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 Replies: 44 / Views: 6,097 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
627 Posts |
So my question is this...should you dip a silver coin into silver cleaner or not. do you consider this cleaning a coin. If you do...what is the proper way of doing so.
I know the professionals say never to clean your coins, but they are the same ones who love "blazing white" silver coins. I don't believe that a silver coin could exist over 40 years without tarnishing, unless it is constantly circulating, in which case it would be quite worn. But, take a 1939MS dime, for instance. How could it be "blazing white" if its never been dipped?
comments?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4618 Posts |
Don't dip. It will reduce the value of your coin. Any cleaning will change the surface of the coin. You can also over dip and really harm the coin.
As for coins that are Blazing White originals, they are common. If a coin is kept untouched and away from conditions that cause contamination of the surface, they stay white and original for far more than 40 years, some even for hundreds of years. I have coins from the 1870s that have no toning and have never been cleaned in any way, but they have also been protected from outside contamination. Other members here have original white, uncleaned coins much, much older than mine.
Once the coin comes into contact with something like paper or cloth that has sulfur, oils, acids and many other contaminates, the surface will tone over time. Removing the tarnish without damaging or dulling the surface is almost impossible.
Some coins are less reactive. Gold is one of the less reactive metals used for coins. That's why most gold coins look nice and bright. Copper on the other hand reacts to almost anything that touches to surface. That's why copper turns brown so quickly. I have 2011 Cents that have started to tone.
Some buyers love toned coins and will pay a premium for the right color. Some, as you say, want only coins that look "new." The thing is that once it's toned, it can never be the original color again. I know that some people use an acetone bath to remove surface dirt, but this still leaves the toning. For the Blazing White silver coins, you have to start with an original uncleaned example. You can't make one.
ANA ID: 3203813 - CONECA ID: N-5637 Clean a coin that may be worth collecting? Please DON'T! When in doubt, leave it dirty!! 
Edited by Yokozuna
07/10/2011 09:43 am
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1554 Posts |
  Yes, blast white is awesome, however, only when it's original! Nothing irritates me more than seeing a Victorian or Edwardian silver coin that has been dipped resulting in that silvery shiny metallic look. I find toning beautiful, especially for circulated coins. It not only adds character to the coin, but it appears as an original piece and is coveted by Collectors in that state. I personally will never dip a coin, if it does not have eye appeal, I won't buy it to begin with, however, I find very few problem free coins to be ugly. Glenn  |
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Valued Member
Canada
272 Posts |
I for one will not go anywhere near a coin that has been dipped, cleaned or even treated with acetone, I find them repulsive.
At the same time I will not even look at a white coin, but show me a lovely rainbow and I am there.
I collect only raw coins in there original state and wonder about there life history.
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
9865 Posts |
How can you tell a coin's been cleaned with acetone?
I think we're getting a little carried away here
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2301 Posts |
IMO, there is not a "Blast White" coin that is 50yrs or older that has not "Been Preserved".....now, call it dipping? No......It is done by some of the FINEST dealers and Top End Collectors Constantly. A Canadian Dealer freely admitted to dipping a "Dot Dime", resubmitted the coin to PCGS and received 2 grades higher if I remember correctly. At the "Spring Torex" I asked a question of a collector who own an incredible Canadian Collection..all deniminations etc.... He informed me that he likes to call his coins......."Professionally Conserved".....not Dipped. If you put silver in a vacuum, it may stay BLAST White.....just remember......"Professionally Conserved" will not look dipped to death......
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1081 Posts |
OP, I think your reasoning is off. Collectors love "blazing white" coins that are original, not cleaned. As mentioned many coins do exhibit this characteristic naturally despite being decades old. If you love blast white coins, go ahead and dip yours, however, you destroy their numismatic value and they will lose their original surfaces which are prized among coin collectors.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
9865 Posts |
Nickelsguy,you are absolutely correct,I know of two dealers who have their coins "Professionaly Conserved" prior to submission to ICCS,about a thousand coins a year,and they all receive,at minimum,an acetone bath,and most a dip in thiurea.
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
627 Posts |
So whats the best way to "professionaly conserve" a coin?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1442 Posts |
Isn't it amazing how many people will stubbornly hold onto the "fantasy" that their blast white coins haven't been "treated" ? :)...LOL...
Sure...its "Professional conservation" when an ICCS favourite dealer does it ;)...
Pure BS...
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
902 Posts |
BS ? true, but always an interesting topic.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
That is why I usually buy raw coins circulated. Imagine where they have been, who held them, what they could buy when they were issued. Most of our coins are circulated, the few that are MS are toning, which is fine with me. "Conserving" seems to me to be a come and go fad, I remember reading a long time ago that toning was bad and now it is in. If you are looking to do it for investment, why chance changing the whims of the hobby. If you are doing it for yourself, why chance what it will change into after the conservation? Just my opinion ~
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Valued Member
Canada
142 Posts |
I could post pictures of DOZENS of coins in my collection that were cleaned with acetone by someone and there's no way you would believe anything was done to them. After dipping they were toned in open air for around 1-2 years each. I've submitted a few to ICCS and none have come back cleaned. All it takes is patience.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1554 Posts |
 One thing I find confusing is how everyone complains about dipping coins and loving natural toned coins. However, in the past year I have picked up dozens of dark toned MS-64 examples worth thousands of dollars for a fraction of the price! (50-70% off trends) This makes me wonder if the majority of Collectors like seeing/buying bright shiny "dipped" (Professionally Conserved) coins? Glenn  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1442 Posts |
Glen...50% off trends is the REGULAR price of today.
I'm starting to realize that buying something 70-80% off trends is considered a SALE or GOOD DEAL ;)
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New Member
United Kingdom
2 Posts |
I have a "blazing white" UNC 1816 George III Sixpence that's never been cleaned (you can tell), so its certainly possible... If I figure out how to post images, I can show you!
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Replies: 44 / Views: 6,097 |
Posted 07/10/2011 10:43 am
