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 Replies: 26 / Views: 2,397 |
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Valued Member
United States
52 Posts |
Hey folks! I have old Lincolns that have turned totally brown and brownish-green. I know cleaning with acid or brass brushes and whatnot is a no-no so what level of cleaning is? You have to be able to do more than soapy water or acetone. A brown coin even in perfect condition is worthless but one with a little red shine in average condition will bring more. Here's 2 59s. One brown uncleanness and the other I cleaned....JUST BY RUBBING THE COIN BETWEEN MY FINGERS FOR 5MIN! So is that not acceptable either or is it OK? LOL. The only problem I see with it is the shinier the surface the more its flaws become visible. Any feedback will be appreciated thank you!   |
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Moderator
 United States
34395 Posts |
Quote:
A brown coin even in perfect condition is worthless but one with a little red shine in average condition will bring more. I strongly disagree with this statement. Best is not clean your coins at all. "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7273 Posts |
Neither of the 2 coins are worth more than a few cents, so clean those all you want.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19118 Posts |
Brown coins in perfect condition are worthless...?
I'd love to have a brown, MS-level 1909 S VDB.....or a '14 D in MS condition for that matter.
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
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Valued Member
 United States
52 Posts |
Alright maybe not worthless but worth less.
And I I know those to particular coins aren't especially valuable that's why I used them as a test lol
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
Quote:
And I I know those to particular coins aren't especially valuable that's why I used them as a test lol You did well!  |
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Valued Member
United States
52 Posts |
Jbuck I have about 1500 brown pennies from 50s 60s 70s I'm just trying to figure out the best thing to do with them to make them salable! ;)
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6460 Posts |
Well, the first thing you do is search them for the known DDO, DDR, RPM, and rare varieties. A single good find is worth more than your entire $15 in circulated pennies. If you want to know just the varieties that people pay actual money for, then check NGC VarietyPlus. If you want to do a deep dive, then I recommend Wexler's Die Varieties. You might also want to consider that good-quality acetone costs money, and you probably aren't going to earn your money back after cleaning your cents. For 1950-1979, the grades are probably based on circulation wear first, R/RB/B coloration second (the experts can correct me if I'm wrong about that). |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6460 Posts |
Regarding sale, people here seem to have met with success by packaging rolls by year+MM, year, or decade. ebay seems to have an appetite for that kind of thing, for people filling albums and whatnot. |
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Valued Member
United States
52 Posts |
Thank you all and Brand for the ebay tips and links I've primarily just been referencing PCGS site and current/sold items on ebay and gc. Looking for the varieties is my next step I'm almost done sorting 15000+ I'm still wondering if it'll do more harm than good to shine them up a little? The acetone is nothing I've got gallons laying around I don't worry about that kinda stuff ;) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6460 Posts |
You can do what you like, of course. But if you plan to slab any good finds, PCGS and NGC will detect any cleaning by chemicals or brushes. Once a modern cent is tagged as Details: Cleaned, collectors are going to treat it like toxic waste, a completely ruined coin. ebay, I have no idea. If you really want to go the acetone path, someone posted a guide and videos on his setup. But most people here will tell you that a quick dip to break up crud is pretty much the only accepted cleaning, and no scrubbing with anything. That's what I've learned in conversation, anyway. |
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Moderator
United States
34395 Posts |
Quote:
I'm still wondering if it'll do more harm than good to shine them up a little? Yes more harm than good in all cases. "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Believe all of us - leave them alone!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3207 Posts |
Making brown LMCs salable will be a challenge since many people simply spend them. And ones in better condition than that are sometimes given away by the thousands for free in the Contest, Quiz, Giveaway subforum.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
24952 Posts |
Stripping original patina from a coin does not increase its value.
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Replies: 26 / Views: 2,397 |
Posted 08/10/2023 12:53 pm
