On Cleaned Coins--Yea Or Strong Nay?

I like toned coins, and saw a really nice Buffalo nickel with kind of shiny bronze toning, and a bit of rainbow at the feather. It had been cleaned (not that I could see it-the dealer pointed it out), but was priced accordingly. I bought it.

AcesKings, I can see along the obverse stars where debris had trapped chemicals. Left in place, they could cause greater deterioration.
By sharing you might educate others as what to look for on a cleaned coin.
Thanks for sharing, and a great coin.

Well, as you note, there was still remnants of whatever was used on it to clean it still around the stars.

#2- There are light hairlines in the fields on both obverse and reverse from where they did wipe it. They also appear on Liberty's cheek. To me, not too severe or distracting on this coin, but still there.

#3- For a coin with this much detail there should be luster present at least around the devices if not some in the fields also. As the picture shows, the surfaces are flat with no sign of luster.

You can't get the luster back once it's gone. If you could, any coins looking like this wouldn't be in "details" holders. Some disreputable people might try whizzing it, which just adds more problems to the coin and make it even less desirable to many collectors.

This VAM is kinda hard to find. It's also beautiful in hand. Prior to this coin, I had never bought a details coin. Given it is scarce & I only paid $65.00 it made sense to me. Any thoughts?

You are never too new to have an opinion. Nor am I too old to change my opinion regarding detail coins.

I agree Chute. I've been collecting since the eighties. Speaking for myself, it pays to listen to what a new collector has to say. It has opened up my eyes as well as my thinking. That includes hard to find coins in details grade.