How to remove tape from old banknotes?

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I recently purchased a small lot of interesting banknotes, but when they arrived they were unfortunately completely covered in tape and in way worse condition than they looked on the pictures. Luckily they didn't cost me hundreds of Euro's but it still feels bad...

Anyway, I tried to pull the tape gently off the notes, but by doing that I would also tear them apart so I stopped that. Does anyone have some tips on how to remove it without damaging them too much?
"For by telling them of many things without teaching them you will make them seem to know much, while for the most part they know nothing"
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About the only way that I have any luck getting tape off is to steam the note. The only problem is that the tape leaves a permanent mark on the old notes.
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Thank you, I may use that tip since I've read on other forums that heat will partly melt the tape, which in turn makes it easier to remove. So if I can use steam in a controlled way, I could have a big chance on succes. I've also read something about dry freezing notes, because that apparently makes the tape get loose as well. I'll let one cool down overnight so I'm curious how it'll look like tomorrow. Anyway, if anybody else has some tips, feel free to leave a reply!
"For by telling them of many things without teaching them you will make them seem to know much, while for the most part they know nothing"
-Plato
An Internet search indicates some people have had success heating tape with a blow dryer (hair dryer) and peeling it off or dampening currency and peeling the tape off. Or use an iron over a thin cloth over the banknotes.

https://www.universityproducts.com/cellophane-tape-removal-kit.html describes an expensive (over $100) tool for removing tape.

Will
I am very interested in your results. Please let us know what happened!

John
how about acetone to dissolve the "sticky?"
Library Media Specialist, columnist, collector, and gardener...
Maybe apply heat to the tape part? Like with a hair dryer. I did this method to remove stamps on letters. The heat 'melts' the glue.
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Quote: "Oklahoman"​how about acetone to dissolve the "sticky?"
​This is the correct answer. I've used acetone to remove tape many times.
Doesn't acetone risk damage to the paper or the ink?
Quote: "Jesse11"​Doesn't acetone risk damage to the paper or the ink?
​No and no.
Not in my experience.
Library Media Specialist, columnist, collector, and gardener...
Quote: "Jesse11"​Doesn't acetone risk damage to the paper or the ink?
​Acetone will probably ruin a polymer note.
Quote: "Cerulean"
Quote: "Jesse11"​Doesn't acetone risk damage to the paper or the ink?
​​Acetone will probably ruin a polymer note.
​Have you ever seen tape on a polymer note?
Quote: "Steve27"
Quote: "Cerulean"

Quote: "Jesse11"​Doesn't acetone risk damage to the paper or the ink?
​​​Acetone will probably ruin a polymer note.
​​Have you ever seen tape on a polymer note?

​No, but acetone dissolved some plastic testing equipment in the lab.
So, let's do this.

I have a 2006 Mexico 20 pesos note.
Polymer.
With a piece of tape right in the middle (inside the black square in the image below). The "Cinta de Urex" type of tape that is so sticky it leaves your hands feeling like you just ate a cinnabon at the mall.



The note was placed in 100% acetone for a few minutes and it was able to take the tape off the note, but the stickiness was still there.



The note was left ten more minutes and the area with glue was rubbed with a cotton swab. The glue remained. Another ten minutes passed and the stickiness remained. The swab was dipped into the acetone and the area with stickiness was rubbed.

After multiple attempts rubbing the note, the stickiness was gone, but so was some of the coloring.



SO, acetone alone will not damage the polymer note if it is only in contact with it for short periods of time, unless external forces are applied to the contact (i.e. rubbing). Obviously, I am generalizing here, since this was done on one type of note only, and extrapolating that, since the rubbing took off some of the color, so will contact for extended periods of time...

I am keeping the note and will be glad to experiment on it in the future. Just let me know.

John

Edit: then again, rubbing any note with anything will take coloring away...
There was no change at all in any other place than where the note was rubbed. The base polymer did not have any change either...
Quote: "Steve27"
Quote: "Cerulean"

Quote: "Jesse11"​Doesn't acetone risk damage to the paper or the ink?
​​​Acetone will probably ruin a polymer note.
​​Have you ever seen tape on a polymer note?

​Yes, i've seen it once
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Well, that’s such a hard question but I have a simple answer, you can steam it a little as the tape loosens its grip, you can remove the tape.

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