| Author |
 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,407 |
|
|
Valued Member
United States
364 Posts |
Today I was picking up some silver from a very nice, trusted dealer and picked out a nice high-AU \ XF Morgan for $35 from one of his rolls. He mentioned the luster would be improved by a careful, but very quick dip.
I asked him what he meant, and he showed me a real quick dip in a clear, bluish liquid, followed by a quick rinse and a dabbing off with a paper towel.
The coin looks great and I see no loss of detail at all. The improvement in luster was dramatic and I was so impressed I took a small white container of this stuff with me.
The dealer informed me that, as long as I am very careful, a dip will not harm the coin and he has had several he's dipped sent off and slabbed with no issues.
I have a few Morgans that are hideous -- one looks like it took bath in spinach -- and was tempted to try this stuff out on them.
I've read a few threads here, and I'm surprised about the hostility some have to the practice. What are your thoughts? Edited by TenSense
03/24/2012 5:15 pm
|
|
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
There's a reason for the hostility.
Meaning no disrespect, your lack of experience with dipping is the only reason you did not see that XF/AU coin being wrecked by the dip. Even a short dip "restores luster" to a circulated coin to the extent that anyone who's ever seen one before knows it's unnatural and the coin's value is ruined.
So, that's Rule 1: Never dip a circulated coin.
"Dip" is acid. You're eating metal off the surface of the coin when you do it. The difference between "long enough" and "too long" can be half a second. Over the entire life of the coin. Has the coin you're contemplating for a dip ever been dipped before? For how long? You'll never know until you find out the hard way - an overdipped coin is forever destroyed.
I will not say, "Never dip a coin." I've done it, and will again. But it's a calculated risk which should only be taken by people who are aware of the technique, as well as the possible consequences. So far, I've only ruined one, an 1879-S Morgan which should have made 64PL; that was a $100 mistake.
|
|
Valued Member
 United States
364 Posts |
Sure, I can see your point, but how exactly do you know the coin was ruined by the dip? I should have clarified -- it has nice luster before; this just took a tiny amount of brownish toning out.
|
|
New Member
United States
21 Posts |
As far as I know cleaning of coins in any manner is not something that is recommended unless under very specific conditions and for very specific reasons. This has been the mantra within numismatics for as long as I have been involded in the hobby.
|
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
It's *conceivable* that a high AU coin with good remaining luster could survive a very brief (one second or so) dip. I would never advise such a thing. It's tricky, though - circulation should wear luster away very quickly, and there's a point where you're like, "Wait - a coin this worn shouldn't be this bright."
I am so very set against any relatively-inexperienced collector using dip that I will overreact to the mention, every single time. Not so much you, necessarily, as the people reading this thread who will never post in it. That's usually a 10-1 ratio.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
364 Posts |
No, you're cool SuperDave; your thoughts and those of your peers are exactly why I came here. I just know my Morgans pretty well and I saw no loss in detail; and the dip was only like a second or so.
Still, I will absolutely proceed with caution and perhaps only try this with the most hideous of tonning.
|
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
perhaps only try this with the most hideous of tonning Here's the problem: The greater the toning, the more likely the coin is to be ruined by the dip. Partly-removed toning is easy to identify, and immediately marks the coin as dipped. If you leave it in long enough to remove all of the toning, you're probably going to kill it. That's the dirty secret of the whole thing - dipping is most likely to destroy the coins you're most likely to want to use it with. I generally only resort to it if something I have acquired some recent environmental toning, and only when it's very light. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I wonder how Verdicare or olive oil would go on .500 or .900 silver coins?
I have never tried either of them.
|
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Unsuitable to the same end, sel_69l; dip is designed to physically remove metal from the coin, while the substances you suggest are far more benign in nature and not capable of such immediate damage. Neither of them *should* have any effect on true toning, although they can help with other contamination.
|
| |
Replies: 8 / Views: 1,407 |
|
Posted 03/24/2012 5:32 pm
