Thread: Cleaning Coins with Pencil Eraser!

I decided to experiment and here is my result. It is very good! Will upload some more results soon.

(Half was erased)

Before

After

I can't help but think that something is up. It may be scratching the surface, but it breaks one of the number one rules of collecting, Never Clean Coins. And another thing, wonder if it would differ from eraser to eraser, but don't take that as in invitation to do that to more coins

Well I don`t think it would scratch it really up. But if you need to clean a coin then this is a good way.

I believe the TPGs consider using an eraser as part of coin doctoring.

Originally Posted by tristen1230

Well I don`t think it would scratch it really up.

Think again.

Originally Posted by tristen1230

But if you need to clean a coin then this is a good way.

I hope no serious coin collectors take this terrible advice.

Ummmmmm............I don't know if that's such a good idea. That is altering a coins surface. A dealer or experienced collector would notice that pretty fast I think, and though the coin may "look better", it's value will be decreased considerably.

As I said above, one of the number one rules of collecting is Never Clean Coins. Of course, they are your coins and no one has any right to tell you what to do or how to collect, but there is a reason that you can say rule to collecting and Never Clean Coins in the same sentence and not get pounded for saying there are rules to the hobby.

Think of being buried alive in the box as using a pencil eraser to clean coins.....

I'll stick to using a rock tumbler.

That reminds me, I want to experiment with methods of cleaning coins on some newer worthless pennies just for fun :P

Originally Posted by saltysam-1

I believe the TPGs consider using an eraser as part of coin doctoring.

Consider? Yeah, sometimes they do I'm sure of it. Those aren't high end coins or anything and the kid needs to learn. Let him clean his coins and learn from his mistakes.

Would you have ever thought that a1700 coin after all the abuse it was put through would one day be told that it was ruined because someone cleaned iit with an eraser.
How many thnk this is true and what proof if any do you have that an eraser can scratch something as tough as silver or copper.
Please feel free to educate me here as i have done this many times in twenty years and have the coins for proof that there is no damage.
Rubber will never scratch metal and this should be a no brainer.
Think for yourselves and when someone that gets paid to clean your coins trys to tell you not to do it tells me iam dipping into their profits.

just the title of the thread made me cringe.

I'll start with woody:

An eraser cleans because it is abrasive, just like sandpaper. Sandpaper comes in varying grits (coarseness) and in woodworking, the trick to getting a shiny surface is to smooth it with finer grits of sandpaper. The higher the number, the finer the grit. Each grit is designed to remove the scratching left by the previous grit. It still leaves scratches, but you don't notice the finer ones with the naked eye. They are still there, and the surface looks shinier because the scratches are minute. Hope this helps.

Now, back to the topic at hand, the problem is not with cleaning coins, but with passing those cleaned coins off as higher grades than what they are to make more money off the sale. If the OP thought he could increase the value of the coin by doing this, than that's what is wrong with the process. Here we are talking about a low value coin and an experiment (I hope) so what's the harm? Had he done this to a cc Morgan, then tried to sell it as being in a higher condition, then the ethics of cleaning come into play. But they are his coins, so he can do want he wants (or she).