| Author |
 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,672 |
|
|
New Member
China
29 Posts |
Someone said that I'd better not to clean the coins which looks dirty ,is that right? Why ?Thank you
|
|
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
do not clean any coins, it will ruin the coin if not done correctly and make the value plummet. It can drop the value up to 80% at times, so as a general rule do not clean coins unless they are ancient coins that have been dig out of the ground and you have to clean them to identify them
|
|
Valued Member
United States
294 Posts |
Just to elaborate, cleaning can remove metal and luster and cause hairline (or worse) scratching on the coin's surface. All of which adversely affect the value of the coin.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1348 Posts |
It depends on the kind of cleaning we are talking about. If your talking about brushing the coin off with a brush in your sink, DO NOT! if you are talking about chemicals to remove junk or other residues, make sure you read a lot before you try.
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
don't do any cleaning that will change the metal surface. soaking in soap + water or oil or acetone are all OK. pat, not rub, dry.
anything beyond that, and there's a good chance you'll destroy more value than improve.
As a dealer had to explain to a customer who spent a couple hours in his parking lot scrubbing away about $30,000 with an eraser, "if scratching a coin with an eraser made it worth more, you'd see us advertising the service."
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
 Best thing is to never clean coins. Same with anything really old too. For example a really old piece of furnature. Cleaning old things can and usually does do more damage than good. On items of metal, coins for example, there is a layer of something on them and sometimes that suff has become part of the coin. Removing it removes some of the coin too. Everyone knows many people do clean coins to make them pretty and shinny. But think of this. Would you clean a 3,000 year old Mummy. Those are the ones found in the Eyptian Pyramids. Yes you could make them look pretty but also might just fall apart. |
|
Valued Member
United States
327 Posts |
I think it's important to understand the difference between cleaning, which alters the surface of the coin (or any other object) and conserving, which removes surface deposits of foreign matter without altering the actual material of the coin or object.
We do not "clean" coins, because that alters the surface of the coin and it is no longer original. We "conserve" by removing dirt, oil, and foreign matter deposits that obscure details. Some foreign matters can actually damage the coin over time, especially copper compositions. Copper/bronze is subject to "bronze disease" which can eventually create pitting or even destroy the coin entirely. If you've ever seen a copper coin with a whitish material mixed into the green of the verdigris, you've seen bronze disease.
So, we "conserve" to protect the item in as close to original condition as possible without altering it.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
310 Posts |
So, If I dipped a dirty coin in Acetone, rinsed in distilled water and patted dry, I have not cleaned the coin?
If I submitted said coin to PCGS, would it grade without a cleaning notation?
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
So, If I dipped a dirty coin in Acetone, rinsed in distilled water and patted dry, I have not cleaned the coin?
If I submitted said coin to PCGS, would it grade without a cleaning notation?
In most instances, would not make a difference. However, sometimes so much STUFF comes off the coin that is appears to have been cleaned. Examples are things like glues, tape residues, fresh fingerprints, etc. I've known people that had coins come back stating cleaned and all they did was dip in Acetone. Not an easy call. And qazwsxed: I see your in China. Really glad you can join us on this forum. You could be an asset to all of us with information from there. One thing though. Please don't take it wrong if you see posts sort of saying bad things about China counterfeiting our coins. Everyone does that but for some reason we pick on your country. SORRY. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1304 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3184 Posts |
cleaning coins decreases its value! Don't do it
|
| |
Replies: 10 / Views: 1,672 |
|
Posted 03/07/2011 05:54 am
