Cleaning coins

At work so this will be quick. I did NOT say I dipped these coins for 15 seconds. I said that if you dip a coin any longer than 15 seconds would be a bad thing to do. Be back on this evening.

 

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Yeah... Get back to work.... Sheeeese!
Steve

 

Proper dipping involves a 1-2 second dip followed by a THOROUGH rinse with distilled water. Some coins are good candidates most are not! My two cents.

15 seconds and you have some washed out lusterless bullion at best.

 

Left to right, top to bottom, 1,3,9,11,13. Those are the dipped ones. And they were dipped for about 3 seconds. And I implied nothing. I stated flat out if it is done wrong you can damage the coin.

As for those in the pic. The first one was tarnished very badly. So picking that one was truly easy. The other two, props to you.

Tell me this. A couple microns were taken off by dipping. What is it that you look for that will tell you that a coin had that minute a change?

 

I think they look nice. One should not get down on grandma polishing her silverware.

 

Indeed...pictures are nothing but a approximation of a coin. You cannot make an informed decision based on pictures. It seems in these days of the internet some people seem to think that pictures are the end all.....far from the truth. You haven't truely seen ANY coin until you hold it in your hand, use your eyes and tilt/rotate it. A picture only shows a fraction of the story and they are easily manipulated to cast an impression that may not necessarily be accurate.

 

I agree that cleaning will ruin a coin in the ms-65 + class. But I honestly see no harm in cleaning a circulated coin. There is no cartwheel effect and slight wear is easily detectable. I always assume that any coin minted before say 1970 has been cleaned, unless it is in a mint set. Now I am also not talking about whizzing, or acid baths burt simple getting the crud off. So long as no fraud is involved or attempted. However, I know this subject has been beaten to death for many years. Anyway, good to hear what folks have to say.

 

Doug, yes I agree that anythign longer than a second or two, and not rinsed immediately with pure water, will take the "edge" off a coin. That is the best I can describe what you refer too, the tiny microns on the surface have the highest luster, so dipping takes off the "pop" slightly of a fresh BU coin. Everyone remember that the cartwheel effect is caused by the melting on the surface during the strike, and is strongest at the surface, decreasing every atom down from there.

I guess I didn't read on his post how long it was. I have never dipped a coin longer than a second unless it was already near basket case territory, (black toning).

 

OK, my last entry on this thread. First, I am well aware pics are not the end all. I do believe I said pics were not the best thing for this.

Second. No, none of those were already dipped. They are all uncirculated. *GASP* He dipped unirculated coins!!!! Yep, guess that confirms my status as a fake collector.

Anyway, to see if " 15 seconds and you have some washed out lusterless bullion at best" is true, I dipped the following quarter for 16 seconds. It is a circulated proof that I found in a drawer at work. So, as it was already scratched to hell, I sacrificed it to the coin Gods for this. On the left is before, right is after. While pics are not the end all, if it was reduced to the equivalent of lusterless bullion, I do believe a blind man could indeed see that. And I understand it isnt silver, and silver acts differently, so no need to point that out to me. But a proof coin, even circulated, should show some serious damage if all that you folks have said was true.

 

For pennies I use apple cider vinegar. I had a 1984 with a large blob on it, and I was curious last night, so I put it in the vinegar and went to bed. This morning, I used Polmolive soap and a horse hair brush to remove any vestiges of corrosion. Then I sprayed it with high pressure tap water, and finished with distilled water as a rinse. In theory this will stop the process of the corrosion which the cider vinegar began. Whatever you put on the coin is acidic. It makes the coin shed it's skin, if you will. I will post the results after UNC finishes today.

 

Dipping tip-off.

So the sure fire way to tell if a coin has been dipped is simply luster? If that is the case, I think I'll buy some coin dip and try and see if that is true to the eye. I have never used a coin dip, and it's horrifying to find long-time collectors who do it routinely. Seems deceptive.

 

I have been told to use denatured alcohol to remove grease from coins, dip for 30 seconds then gently blot or rub with 100% cotton. I tested it on a junk dime, and so far I haven't noticed anything. What do you all think?

 

Thanks, GDJMSP.

 

Can I rub a coin to get the fingerprints off of it with my t-shirt?

 

Yes, but its not a very good idea.

 

Thanks ripley, you always have an answer for me