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Posted 04/11/2005 06:14 am
Yes. LED lights often show little details missed with Halogen lights, UV lights, or standard incandescent lights. This may sound like overkill here, but I have several light sources that I use when buying coins. Spotting the cleaning before it comes back body-bagged is well worth the time and effort.
Don,
While distilled water will not hurt the coin, it will also leave run lines. Now granted 90% of collectors will never know, and it may even pass by the graders most of the time, but anyone looking will see the tell tale marks.
Coins are not perfectly smooth. If you use the correct light and magnification you will see all sorts of little things on the surface of the coin. Running water, acetone, breathing on it will all leave little signs. Fingerprints are left on the surface immediately, but usually don't show up for some time. Now anyone who has taken the time to learn what to look for will see these little differences on the surface and pass on the coin.
I am not saying that no coin should be cleaned, because some need it. However, way too many state with fact that you cannot spot acetone or distilled water, and that folks just is not true.
Try a few experiments for yourself, don't take my word for it. Use a 10X loupe, use a few common pocket coins and dip them or run the following liquids over them. (acetone-tap water-bottled water-distilled water-olive oil. Then look at them with LED light, UV light, Incandescent lights, and Halogen lights. The proof will be there for all to see.
Don,
While distilled water will not hurt the coin, it will also leave run lines. Now granted 90% of collectors will never know, and it may even pass by the graders most of the time, but anyone looking will see the tell tale marks.
Coins are not perfectly smooth. If you use the correct light and magnification you will see all sorts of little things on the surface of the coin. Running water, acetone, breathing on it will all leave little signs. Fingerprints are left on the surface immediately, but usually don't show up for some time. Now anyone who has taken the time to learn what to look for will see these little differences on the surface and pass on the coin.
I am not saying that no coin should be cleaned, because some need it. However, way too many state with fact that you cannot spot acetone or distilled water, and that folks just is not true.
Try a few experiments for yourself, don't take my word for it. Use a 10X loupe, use a few common pocket coins and dip them or run the following liquids over them. (acetone-tap water-bottled water-distilled water-olive oil. Then look at them with LED light, UV light, Incandescent lights, and Halogen lights. The proof will be there for all to see.
