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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,325 |
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Valued Member
United States
218 Posts |
Hello I am new here and I have searched this forum. I have found posts on why cleaning is bad, and I have read posts on when cleaning maybe ok. I have read never to clean coins and then some say it is ok under some conditions... I found posts on how to detect cleaned coins, etc..
So my question is this after reading all the posts I find I am left very confused. Some seem to think it is ok while others are strongly against cleaning coins. So to help us newbies out and to consolidate all the varying opinions can someone tell me when it would be ok to clean a coin vs when it would not be ok? And if one were to clean a coin what is the best method / practice to use.
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Long story short its okay to clean a coin if something on it is so detrimental that its completely destroyed the value and appeal of it.
Basically its okay when it would be restoration. Finding a coin in the ground covered in gunk, a coin covered in some foreign substance ect. If its just toning leave it alone.
Keep in mind that the restoration projects all have their own specific preferred methods depending on what the problem is. It doesn't mean break out the polish and buffer or scrub the gunk off.
Most people consider dipping something in acetone to be acceptable (some are even against that) but thats about it as far as acceptable cleaning for the majority of coins.
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Valued Member
 United States
218 Posts |
Thank you for your quick reply. I have a Morgan dollar that has small black specs in it... do you know what can cause it and should it be cleaned away with acetone? As you can see in the picture there is a black something in the middle of the O of the word God.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Probably the silver oxidizing. How are you storing it?
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Valued Member
United States
218 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Like an air tite capsule?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19942 Posts |
Looks like toning. You definitely don't want to clean your coin or it will be ruined. If you want to attempt conservation, you can try the following coin safe solvents in this order: water, acetone, xylene. If it persists, then it's probably just toning and you'll want to leave it alone.
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Valued Member
United States
218 Posts |
@basebal21 - yes a hard snap lock airtight type of case. @BadThad thanks for the information. So running it through pure water and then quickly drying with a very soft cloth (like those for eye glasses) won't hurt?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19942 Posts |
Don't use ANY cloth on ANY coin. Cloth is abrasive and will leave micro-scratches. Just let them air dry.
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Valued Member
United States
218 Posts |
Thanks! I really appreciate the advice.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
That tiny dot in the word 'God?"
No way clean the coin.
The risk is too great to damage the entire surface.
IF a coin is so rare that a cleaning MAY be useful, then the collector is not the person to do the job. LEAVE IT TO A PROFESSIONAL.
Otherwise, leave it alone.
In any case, experiment with pocket change and not nice coins.
Edited by matthewvincent
12/05/2013 3:00 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
As to your original question. Cleaning coins is something that is normally frowned apon. Mostly due to the misunderstanding of cleaning and the results of people using soaps, fruit juices, molases, Olive oils, nail polish remover, wire wheels, sandblasting equipment, Acid, blowtorches and on and on and on. There are those that recommend freezing, heating, torching, sweat, spit and even much more dumb stuff.
The main thing about cleaning a coin is if you don't know what to use, how to use, where to use, DON'T, DON'T, DON'T.
It is so easy to do a little research rright here on this forum before attempting cleaning a coin. There is that TAB that says SEARCH. You could learn so much about cleaning coins by reading all those posts already there. Usually one of the moderators or other members give links to similar posts. Some are really fun to read and others very informative.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
I'd post something helpful but (as so often happens) just carl's words cannot be improved upon. No two coins are the same, and no general rule applies.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19942 Posts |
Too often collectors get worked-up over the smallest problem. It's just part of collecting, no coin is perfect and surface issues are par for the course. Experienced collectors recognize this and actually appreciate the imperfections as they demonstrate originality.
Personally, I really don't mind some gunk on a coin as long as it is not harming it. The OP coin appears to be one of those cases. If you don't like the coin, sell it and replace it with a better one.
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Moderator
United States
188061 Posts |
Quote:
If you don't like the coin, sell it and replace it with a better one. I agree.  I have never sold a coin. But I would sell one before I tried to "fix" it. That should be telling you something.  |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,325 |
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Posted 12/04/2013 5:44 pm
