Cleaning coins

If the number one rule in coin collecting is "NEVER CLEAN YOUR COINS" Then why do coin shops and on line coin stores sell coin cleaning supplies?

Has anyone on here ever tried the e *Z* est coin cleaner? Or any others that say they will not harm or remove toning?


Just curious! Thanks Josh

 

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Probably for the same reason they sell cigarettes in the airport when you can't use them in the building or on the plane. They do it because people will buy them anyways, even if they know they shouldn't use them.
Guy

 

Cleaning coins is fine so long as it is done properly. Simple dips done properly to remove ugly tarnisihing is just fine. Heavy cleaning ie brushing and polishing, THATS bad. Or repeated dips. Now, I am quite sure the coin snobs will say I dont know what I am talking about, or I am not a real collector or some such nonsense. The simple fact is you can clean a coin in a non damaging way.

 

It's not being snobby, but there is no cleaning that doesn't do damage. Dipping strips layers off the surface. Even coin conservation by professionals is a risky deal. But, by all means, they're your coins to do with as you please.
Guy

 

there are cleaners on the market that say they will not harm the coin it self. I think it is a dipping process. These should be fine to use I would think?

 

They all claim they don't harm coins. What coin cleaner is going to advertise itself as a harmful treatment? But yes, dipping is the least harmful, so long as it's not overdone. There are countless threads here devoted to it, and I'd suggest you experiment on pocket change before doing anything with something of value.

 

thats the only good thing going for me since i pretty much only collect pocket change. my best coin is only worth $50

 

I think a lot of it has to do with every company that manufactures cleaning solution(s) for coins thinks theirs is the one and only that will not leave a residue, not need a soft bristled brush to remove debris in the deeper recesses, etc, etc.

It's all hogwash. Collectors just need to face facts that there really isn't a whole lot we can do regarding storage that will prevent 100% of toning that will naturally occur at some point in time or another.

 

The E Z est is the dip I use. Provided you do not dip for more than 15 seconds, it removes layers measured in microns. Do you want to do that to proof coins? Of course not. But I would bet money no one is going to be able to look at an MS 64 thats been properly dipped and tell.

And let me make this clear. I only dip coins that are nasty tarnished/spotted etc. A toned coin remains toned.

 

Do you like how e z est works?

 

Yep. It removes black tarnish well and rinses off easily. But as I said, and it says on the package, do not dip longer than 15 seconds. Its strong enough to definately do real damage if you dont watch it.

 

Dipping is near impossible to master, As coins differ so much in metal mixes.

I have been successful with some coins and have managed to save them but then again I would never dipp any coin that have value over my set limit. You can dipp a coin that looks amazing for few days then in 2-3 weeks time the dipping will drag out alloys from the mix. Never dipp coins that are less then 92.5% silver.

 

Well Siggi I would lower that to 90% silver, as I have dipped many US coins.

"Cleaning" is such a large term many things can get lost. Are you referring to ancients or modern coins? BU or circulated? Using water or chemicals? "Never clean a coin" was made to keep amatuers from destroying coins, which they have by the millions over the years. I would say, however, that cleaning a coin in distilled water and thoroughly drying has never harmed 99%+ of coins.

If someone here posts about cleaning, we should ask more details of WHAT they are wishing to clean, WHY they think they need to, and HOW they were going to do it. What will "clean" an ancient will destroy the value of a modern BU, but what you would use on modern BU or circulated coins will have zero effect on ancients.

To Josh the OP, any chemical I can think of either will or will likely remove toning. Toning is the first outside layer of metal, so it will be the first affected. About the only thing you can do that will not harm toning is to use distilled water, keep it cool, and quickly and thoroughly dry the coin.

 

OK, here you go. 5 of these dimes I dipped. I realize the picture isn't the best for this, but if dipping them damaged them so severely, they should be easy to pick out.

 

they all look fine to me

 

It´s easy to hide the effect that dipping will make with pictures.

As GDJMSP said if a experianced collector would how them in hand he shold have no problem seeing the dipped coins.

 

Really? One dip and you think someone can tell 100%? Hmm, I would wager it would depend on what the dip had to remove, meaning the more toning a dip had to take away, of course there will be an affect. Do you really think you could tell a one second dip with a tiny spot 100% of the time Doug?

Its not invalidating your point that dips by definition take away a surface layer, I just would not wager that I could always spot a coin with only one quick dip 100% of the time. I would if the dip took away dark toning, (longer dip, more surface by definition removed), but not sure about a light, quick one. Maybe I just didn't have as much experience.