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 Replies: 11 / Views: 936 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6448 Posts |
Poll Question
  Up front, this is not a super-valuable coin. It's a 1938 Jefferson nickel WDDR-003, EF45 grade, with 85 years of circulation nicks. Quite a bit of dirt and patina as well. For aesthetic reasons, I would like to clean some of that brown surface and splotches before I store it in a plastic capsule. However, I learned a hard lesson where I cleaned another worn nickel—when the acetone lifted the patina, a secondary die chip marker got much harder to see, and the bust got that greasy silver appeance with a loss of visible detail. I don't think that will affect the doubling on this coin (below), but it might make the identification markers much harder to see. 
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7504 Posts |
I agree with frog, and it does carry a premium but I don't think it is a super valuable variety.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3535 Posts |
No cleaning needed in my opinion. Keep the original patina intact.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19107 Posts |
I'd leave it as it is. A long acetone soak wouldn't hurt.
Edited by ijn1944
10/27/2023 2:57 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19930 Posts |
I wouldn't "clean it" but some light conservation may help. I would soak in distilled water for a couple of hours as start. It's certainly not going to hurt it.
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Moderator
 United States
94613 Posts |
Acetone might remove some of the gunk, but otherwise, leave it alone.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2200 Posts |
I like old coins to look their age. They've been around the block a few times and I like that they show it. This one has a tremendous look to it! Three cheers for 1938!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2280 Posts |
This shouldn't even be a question.
You realize when you know how to think, it empowers you far beyond those who know only what to think.
-Neil deGrasse Tyson
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Correct, this shouldn't even be a question.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73575 Posts |
In my opinion, leave it as is.
Errers and Varietys.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6448 Posts |
Well, although I am tempted by an acetone dip, I think the Nays have it. This coin will enter the capsule in the same state in which I found it. Thanks for the advice, everyone.
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Replies: 11 / Views: 936 |
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Posted 10/27/2023 2:33 pm
