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 Replies: 56 / Views: 7,201 |
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Moderator
 United States
189340 Posts |
I think the comment was meant to say that it is well established that acetone does not affect the metal, only the organic material on it.
The only way you can tell if acetone was used is if the area "protected" by the organic material has toned differently than the areas which had remained exposed.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5029 Posts |
Ahhh that would make more sense...my reading comprehension today is apparently a little off. Thanks for clarifying jbuck.
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Moderator
United States
189340 Posts |
No problem.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12477 Posts |
Sorry, I worded it in a backwards way. That's exactly what I meant jbuck.
In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1499 Posts |
Quote:
The grading services and the market will accept old cleanings as long as they were not done really badly and have toned back somewhat. Despite that, NGC refused to grade this 1796 Half Dime. It was not polished and didn't have hairlines in any sort of pattern.   Yet PCGS graded this 1796 Half Dime, which was obviously wiped ... Sometimes I just don't understand these guys.   |
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Moderator
United States
189340 Posts |
Quote:
Sorry, I worded it in a backwards way. That's exactly what I meant jbuck.  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
790 Posts |
Quote:
The only way you can tell if acetone was used is if the area "protected" by the organic material has toned differently than the areas which had remained exposed. Ahhh... THAT explains a number of coins I've seen. I've passed up a few coins I really liked because I didn't understand why parts were so much lighter than the rest of the coin. Ah well. At least my ignorance SAVED me money! |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
In terms of value, almost all American coins respond very badly to being cleaned.
With ancient coins, the opposite can be true. An uncleaned ancient may be unidentifiable, but the same coin after cleaning may be fully attributable, and so could potentially double or more in value.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4211 Posts |
Both old time dealers I buy from openly dip coins and in their minds a "dipped" coin is not a "cleaned" coin.
I have been picking up a few coins here and there since I was in my early teens (so well over 40 years) and yes, there was a time cleaning coins was the rule...not the exception.
I have my fair share of cleaned coins in my collection but it is not high end / high dollar coins.
If I ever start buying more of those I will pay more attention to it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3479 Posts |
You're NOT the only one who is confused about cleaned coins. That's why I'm committed to buying only slabbed coins. I'm not smart enough to distinguish the difference, yet. If it weren't for CCF, I would have made some dumb acquisitions in the last month.
I have this old collection from when I was a kid. Many of the coins(at least the most valuable ones) have been cleaned. All purchased from the same coin shop in upstate NY. As I go through the collection and ask question on this forum, I realize that the coin shop owner was either corrupt or completely incompetent. How can someone with a good moral compass take advantage of a little 9 year old boy and his mother? Apparently for that LCS owner, the answer was EASILY.
Edited by MikeF
12/15/2016 02:17 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3479 Posts |
Initially, I was going to upload these photos of an 1867 2 cent piece purchased from the same coin shop as an example of a cleaned coin. But upon closer examination, I noticed that the coin has developed verdigris which actually presents a better opportunity to extend this discussion. So now the question is, should I bathe it in acetone?   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12477 Posts |
I'm not an expert, but if you wanted to diminish that verdigris, I would use acetone first for a few minutes, let dry and then use Verdi-Care.
I regret that I haven't had time to to try Verdi-Care on anything of mine yet, but the before and after pics are incentive enough. Also, it will help protect your coin in the future.
In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Moderator
United States
189340 Posts |
Quote:
Both old time dealers I buy from openly dip coins and in their minds a "dipped" coin is not a "cleaned" coin. One LCS I frequented back in the 1980's had no problem dipping coins. I did not really know better then, but looking back I feel bad having just stood and let it happen. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1499 Posts |
So far as the Two Cent Piece is concerned, any copper coin that has had its protective patina removed is vulnerable to corrosive green infestation. Nature gave these coins a protective shield against the worst of the copper deterioration, corrosion. I'd do what I could get that green stuff off the coin. It has probably damaged further already. Since I'm not there to see the piece in person, I can't tell you exactly what to do, that green stuff is trouble. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
946 Posts |
This is one of those coins that were dipped a long time ago and retoned over nicely. I usually follow my gut feelings on coins and usually it's right. It's a matter of it being market acceptable or not more or less  |
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Replies: 56 / Views: 7,201 |
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Posted 12/14/2016 11:57 am
