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Originally Posted by Arizona Dave  Thanks clembo. The pictures are a great help and I have sworn off cleaning.
Back in my cleaning days (Two days ago) I bought cleaning fluid from a reputable dealer in Phoenix. The lady that suggested the product sat at a desk on the sales floor. She said she cleaned copper and nickel coins all day with the same product. Why would a dealer do this? Were they just cleaning worthless coins to sell to an unsuspecting public? |
I read your thread Dave and I believe Coin Care is similar to Blue Ribbon. You will see it on dealers shelves because they do use it.
Acetone and dips are also used in many shops.
I harshly cleaned these coins to make a point and it seems to have been taken. Cleaning coins can be a dangerous thing.
When a budding new collector asks me about cleaning products I tell them not to clean EVEN THOUGH we have Blue Ribbon on the shelf at work. They need to learn more about the hobby and beauty of a natural coin before even considering cleaning IMHO.
Read on.
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Originally Posted by spock1k Clembo,
If a coin has verdigiris it should be cleaned but by people who know how to do it. not cleaning a coin is a bad idea if the coin will be worse off. It is very important to understand that not all cleaning/conservation is bad |
Spock makes an excellent point here. Sometimes it is in the best interest of the coin to resort to cleaning. Verdigris and PVC residue must be removed if possible.
If not the coin will get worse over time.
PVC is pretty easy in most cases. Verdigris can be very tough.
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Originally Posted by bqcoins I will sometimes dip a heavily toned coin (read ugly shades of brown black) to bring out some of the coin's natural beauty, but I don't ever dip copper |
Certainly don't want to dip copper. On silver many, including dealers, do exactly what BQ has posted.
I do it at work for the boss. For my personal stuff I leave it as it is. I have a growing "collection" of near black coins that I have "rescued" at work. Some are BU - I just happen to like the character. A matter of individual tastes.
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Originally Posted by quartertapper
I am aware of that. My point is most people would rather have a coin left uncleaned. If anyone thinks they can fool the best of the best, I'd love to hear about it and I'm sure the grading services would too. |
I'm afraid it does happen on a very regular basis and I'm sure they are aware of it. A quick dip before sending a Morgan Dollar to PCGS or NGC happens a lot.
I was always pretty much a "purist" about cleaning coins and still rarely touch any of my own. It's different I'm afraid to dealers seeing thousands of coins.
It's odd that a coworker and I have become fairly adept at it - through practice. Neither of us is crazy about it.
My "best", if you can call it that, was an Isabella quarter. Came in real black and the boss wanted it slabbed. I got the honors.
I worked it slowly and methodically over a few days. Got it to a "natural" grey. The boss wanted me to work it more and I told him no. It was done.
It came back an AU58 with no problems mentioned from ANACS.
Was I proud that I had slipped one by ANACS? No. I was happy that I didn't destroy the coin.
Other coins my coworker and I will just say no period. Has no hope and we won't touch it.
Bottom line remains the same to me folks. If you don't have to attempt cleaning a coin then just leave it be.
