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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,864 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
521 Posts |
When it comes to cleaning and conserving, I have used acetone and Verdicare but I have never dipped or used any harsh polishes. I always wondered what they would do, though. So, finally I did experiment and I am sorry I did. I got this coin off of ebay for about $20. Of course it was listed UNC Gem or some other nonsense, but I had an experiment in mind. Anyway here are before and after pics. I used an ammonia-based metal cleaner. Now the coin will sit on my windowsill. I feel really stupid but I hope this example can show others. Please learn from my mistake. Don't use these harsh chemicals.   |
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Valued Member
United States
231 Posts |
 Which is before and which is after? I like the look of the second photo better |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
That was exactly my question ,but was afraid to ask . If the 2nd photo is the cleaned one ,then it didn't turn out that bad at all !  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2843 Posts |
Same here. $20.55 and I think you improved it.
Maybe in hand it looks too cleaned, but in the photos I don't see it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
I thought this would be a "Nic-a-Date" op, all too popular with Buffalo's sadly.
I don't like the look of cleaned coins and even if I can't tell on a particular coin but I'm told it's cleaned, i'll stay away from it.
To me, dropping chemicals on a "date area" to reveal a date, still ruins it and makes it unsightly, hence devaluing it for me.
But for cleaning in general, I say just don't do it, whether for overall appearance like this one....or nic-a-date to reveal the date. (I hate that stain)
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
521 Posts |
The second one is the cleaned one. Maybe in the pics not so bad. It actually had some original luster but it's kind of a false shine now, if that makes sense. Well, I am glad to hear it doesn't look too bad. Maybe I just prefer the toned look. It's also interesting because I thought the brown streaking present on some Buffs was from improper annealling? or mixing of the metals. That is even mentioned in the Complete Guide... book. However, you can see here that those streaks, or better described as stains, came off.
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
eaglefoot , that Buffalo is not a product of nic-o-date .that's a nice clean struck up date IMO .
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Moderator
 United States
188648 Posts |
I have certainly seen worse cleaning disasters.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
No, I didn't mean to imply that this was an example of nic-o-date, it certainly isn't.
I was just commenting on the practice of nic-o-date, and cleaning coins in general.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote:
It's also interesting because I thought the brown streaking present on some Buffs was from improper annealling? or mixing of the metals. That is even mentioned in the Complete Guide... book. However, you can see here that those streaks, or better described as stains, came off. They are form improper mixing of the metals. The brown streaked areas have a very slightly elevated copper content. Not enough to see when new or cleaned, but enough to result in a slightly different toning rate that makes them appear as the coin surface reacts. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Ok eaglefoot , I misunderstood .  |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,864 |
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Posted 05/27/2016 07:12 am
