Clear tape removal - how? [resuelto]

I discovered today that a note in my collection has clear tape on it. The only reason I found it was because the tape fluoresces strongly under UV:

Even if you know where to look, it is hard to spot under normal lighting:

You have to tilt the note to see it:

What is the safest way to remove this tape?

That is not an expensive note and perhaps you can try this:

Gently use a shape knife/box cutter to lift a tiny tip of the tape. Then use a hair dryer to blow between the tape and the note surface to loosen the tape's glue and then peel it off slowly while the dryer keeps blowing as you go along. Removing the residual glue could be an issue, if any.

P/s... at your own risk!

I was looking around and some people were recommending acetone for a paper banknote like this. I also have access to isopropyl alcohol. Anyone tried either of those?

What about putting the note in the freezer.? Chilling it might render the sticky adhesive so it would easier to separate 

If you want to get rid of the ink too then yes you can use acetone (it will be hard to completely avoid the medium to soak some of it up).

I would first text the strength (some tapes don't stick and leave nearly no residue). If it is a common garden variety stick tape use the heat method, or freeze method mentioned above.

Or get a new note if it is so cheap.

I think it is worth trying to save. Replacing it will be £12-£16.

I'll do the freeze first, then get rid of the tape. If there is sticky residue left over, then I'll post back here.

Let us know how it goes!

Ugh this is so frustrating, hate when stuff like this happens. I have a 32-subject uncut sheet that came taped directly from the BEP. It's been over a decade since I've owned the piece and I haven't attempted to remove the tape (all four corners) because I worry of the damage.

Best of luck!

I would strongly advise against using any solvent on banknotes. 

Tape can sometimes be easy enough to remove. If the tape has only been lightly affixed, then lifting an edge and gently peeling it off ought to work, leaving the adhesive on the tape - I have used a scalpel blade for this in the past. 

If the tape has been pressed flat, with the handle of a scissors for example, then it can be a much more difficult exercise. However, peeling it off having lifted an edge ought to still work. The surface of a modern banknote is very tough, especially if it is in good condition without wear.

So, success!

I froze the note in a plastic sleeve. I am not convinced that freezing helped loosen the glue, because it was quite difficult to peel the tape off.

I used this plastic blade:

Even at that point above, where you have an easy to grab piece of tape, it would not let go unless I also used the blade to help it.

The tape is off:

Then all I had left was a subtle line where dirt had abutted the tape.

That mark and the last bit of adhesive came off with a pencil eraser, very light pressure, towards the edge of the note. 

This is what it looks like now:

There is no trace at all of the tape. What I have to check tonight is whether there is embedded adhesive that shows up under UV.

I could pass this off as UNC but as it had tape on it, I downgraded it.

Very neat job. Nicely done.

Will be interesting to see if any traces show up under UV.

I think it does leave a trace under UV, if you know where to look. I doubt somebody would notice this under ordinary circumstances though.

Left image is with the tape on, right image is post removal:

The whole note:

This is the tape alongside the note:

Only a very faint remnant of the tape is visible. Quite an acceptable result, I would say.

Hibernia

Only a very faint remnant of the tape is visible. Quite an acceptable result, I would say.

+1

Good to hear & see such results! 👍

I X-rayed this note last night, just because I was curious to see whether that residue has any detectable density radiographically. I can't see any trace of it:

I don't see any trace either. Interesting to see what shows up in an X-ray!