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 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,279 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3328 Posts |
I have only cleaned a few of my pennies with acetone(didn't turn out great) I need better acetone. But iv seen posts and articles about how dark and dull pennies can still have there mint luster. Out of the 3 I cleaned some if the dull normal looking parts of the coins gained some of the original mint luster.
Cleaning seems to be a two way topic. Some say don't clean but depending on the coin, if you send it to be graded a cleaning could be the difference between the coin being accepted for a good grade or not.
Also on the topic there is brown and red cents and everything between, is that simply toning or something to do with the metal content and purity? I never thought about it before this post you so I will look it up now but would like your knowledge. Why is colour a factor for appeal and included in grading?.
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
5589 Posts |
Unless you absolutely have to, DON'T CLEAN! You are not going to turn a brown cent into a shiny one without ruining it for decades to come.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1489 Posts |
I am in the "don't clean" camp. Acetone will remove glue, tape residue, and similar crud. It is not a cure-all and won't help at all with corrosion.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
9864 Posts |
You can make it clean and shiny again, but there is no method that will return the original red colour.
Luster and shine are not the same thing.
Luster is due to a reflective pattern imparted to the metal when the coin is struck.
There are actually lustrous brown cents where this reflective pattern can still be seen.
Abrasive or acidic cleaning of the cent alters or removes this extremely thin layer.
Once the coin has been cleaned the luster is gone forever.
"Dipping" is not considered cleaning...
-from PCGS website
Edited by DBM
08/31/2021 9:10 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
3328 Posts |
So red is just the term for the original colour? Because the pennies iv seen in the most mint shape were more of a shiny brown red tinge, but I have pennies that turned red some with and without major damage but most have lost there shine lol.
I'm probably over thinking the topic, I tend to over think things until it's a known fact to me. This is just a colour mix up on my opinion of what red is for a coin. IMO new pennies were still brown.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
867 Posts |
Yes you need to distinguish between cleaning (steel wool and comet), whizzing (think Dremel) and dipping (acetone or a mild acid solution).
I have had nice results with Au and Cu coins with the Lighthouse products, indifferent results with the Ag coins. Of course PCGS and NGC won't tell you how they "preserve" or "conserve" coins but I'm GUESSING they use a mild acid solution and/or some high pressure (no contact) tool like when you get your teeth cleaned.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5324 Posts |
Home Depot or large hardware stores will carry industrial grade acetone, just have to be careful handling the stuff
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3328 Posts |
Thanks for the info, I know how to clean a coin but my main question is can a dull coin be dull because of "grit" and then after cleaning be AU 60+? If it was already barely scratched and dinged.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
851 Posts |
A cleaned coin can reach an AU grade but will likely have an AU Details 'cleaned' designation.
After dipping, there would be no remaining luster and the coin could never attain an MS grade no matter how shiny or unworn it is.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3328 Posts |
@thedeductible, what if you had some possible XF or VF coins but they are already worn, iv noticed many coins with tar and other things on them have preserved coin underneath, unfortunately it leaves a very un appealing look once it has been removed due to patches of uncirculated looking coin on very circulated coins?
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Moderator
 United States
54282 Posts |
Quote:
I need better acetone Lowe's or Home Depot will have a quart of acetone for under $10. Never use Acetone Nail Polish Remover, even if the bottle claims "100% Acetone" because they also contain a fatty material like lanolin or caster oil. The active ingredient is acetone, but it is not the only ingredient. Show your financial support of the Coin Community Family (click here)See my topic on Mexican Numismatic Medals (click here) |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3328 Posts |
For the most part I don't plan on cleaning any of my coins but if they are covered in corrosive green or a lot if gunk I'd want to clean it. Even just some coins with water spots etc. But if I plan on ever selling a coin wouldn't clean it.
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Replies: 11 / Views: 1,279 |
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Posted 08/31/2021 8:43 pm
