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 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,319 |
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
I am newer to the coin collecting community and am still learning a lot. But I have heard that coins that have been cleaned are always worth a lot less, is that true? I have gone to some websites that deal with coin collecting supplies and they sell coins cleaners so whats the deal with that? Thanks for any infor or oppinions.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
7096 Posts |
 benchfreak221 The rule of thumb with coin cleaning is DONT DO IT  However if they are ancients then there are some specialised ways of getting the crud off these and it is accepted that these have to be "cleaned" |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2133 Posts |
I'm very suspicious of cleaning solutions - you don't know what's in them. If you did know, you might either make it yourself or not use it at all.
Occasionally, for very dirty silver and gold coins, I use a used very soft toothbrush and a dab of washing up liquid (not dishwasher detergent) in a cup half full of warm water.
Even then, I'm very gentle. Any cleaning harder than this is likely to remove detail and reduce the grade.
I don't unpick verdigris on copper/bronze because it either leaves a bad mark or flakes the metal.
Most of all, it's usually easy to see that a coin has been cleaned and I think that's a bit suspicious.
I see lots of coins that have been badly cleaned and I think that's a shame. One local man polished half his pennies with a brass polish - the untreated half were in EF or mint condition - the cleaned ones were in VG or F. He wasn't at all pleased when I told that he had polished hundreds of pounds off their value.
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Valued Member
 United States
123 Posts |
Ok thanks for the info. It probably sounds like a stupid question but is there any way to tell if a coin has been cleaned, and should I just stay away from buying coins that have been cleaned? I have also seen some coins that have been professionally graded that looks like they may have been cleaned, buy or stay away? Thanks
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2133 Posts |
The only way to do it is by looking and that's down to experience.
I know lots of people that don't buy cleaned coins, so I think there's a smaller market for them, however, I think you'll miss interesting coins and some bargains if you restrict yourself to not acquiring cleaned coins.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10034 Posts |
Search the forum for cleaning coins. You will find the overall answer for non-ancient is: DON'T!The value will be less. A coin made shiny by cleaning is not more valuable b/c it is pretty! This is generally what the general public thinks and they are dead wrong. Using any scrubbing method can leave scratches that will show up under magnification. The worst I have done is to use a microscope and a porcupine quill (these are not a hard substance and fine pointed like a pin) to carefully removes "gunk" inside lettering. This is gunk that will lift right out and needs no pressure/scratching etc. |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
Ok thanks for the info. It probably sounds like a stupid question but is there any way to tell if a coin has been cleaned, and should I just stay away from buying coins that have been cleaned? I have also seen some coins that have been professionally graded that looks like they may have been cleaned, buy or stay away? Thanks It just kind of becomes one of those things where youll know it when you see it. If a coin is worn down and very shiny its more than likely been cleaned, scuff marks on it are a good indication too or dark spots around the lettering where the coin is raises as those are the hardest to clean. If you talking about slabbed coins graded by PCGS, NGC, or ANACS if the coin had been cleaned itll say so on the label. If it doesn't I would be very comfortable buying it. For raw coins, another good rule of thumb is if it looks too good to be true it probably is. |
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Valued Member
United States
132 Posts |
From what I have been reading from some experts on here is that there is a difference between "cleaning" and "restoring". Cleaning is what it sounds like, making a coin clean and shinny. Restoring is a different thing where you are using some sort of product to remove a fingerprint, remove crud caused by acrilic or plastic holders, or remove ink or glue from a coin without altering the look or luster of the coin. Never ever "Clean" a coin. And If you think you might need to restore a coin with a product, first post a picture on here and have one of the experts tell you what to do.
I hope this helps.
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
As to places selling coin cleaning solutions. Of course they do. There are places that sell dynomite too but that doesn't mean you have to buy some and use it either. Even on TV they show how to clean a coin with STUFF like Tarn-X and/or other solutions. Coins are used in many demonstrations for car cleaner waxes too. And if you read many of the posts on this forum, you'ld see all sorts of things people do with coins. In almost, not always, it is better to have a dirty coin, than a nice, pretty one that shines from all sorts of cleanings. |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
there are only two rules concerning cleaning coins:
1. don't do it; and
2. if in doubt, re-read Rule No. 1
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
A long time ago people used to clean or try to clean anything old. They would sand down old furnature, refinish some, Paint over old oil paintings, etc. It took some time but slowly people realized that in order to preserve history and artifacts from the past, best not try cleaning them.
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Replies: 11 / Views: 1,319 |
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Posted 07/20/2012 06:13 am
