**********WARNING!!!**********
This may be offensive to the numismatically squeemish.
Ok folks,
I see enough threads about cleaning coins. How to do it, how not to do it, should I do it.
Well, for most the answer is a resounding just LEAVE THEM AS THEY ARE.
So, I thought a bit more about this and what I see "walk in" at the coin shop. For those that DON'T work in a coin shop it would scare you at times. Fairly recent purchases by my boss were a complete set of Standing Liberty Quarters (including the 1916 AND 1918/17S and a complete set of Indian Cents.
I hate to say but well over 50% of these coins had taken a harsh cleaning in the past including ALL of the key dates. The keys were sent to ANACS for grading and authentication. The few "better" coins that escaped cleaning were sent to NGC.
This information in mind it's time for the clembo version of let's pretend. Ready?
Here's a few scans. Let's pretend the Lincoln is a 1909S-VDB and the Mercury is 1916-D.
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x...can0001-20.jpg http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x...can0002-24.jpg
Hmmm....
Decent examples for the rarity and look original. The SVDB is a bit spotty and the 16-D DOES have a sizeable rim ding. Still nice coins and worth some bucks.
NOW (once again pretending) these are key dates let's assume these were inherited and a total novice or absolute non-collector wants to sell them. I have seen coins brought in looking like this.
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x...can0003-21.jpg http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x...can0004-16.jpg
EGADS!!! Then you might hear "I've been working on cleaning these up for a few days now". GASP!!! Yes, we'll buy them at maybe 20% bid because someone will want a cheap "hole filler".
Bottom line here is it REALLY does happen folks and it's a great reason to steer away from cleaning coins. If you're going to do it read up. Practice on "worthless" coins but just try to stay away from it.
I sacrificed two commons to make a point here. The scans were taken within minutes of one another. First came the originals. Then I dipped them in silver jewelry cleaner. Had to take a Qtip to the Lincoln and is that nasty or what?
The dime isn't so bad. Still worth melt - I'll spend the Lincoln. I trashed two coins for the benefit of my friends at Coin Talk.
When you get over your horror pass it along to someone that needs to know this.
clembo
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