| Author |
 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,639 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1081 Posts |
I recently had a decent-looking 1885 Newfoundland 1 cent graded by the ICCS. As I expected, it came back scored at EF-40 - and I would argue that it's a particularly good EF-40; some people would put it at 45. Nevertheless, it also came back with the depressing note "cleaned". If so, it's been very gently cleaned. There are none of the tell-tale micro-abrasions and, while the high points are somewhat bright (e.g. they've been cleaned) the background surfaces are evenly toned and in very good shape. So I rather doubt it's been dipped. Nevertheless, I normally avoid all cleaned coins: I try not to buy them and I generally ged rid of them when I do (accidents happened - everyone's been burned at ebay!). But I've decided to keep this one. The light cleaning of the outer surfaces actually looks really nice - all the lettering is readily legible and the Queen Victoria portrait stands out very nicely - you can even see some of the quite appealing details unaided....details around the eye and hair for example. This is a rare case where the cleaning has been done so well that it's increased eye appeal without messing up the surfaces or grinding off detail. Curious to know whether any of you out there have a policy on this? |
|
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
With modern machine pressed coins, light cleaning may improve the appearance but it almost never increases the value,
except, perhaps, for very low grade coins recovered from ground direct contact soil burial.
On higher grade coins, the loss in value for a very light professional cleaning may be as little as 10%, and if such a coins is otherwise good value for money, is still eminently saleable.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
 to the CCF! |
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
7933 Posts |
I have quite a few pre-1700 cleaned (world) coins in my collection. Some of them are in high enough grade that they do not look so unnatural. For others, I was just unwilling to pay the premium (or to wait long enough) to find an un-cleaned example in comparable grade. If I change my mind later, I will do as you do, and replace them. I am bothered most by having cleaned and uncleaned examples side-by-side in a coin page. Of course, by 200 or so years from now, they will have re-toned and it won't be an issue any longer  |
|
Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
Overall eye appeal is more important that it having never been cleaned. So if the cleaning does not take away from that, I am good.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
999 Posts |
Can you show us a picture?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 Canada
1081 Posts |
Alas I don't have one - I need to get set up to do this properly. I'll see if I can pull something off with my cell phone tonight but it would be pretty second rate...!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1081 Posts |
Actually - here are links to the original ebay purchase photos...maybe they'll work? |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I could care less if a coin has been just partially cleaned but not scrubbed or harshly cleaned. As long as I really need it for an Album, so what. It's my coin when I buy it and it will be my coin forever or at least until I'm gone. So what I'm saying is if and when I see a coin for sale and I need or want it and it appears to have had a little cleeaning, I'll still buy it. And usually I can chew the price down a bit due to that.
|
|
Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1081 Posts |
|
|
Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
Using the tool I posted above...   |
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1081 Posts |
That's the one.... I need to figure that out! Anyway, as you see - it's not perfect but it doesn't look like a massively destroyed coin to me.
|
| |
Replies: 12 / Views: 1,639 |
|
Posted 01/31/2020 10:28 am
