Littleton Blatantly Selling Cleaned Steelies!

ANY credibility that Littleton Coin had with me (which ain't much) just went down the you-know-what. This ad was part of my weekly coupon booklet in my mailbox. Thought I'd share (I've circled the best part)!

 

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Just goes to show you can't trust everyone. One of the greatest lies ever published by David Bowers ( not saying he's a bad guy) is that Littleton carefully examines its coins. Also, he has befriended the Littleton CEO.

 

Hmm... "...are reprocessed to restore their brilliance..."

Most creative euphemism for polishing and/or cleaning that I've ever seen lol...

 

All-Mint-Set that is restored?

 

I take my steelies to "Rick's Restorations" for reprocessing (in order to restore the original appearance). I personally find nothing wrong with this.

 

not cleaned and polished but actually replated. reprocessing 43 steelies has been going on for many years. Not saying its right, but it isn't anything new. At least Littleton isn't hiding it. At $2.95 including shipping It isn't exactly a major con....

 

I need to get over to Rick's one of these days myself, especially since he is only a few miles away.

 

You'd think they were hiding something.

 

If this is "blatantly" selling so-called "cleaned" (reprocessed/plated) coins, and is such a terrible thing, the same can be said for every dealer/seller who discloses issues/problems, right? Why not include the the TPGs for blatantly labeling problems as problems too.

Of course this offer is for junk, but this was made rather clear to anyone bothering to read the description. Out of the many things to dislike about this company, I would like to think seven honestly described coins for $3 shipped would be well down the list.

 

Maybe they should have said "conserved".

 

I believe Littleton may be overpriced on their items, but they're honest. I think they're doing a good service to the public.

 

I'd pay $4 for mint 2009 Lincoln cents, but I'm not about to get enrolled in their subscription program.

Yeah, I'd get this to compare the '43 steel pennies I received from my grandfather to the "cleaned" ones to give me an idea of whether or not the cents I have are cleaned.

 

"Reprocessed" has been the standard term for 1943 cents for 50 years. This isn't anything to get exercised about, although personally, I never buy from this company.

If they tried to sell the old crusty, rusty, mottled, icky 1943's that come out of jars and piggy banks, they'd never sell a single coin. Wish I had some original cruddy steels to post here...

 

Except they enroll you in that auto send coin program if you took them up on this offer, which I've read is a pain to cancel out of. There's also a difference between a steel cent even a cleaned one vs a reprocessed one. Here's some of my personal steel cents and some 'reprocessed' ones that I took the photo from Ebay. It's really easy to see the difference in ones that have been re-plated or reprocessed, whatever you want to call it. I don't condone what Littleton is doing but they are a business and the goal is to make money. The reprocessed steel cents do make nice gift coins to give to children though as they like them shiny and the coins are basically worthless anyway. I didn't feel like digging through my coins to find some that have circulated/corroded but without reprocessing the coins are usually in horrible shape and reprocessing almost gives them a second life. If that second life inspires a kid to start collecting that's a good thing in my opinion. But I've seen some places online selling reprocessed ones for quite a bit which I don't particularly agree with myself.

 

Exactly. I can respect them for that.

 

This reminds me of when Detecto made that Littleton video.

 

Reprocessed Steelies are readily identifiable and as such are readily available just like date/state stamped Lincolns are to the uninformed wannabee collectors.

It's not against the law nor is it deceitful. It is what it is and there's a happy market out there.

The goal here, is to expose folks to really old stuff at more than reasonable market prices in the hopes of getting a few "hooked" on collecting coins "through the mail". Littleton has been doing this for years along with their plastic bagged and graded monthly coin allotments.

It's just what they do.

Folks can either buy this stuff and move along or just move along. What else is there to say?

 

Got a link?

 

Actually, I have no problem with this process. I have purchased rolls in the past where the coins had gotten wet and literally had to pry them apart as they were rusted together. Spenders.. so why not do something with them?

 

They have a huge factory and processing plant in Littleton, NH, have been there. They do not pay well with the exception of coins they really need at the grade they judge as good. In this case it would be interesting to know if they are getting many takers, senior citizens probably don't get excited about steel cents no matter how wonderful they look.

Then there is the 1944 steel cent. If you stop at Brookfield Coin in Brookfield Ct Phil has a picture of a certified one on the store wall that he got from one of his customers in AU58. A rare coin.