Is This Walking Liberty A Cleaned Coin?

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Author	Replies: 18 / Views: 2,561	Page: of 2
Aurelius Valued Member United States 68 Posts	Posted 09/18/2023 9:56 pm I found this shiny Walking Liberty in my grandmother's collection. I am new collector, but I suspect that the shininess of this coin is an indicator that it is a "cleaned coin". Am I correct, or do I have something special ? Thanks! Report this Post to the Staff

Dearborn Moderator United States 94928 Posts	Posted 09/18/2023 9:58 pm It is hard to tell from these images. Can you post up larger images that can show some details of the devices and such? Collecting since 1972. Learning from then on "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin 7070 type set coin count: 51/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Sacagawea Dollars Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels 1938-2005 Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Report this Post to the Staff
Aurelius Valued Member United States 68 Posts	Posted 09/18/2023 10:10 pm Original post updated with larger photos. Report this Post to the Staff
hfjacinto Pillar of the Community United States 7273 Posts	Posted 09/18/2023 10:11 pm In the condition that it's in with all the dings and rim damage this is basically a common date bullion coin, whether it's cleaned or not isn't important, it's just worth its silver melt. My Slabbed Dansco 7070 with Gold Page My Slabbed IHC Set My Slabbed 20th Century Type Set Edited by hfjacinto 09/18/2023 10:11 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Aurelius Valued Member United States 68 Posts	Posted 09/18/2023 10:21 pm Got it, melt value. I do want to know what were the indicators on this coin that it was actually cleaned? Is it that the shininess is too much for a coin with so many dings and scrapes? Report this Post to the Staff
Errers and Varietys Bedrock of the Community United States 73756 Posts	Posted 09/18/2023 11:26 pm Looks cleaned to me. With all the scratches, dings and rim damage, it's only worth silver melt value at this point. Errers and Varietys. Report this Post to the Staff
adam126402 Pillar of the Community United States 877 Posts	Posted 09/18/2023 11:35 pm First, the Philly mint produced 53,000,000 of these in 1943. Even if this was a MS60 coin it would still only be worth around $40. Rarity matters greatly when it comes to value. All nicked up, it becomes little more than bullion. I can't tell with my lousy eyes, but if its been in the family along time, a family member may have broken out silver polish to clean it. If you see a bunch of fines lines in the surface then it was cleaned. Edited by adam126402 09/19/2023 12:56 am Report this Post to the Staff
sel_69l Bedrock of the Community Australia 21786 Posts	Posted 09/19/2023 03:13 am Heavy wear has removed any hint of luster, so that it matters little if this coin has been cleaned on not. If it has ? been cleaned at sometime in the past, it has long since patinated over whatever may have been the surface characteristics before. Report this Post to the Staff
John1 Moderator United States 56855 Posts	Posted 09/19/2023 06:22 am It does appear to be cleaned or even buffed/polished at one point in time. John1 Report this Post to the Staff
Coinfrog Bedrock of the Community United States 94367 Posts	Posted 09/19/2023 09:08 am For me, the pics are too dark to see surface details clearly. Report this Post to the Staff
hfjacinto Pillar of the Community United States 7273 Posts	Posted 09/19/2023 09:17 am Quote: Got it, melt value. I do want to know what were the indicators on this coin that it was actually cleaned? Is it that the shininess is too much for a coin with so many dings and scrapes? Basically what you posted. If a coin had circulated it would have had some patina/toning. This coin is all scratched and dinged up and is so shiny it hurts my eyes , chances are good (99%+) that it was cleaned even with the blurry pictures. Look at the below, you can see the hairline scratches from a cleaning. My Slabbed Dansco 7070 with Gold Page My Slabbed IHC Set My Slabbed 20th Century Type Set Report this Post to the Staff
thq Pillar of the Community United States 3343 Posts	Posted 09/19/2023 10:19 am It looks like it has been on the buffing wheel for a while. Pocket coins also get that appearance, but it takes many years of constant handling. I've tried to break that polished appearance, but it's very difficult to get rid of. The best way I've found is to throw the coin in a rock tumbler with lots of grit and sandblast it away. Afterwards the surface of the coin has a dusty matte appearance. "Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire Edited by thq 09/19/2023 10:21 am Report this Post to the Staff
CreativeName Valued Member United States 65 Posts	Posted 09/19/2023 7:50 pm My opinion is that it has been cleaned. Usually I expect a coin with this much wear to have a gray appearance, not shiny and even like this. The way it was described to me years ago by someone at a coin shop (and whether it's true or not, it stuck with me) is that original luster is like the surface of the ocean when the ocean is wavy. It reflects light no matter what direction you look at it from. When the luster wears away, the coin is no longer reflective unless it's been cleaned or had lots of chatter as a pocket piece. And then, it won't reflect light from all angles like the ocean would. I have a 1964 Kennedy (bought holed) as a keychain, and it is reflective from lots of contact, but as a mirror might be. Only from certain angles. Just my opinion here. Edited by CreativeName 09/19/2023 7:53 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Dearborn Moderator United States 94928 Posts	Posted 09/19/2023 9:05 pm I could have been polished at some point Collecting since 1972. Learning from then on "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin 7070 type set coin count: 51/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Sacagawea Dollars Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels 1938-2005 Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Report this Post to the Staff
Coinfrog Bedrock of the Community United States 94367 Posts	Posted 09/19/2023 9:07 pm Pretty much just a bullion coin at this point. Report this Post to the Staff
Aurelius Valued Member United States 68 Posts	Posted 09/19/2023 9:23 pm Thanks for the replies. I have looked closely at the coin and based on what has been posted in this thread, I have concluded that the coin has been buffed/polished. This has been a very helpful thread to me. Thanks! Report this Post to the Staff
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