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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,661 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
617 Posts |
Hello everyone
I have been visiting your forum on and off for quite a while now and thought it would be nice join in on some the discussions.
I'd like to start with a question.
When I was putting my coin sets together about a year ago I decided to clean my coins using a dry cloth.I did not use any kind of cleaner but I did give them a good rubbing. I have read since that the golden rule is to NEVER clean coins. How do you think this would this effect the grade of my coins?
eg. EF to VF
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
G'day,
if they were proof coins, then they've probably diminished in value, significantly.
if they were circulation coins, the effect may not be very much.
Have a look, using your best magnifying glass. The damage will show up on high points, of course, but this may be difficult to identify if you're not overly familar with what they're supposed to look like. So, look at the fields: cleaning will put striations where there were none.
Remember, there are only two rules for cleaning coins:
1. don't do it; AND
2. if in any doubt, refer to Rule 1.
AND, welcome,
Peter in Oz
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Valued Member
United States
135 Posts |
A good rubbing may be a bad thing for your coins. It might be evident to a trained eye using a magnifying lens as tiny "hairline" scratches. Submitted for grading they may come back to you in a bodybag or marked as having been cleaned. The effect on their actual grade, excluding the hairlines, might be minimal. Certainly not as big a drop as you posted; ie EF to VF.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Quote:
1. don't do it; AND
2. if in any doubt, refer to Rule 1.  Listen to this man. (I hope nothing was on the rare side--and welcome here!) |
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
617 Posts |
Thank you for your input on this, and for the warm welcome.
The coins in question are mainly circulated quarters, fifty cent pieces and dollar coins from the 40's, 50's and 60's. Nothing very rare.
I guess this falls into the "live and learn " category.
I will take your advice Peter and have a good look with a strong magnifying glass now that I know what to look for. thanks.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1554 Posts |
 Cleaned coins are the a collectors nightmare. I have seen soo many potential investments on E-bay and coin shows and after closer examination learned that they were cleaned. How many KEY dates and scarce variety coins I've come across over the years only to find out that some poor misinformed soul has taken an SOS pad to them  The micro fine hairlines on the fields don't even need a 6X loop to see 'em. So please never clean your coins. At best, if you don't like dark coins or coins that are heavily toned, dipping them in a silver solution specifiaccly made for silver coins is accepted. However, this also has to be done properly, or the label "CLEANED" could adorn the Certificate of the grading service the future owner posseses. good luck..................Glenn  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1077 Posts |
The whole cleaning topic is a difficult one, especially for new collectors. As mentioned above it really does depend on what you collect (ie what grade etc) and how you define cleaning. For collectors of high grade coins that know the difference between MS-65 and MS-66 (if there is a difference?) and like to look at their coins in a plastic slab. Cleaning is a very dirty word (if you pardon the pun) If you tend to collect fairly average grade silver coins, have no intention of one day retiring on the sale of your collection, and plain don't like tarnish (sometimes called toning by disreputable dealers!) Then a small amount of careful cleaning will do no harm. What you will also find is that a lot of people who initially say "NEVER CLEAN A COIN" then go on to say, "unless you use acetone" or "dip them in oil for a month" and so on. Just as Glenzy did above. I think it is the definition of cleaning that needs clarifying rather than an across the board statement of never do it! I am sure most of us have done some sort of cleaning if we are honest. Abrasive cleaning is what you should never do, and for a new collector what they do not realise is that can include a rub with soft cotton cloth if the coin is a proof one. While I don't agree with some of Glenzys comments on past posts (particularly his assertion that all the scam coin dealers on ebay are "foreign", apparently that includes the UK?) I do personally agree that dipping a coin is acceptable. But that is my opinion, and someone else will tell you otherwise. So rather than say "Never Clean" I think the message should be, "What is it you are planning to clean, and how are you planning to clean it?" |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2408 Posts |
This is like wanting to discuss sexuality at a church gathering.  Of course everybody does it. The reality is that people do clean a lot of things and rarely use sandpaper... I find threads of general topics don't promote value added comments when it comes to controversial issues. As such, here isn't the best place to discuss coin cleaning. But I commend the brave soul who brought up the question. Marc |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
Quote:
I find threads of general topics don't promote value added comments when it comes to controversial issues. As such, here isn't the best place to discuss coin cleaning.  Why not? That's like saying this isn't the place to discuss coin grading, either. Learning everything possible about coins, their care and feeding, etc is why a lot of people visit here. Sure, there are various & dissenting opinions on the subject (just like any other), but much wisdom is to found within them. At least, I have found that is so, on more than one occasion  |
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,661 |
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Posted 09/19/2008 9:47 pm
