When a dealer said that a gold coin has been washed, what do that mean??? And how can you know that it has been???
Never really heard the term used in nimismatics before except as a plating , like gold plated nickels . Or maybe he meant a dip . In what context was the word used ?
Usually I gold wash would mean plated. That is how I would understand it as if someone said that phrase to me. A dealer should know using the word wash means plating and if he meant cleaned to say cleaned.
Some dealer use to wash coins with soap and water, this was done more years ago than it is now. I have had gold coins that I was told the same thing, some were graded just fine by the grading services but most came back as cleaned.
I think you got it on the noise. I just talked to another dealer and he said the some dealer us the wash think to devalue your coin, where he gets it at a lower price.
If a dealer tells you a coin has been "washed", and doesn't say its been "cleaned" when he means that, I simply have very little respect for that dealer's numismatic knowledge.
I'd be weary of this dealer , if he doesn't talk in regular numismatic terms I'd be suspect of his knowledge . In 45 years I've never heard a dealer use this term , if he meant cleaned he should have said cleaned or dipped . If he meant plated ditto .
I think you all and where I live in SE TX I have heard this out of several dealers . Just a way to make some easy money, I think. The gold coins that I have is a 2 1/2 dollar indian. The 1911-d has the strangest D that i have every seen. All coins are au are better and they are saying $6000, NO way I'll do that. On the gray sheet that are $9000 for all. You just have to watch these people. Thanks
Perhaps he's avoiding using the word "cleaned", because that has such a negative meaning in the coin world. But, if he really wanted to make himself sound good, he'd say "conserved" instead of "washed". Either way, what'd I'd do is ask him what he means when he says "washed". Give him a chance to either hang himself, or save himself.
