I just wanted to mention that I was bored one day at the shop. I took a handful of silver and copper (cheap stuff) and put it through a cycle in the jewelry cleaner. The copper came out corroded and ate up. Surprisingly the silver was pretty much undetectable. Just wanted to mention that this was a one time thing, but it actually really cleaned the silver up nicely.
Doesn't matter which one. Any of them will work if you dilute them properly. I think if you look closer you'll see that the silver suffered minor corrosion as well.
You can do this with cheap stuff. I know there are plenty of common date copper pennies in circulation. Can't you just experiment with those? I only use alcohol and distilled water on pennies, especially those from hand wrapped rolls since they can be pretty disgunting. Of course if you do something to alter the appearance of a penny that is noticable, the only people that will by it are those looking for a deep discount so be prepared to lose a lot of money. I would by obviously cleaned large cents for $5 when they are worth at least 2x-3x that.
Ruben if you soak a coin in distilled water that's cleaning it. If you soak a coin in acetone that is cleaning it. Neither one of those things strips away anything. And yes, you can dip a coin in a commercial dip, and as long as you do it properly it does not strip away the luster. There are literally millions and millions of coins out there that just have a ton of luster - and every single one of them has been dipped in a commercial coin dip. That is also cleaning a coin. Just like I said Ruben, the difference is harsh cleaning does strip away the luster. Cleaning does not.
That deifies the laws of the universe. If the coin tones and is dipped, it not only strips a layer of the coin, but it will weight measurably less. Matter can not be created or destroyed.
No Ruben it doesn't defy anything. But apparently you have a lack of understanding. Look at the two coins in the links below, would you say those 2 coins both have luster - yes or no ? http://coins.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=1156&lotNo=3473 http://coins.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=1166&lotNo=3587 Well, both of those coins have been dipped. And as I said there are millions more like them.
I assume you're concluding that simply upon the supposition that they shouldn't look that "white" for their age. I agree, FWIW, but I'm just asking. That's your "evidence." Is that right?
Yes and no. While that is all the evidence that is needed, if you look at the half dollar remains of what was dipped off is still plainly visible.
That would principally be the darker or flatter areas in the fields where the luster is subdued. Right?
No, look at the blown up pic, see the black specks that did not get removed by the dip ? Prior to being dipped that coin was probably mostly black all over.