +'ve terminal to the gold plated item, ideally you would try to retsrict the current density so it is a less bumpy reaction - The plate willl fall into solution as a sludge, don't do this if you have no idea about reclamation though...:D

If you are brave there is cyano free leaching method that uses simple (enviro friendly) thiosulphate to leach PM and PGM's.