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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,833 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
581 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
955 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1618 Posts |
F-12
F-15
F-15
All look like they've been cleaned; the 1918 heavily.
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
9863 Posts |
F12,F15, and F15
"Dipping" is not considered cleaning...
-from PCGS website
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
581 Posts |
Thank you all and very consistent too :-) wow awesome
Quick question for johnnysprawl (or any one else who'd like to respond). If you don't mind can you provide me with some info on how/why they look cleaned? Are there specific things that stand out or is it more of the overall appearance? Or both?
I don't mean to take up too much of your time but I'm trying to learn as much as I can on this subject along with determining the condition of coins. I lack experience on these topics and I've been reading a lot of books about grading etc.
Nothing beats having experienced numismatists (like you all) respond to posts like this so I can compare how my determination condition compares. Helps to see if I'm following the right direction learning on my own and , also, if I'm making progress (hopefully).
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2495 Posts |
Sorry, but first one harshly cleaned, second and third polished.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5585 Posts |
Tiny, shallow scratches across the surface show cleaning. An old shiny worn coin that is, suddenly, lacking any toning/oxidation on the surface shows cleaning/dipping. A coin that is shiny silver, except for the nooks and crannies of the design (that remain black) show polishing.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
12, 15 and 15 - all details (cleaned). All are simply too bright for their degree of wear.
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Valued Member
Canada
288 Posts |
These are all harshly polished. A well-circulated silver coin should not be bright. Yours have been cleaned to the extent that fields are almost mirrorlik -- highly unnatural. An original circulated half dollar would have muted silver-gray surfaces. The extensive wispy hairlines are also a dead giveaway that the coin has been cleaned.
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Valued Member
Canada
291 Posts |
 ... all cleaned, 1916 and 1918 the strongest. VG-10, F-12, F-15 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
581 Posts |
Thank you all especially for being so detailed in your responses. I learned a great deal.
These coins didn't "look right" from the beginning. There was a great deal of dirt and grime on them (not toning) which I removed in the most gentle and (according to the consensus on this forum) correct manner.
Then after taking some high-res pics I came here looking for some expert knowledge. And I found it!
Thanks again!
Very solid info
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5585 Posts |
If you HAVE to clean a coin (and you shouldn't except for truly heavy dirt/grime/gunk/crud buildup)on a circulated coin, even a q-tip sometimes is too harsh of a "cleaner". You need to soak the coin in acetone or olive oil and then gently "pat" or dab at the places where stuff remains. Even using a Q-tip or the softest of cottons or the softest tooth brush, the grit that is in the crud will scratch the coin as soon as you start moving it around with whatever is in your hand. Use a hawthorn quill to remove the nooks and crannies of the majority of the gunk. An olive oil soak may take multiple hours or days of gently swishing coins around in a baby-food jar with a popsicle or wooden stick. Acetone is quicker (minutes instead of days) but still much more than a dip. Your final step should be a long rinse with distilled water and patted dry, very gently, with soft cotton.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
581 Posts |
Thank you okiecoiner. I was unfamiliar with a hawthorn quill. Now I know. All excellent info!
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5585 Posts |
Hawthorn is a very common tree in N America. You just have to ask around where some may be .. most nurseries carry them.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,833 |
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Posted 03/20/2018 10:16 pm
