| Author |
 Replies: 18 / Views: 4,514 |
|
Valued Member
Canada
228 Posts |
Is there a point on the grading scale where most can agree that a cleaned coin doesn't lose value for being so?
Would the same hold true for other problems such as scratches, bent, corroded, etc...?
|
|
|
|
Forum Dad
 United States
24154 Posts |
Quote:
Is there a point on the grading scale where most can agree that a cleaned coin doesn't lose value for being so? In my opinion, no. The question maybe should be "Is there a point on the rarity scale where most can agree a coin doesn't lose value for being so?" Meaning the rarer a coin is, the less it matters. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1388 Posts |
It would have to be really bad for that to happen.
I'd pay more for a problem free G4 than a cleaned, scratched one.
EDIT: And Bobby nailed it. A superb outlook on your question.
Edited by The Silver Searcher
05/03/2015 6:38 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
New Zealand
1679 Posts |
Quote:
n my opinion, no. The question maybe should be "Is there a point on the rarity scale where most can agree a coin doesn't lose value for being so?" Meaning the rarer a coin is, the less it matters.  Totally Cheers Don
Vickies cents and GB Farthings nut.
"Old" is a figure of speech and nothing more
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
2366 Posts |
Anything that's low enough grade that you can no longer tell whether it was cleaned or not, or it's only bullion value anyway. Even with rare coins you'll get taken to the cleaners if it's been cleaned...
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
93 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1192 Posts |
I say it has to be something so common that you can get an AU close too the price of bullion. Such as like a Franklin half dollar or a late Washington quarter. The one I see it a lot is with Walking Liberty half dollars. No matter what the coin is you will pretty much reduce the value a lot unless it's value is close to its metal value. |
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
2845 Posts |
I don't know, seems the subject of "cleaned coins" is a bit of a head scratcher. Are we to assume that otherwise a coin that's 60, 80 or 100 years old has never once been washed, wiped, rinsed, soaked or spit upon?
That's much different than the use of abrasives or chemicals - which was probably used to restore a damages coin. The words "cleaned" and " restored" are not generally interchangeable.
And if "cleaning" is frowned upon then how come dipping is widely acceptable?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1192 Posts |
Cleaning is usually a term for polishing a coin to get rid of toning. Whizzing etc.
No one would see a dip in acetone as cleaning since it's just getting the junk off leaving the toning and metal alone.
Dipping is something extremely specific. You would only a dip a mint state coin to strip toning. It's conterversal and can ruin a coin too due it risks.
A small cleaning that is a great deal ago will go unnoticed. Polishing a coin will forever mar it's surfaces.
|
|
Moderator
Australia
16826 Posts |
I would define the phrase "bullion grade" as being "the grade at or below which a coin no longer has any numismatic premium at all and is only worth bullion value". Bullion grade coins can be cleaned, holed, drilled or mounted and it will not affect their value. Collectors still won't want them, but nobody who deals in bullion grade coins will care what collectors think, because collectors aren't their customers.
It should be pointed out that the exact level of "bullion grade" does in practice depend on the spot price of the bullion in question. A high bullion price means more and more coins qualify as "bullion grade". Coins which were once under the aegis of being "collectable" and therefore should not be cleaned, suddenly become "bullion" and therefore cleanable.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
Another interesting thread.
After reading it, and seeing it was started in the Canada
section, I wonder if thoughts on cleaned coins are different
in different countries.
For me, cleaned, scratched, bent or damaged coins should sell
for less than a problem free coin of the same grade.
Depending how severe the cleaning, or damage, is will have
a different impact on the price.
I don't mind buying some problem coins, as long as the price
is low enough.
But if I have a choice of a cleaned/problem coin and a coin
that is one grade less with no problem, that are close to
the same price. I will pick the problem free coin.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
2845 Posts |
Bertensgrad, thanks for that explanation. Makes sense......I get it now!
|
|
Valued Member
 Canada
228 Posts |
Thanks for all the interesting answers everyone! I typically try to avoid problem coins, but if I run into a situation where because of rarity or affordability, it's my only option, I may have to look back on this thread to make my decision on what I am willing to pay for such a coin. Quote:
It should be pointed out that the exact level of "bullion grade" does in practice depend on the spot price of the bullion in question. A high bullion price means more and more coins qualify as "bullion grade". Coins which were once under the aegis of being "collectable" and therefore should not be cleaned, suddenly become "bullion" and therefore cleanable. Sap, you bring up good point. I understand that with the catalogs and price guides not being able to keep up with the daily fluctuations in the spot price of the bullion in question, this "bullion grade" does fluctuate, and in some cases, enough to move some coins in and out of this category, but why is that. Certainly if there is a numismatic premium on a coin at any given spot price for the bullion in question, the same premium should apply if the spot price increases (or decreases). Why should numismatic prices not fluctuate with the spot price of the bullion in question? |
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1700 Posts |
I think that coins lose their intrinsic value when cleaned. Those very rare coins often don't get to people who would clean them.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
576 Posts |
I'm pretty new to collecting and I have made my share of mistakes. Here's one that I'd like to share in the hopes that it will prevent someone else from making the same mistake.
I purchased a Canadian silver dollar (I think it was a 52). It was pretty much perfect in my eyes, proof like. Here's where I went wrong. It had a finger print or two and with great care I wiped it down with one of those little clothes you would get when you get a new pair of glasses. (very very gentle).
I had an opportunity to bring it to a local coin show. A couple of guys had a look. Told me I had a great coin and too bad it had been wiped (cleaned).
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
576 Posts |
Hit enter by mistake............
Here's the rest. He said it should have been something around an MS67(ish). but the wiping had taken it down to MS62(ish)
Sad that I diminished a lovely old coin, Learning experience.
Liverpool
|
| |
Replies: 18 / Views: 4,514 |
Posted 05/03/2015 6:37 pm
