Tired Of Coin Docs, Whizzers & Destruction Of Them

OK, this is enough! I understand that there are coin collectors and coin "preservers". But I believe that if you enjoy coin collecting then you enjoy coins the way they are. The history behind the coin, the coins beauty, the coins eye appeal/color and so forth right?

To me, if there are people that believe in "preserving" a coin is so ok and that cleaning, whizzing, and even to the point of "melting" a coin is so acceptable (which IMO is not ok), then why not make your own forum or site on "how to destroy a coin"?

I'm sorry to offend anyone that does clean, whizz or even melts these beautiful coins but if you do so, you should find a forum which specializes in the destruction of them because I'm sure that there are people on here who appreciate them as they are (white, toned).

All this stuff I just wrote was because of some "crap" I read on "how to melt silver coins" and I was amazed on the responses I saw and the amount of people who gave advices on how to do so? WTH is trhat?

So, do you agree with me or not, and took the poll? If so, what is your opinion?

 

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to a degree I will agree with you. I would have no problem if someone cleans a low grade coin for the purpose of learning how to properly detect cleaned/whizzed coins. To clean coins to help "sell" the coin is an bad act and should at all costs be prevented. For those sellers that do it, then shame on you. I really enjoy looking at "clean" and well perserved coins and think how lucky I am to have close to or over a 100 yr old coin in my hand and how it survived for such a long time. On top of that how it is possible to stay in such great condition for such a long period, just amazes me.

As for melting coins...if they(the coins) are low/no grade to the point where pretty much everythign is worn on the coin then sure go ahead and melt it.

This is why I try to buy coins in certain grades...to enjoy them the way they are

 

I have no problem no matter what you do with the coins you bought. If you want to spent a $1000 on a coin and then polish it, whizz it, dip it, and then re-color it - I don't really care. Your coin do with it what you want. I would not even care if they government returned 1933 double eagles and the owners melted them down - not my loss. Your coin do what you want with it. I don't worry about the stuff like this that is out of my control.

 

I collect coins for two reasons. One, I want them for silver value, that "silver lining" as an insurance policy. Two, I love the color of silver, it is beautiful to me. I love staring at my nice shiny coins, could do it all day actually. The weight of them, how they feel......
Anyway. If a coin is beyond luster and looks dull, worn out and just crappy, does not appeal to me. It goes into the "silver lining" bag. That bag is my insurance policy, or "ebay quickcash" the rest goes with me when I go to my dealer or meet up with people etc....

My view on whizzing and doctoring. I hold no respect for them, and hold people who do that kind of stuff in utter disgust. As for melting goes? I am not for it, but we do what we have to do.....you know? I personally could not melt a coin. But hey! to each his own.

 

What is your position on people who turn silver coins into rings by spooning or other methods? The fact is, people can do whatever they want with their coins. Coins get melted, and ignorant people clean coins....it happens. The real problem I have is people polishing/whizzing/cleaning coins, retoning them and attempting to sell them as an original piece to uneducated collectors.

 

Professionally deceptive cleaning to make a "market unacceptable" coin sell and melting junk silver for bullion have nothing to do with one another. Melting non-MS common date silver does nothing but ease the population and help increase value on those in collectable grades. Deceptive cleaning practices, on the other hand, attempts to make a coin that should be junk into a collectable piece. Thus, muddying the waters, clogging up the population, and potentially harming the value for those which should truly be collectable. So from this, to me, it appears that we should simply melt all deceptively cleaned coins and the problem will mutually solve themselves.

 

I tend towards the purist's perspective that all coin doctoring is bad. However, I must admit that certain types of cleaning are acceptable to many/most in this hobby.

 

I could care less if people decide to melt their coins.

 

I share Leadfoot's opinion; however, Doug has convinced me that acetone on silver is acceptable - and believe me when I say it took a LOT of convincing!

 

Why is it acceptable?

 

Because acetone doesn't remove any of the coin -- only things like PVC, dirt, and grime that weren't on the coin in the first place.

 

Is there an echo in here?

 

You poll leave a lot out. IMO you cannot blanket statement because there's a difference between cleaning and conservation. So, do you hate NCS?

 

Hi, If acetone is OK then why will PCGS not grade your coin with acetone on it. I sent some 2.5 gold lib's in to PCGS to be graded. They came back as NOT GRADABLE DO TO ACETONE ON THE COINS. I AM ****ED AT THE DEALER WHO SOLD THEM TO ME AS NOT CLEANED. Acetone is cleaning coins and to sell them as such in my thinking is fraud.

 

I'll clean some common coins up when it's going into my dansco. I have a serious method with copper that doesn't kill the luster. It's not Acetone (good for a dirty coins), and it isn't Vinegar (Luster Killer!).

 

It,s your coin do what you want with it!

 

Acetone is extremely volatile -- it evaporates quickly and thoroughly. There's no way to have "acetone on your coins" for more than a minute or two, unless they're soaking in it or frozen at cryogenic temperatures. (And as soon as they warmed back up to room temperature, it would evaporate.)

I don't know if you still have your paperwork from PCGS, but I'd guess it actually said "PVC"...?

 

No It said acetone, Not pvc.

 

Very interesting idea! I don't completely disagree with it though. I bought some "BU" Morgans from a mail order company a few years ago, and three of the six were wizzed. Now, after my most recent experience at a local coin shop, I do understand why companies do this. The eye appeal on mostunc's is downright aweful. To the average uneducated purchaser of these improperly cleaned coins, this is "better". I'm not saying it's right, but it makes happy customers for them. Now, the ones I purchased I realize are pretty much worth spot, and I learned from my mistake. I have also since resorted to buying MS63 or higher graded Morgans, but not without physically looking at them first.