Cleaning silver coins with vinegar (1941, 1942, 1942D, 1943D, and 1944 quarters)

Well, they are your coins, and even some members here have said they would likely sell for a higher price as cleaned. Though I am a fan of acetone and would prefer that route, visually the after pics look better to me than the before pics. Generally, I tend to avoid coins with chemicals all over them.

 

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Thanks for the kind words. I don't plan on ever selling these quarters, so their value is irrelevant.

 

My only worry is that new folks to the hobby will read this and try it on coins of value.

 

It worked great to get the ugly toning off my 1794 Flowing Hair dollar.

 

I made it clear that my quarters were barely worth melt value. I would never imply that somebody clean a 1921 peace dollar or another valuable coin.

 

But beginner collectors may not understand that because you are doing this only to junk silver, that you shouldn't do it to higher value coins as well. You should say something like "don't clean with vinegar unless you want your coins to become melt-value".

 

Bugo is challenging one of the cardinal rules of coin collecting: you don't clean coins. Period.

But, again, they are his coins, and, though cleaning may be offensive to some people (I am adamant about it -- I think I have cleaned maybe one coin because it was developing corrosion, and it was a small Japanese 10 sen silver piece), some people just do not care about the sensibilities of the majority regarding their own coins. Plus, the rules in the hobby are subject to change from generation to generation. I have had my arguments with a relative over my insistence not to do something like this.

I think newbs will butcher their coins regardless of threads like this. Plus, if a newb lands on this thread, he'll get plenty of people slamming those who do this.

But again, considering that the coins were worn anyway, I think the damage was minimal at most.

 

I've never been one to follow rules. I'm a coin cleanin' rebel.

 

Other than your accusations, who said they cannot accept it? The real question here is it really that hard for you to accept the fact that the novices you speak of, the ones who "wouldn't even know they had been cleaned", deserve a little respect and be able to trust that they will not be mislead when they come to a coin forum? You keep ignoring the fact that NO ONE CARES what you do to your coins, and have only asked that you not act like what you're doing is generally acceptable, but here you are baiting and playing victim again.

The same drivel and childish name calling, especially when boo hooing over supposedly "not nice" and "rude" comments is getting a little old, sir. Respect begets respect.

Almost there... now just make it clear next time and no one will care if you bathe in vinegar or grill cleaner.

 

It is not a "cardinal rule" but exists only as a clear and simple attempt to get newbies not to destroy coins before actually learning about them.

If you reread this and some of his other threads, you will see that this is not the case. No one cares nor is offended by what he does to his coins, but what has been repeatedly asked is that he not portray his methods in a way that could or would come across as being beneficial.

Of course some will... but many a once fine coin has been ruined by someone who listened to poor advice. Just trust me on this; I've seen it more than I care to remember.

 

BTW I may be new to this forum, but I've been collecting coins since I was a young child. I'm not a young man, I'm in my forties, I have a renewed interest in the hobby and I'm learning new things all the time. The cleaning of the quarters was an experimental project I undertook. Face it, they looked awful. You had to look hard to even tell some of them were Washington quarters. Now they look nice (to me) and I'm happy with them.

PSA: Kids, don't try this on that 1933 double eagle you found in your dad's basement.

 

My coins increase in rarity and value every time someone cleans a coin. Keep up the good work everyone!
(Thanks for the psa, bugo. At least we'll save the ultra rarities )

 

I donate 3/4 of my salary to AIDS babies and 1/8 to the humane society. So there.[/quote]


Let's do some math. 3/4=75%, 1/8=12.5%. 75+12.5=87.5%. That leaves you with 12.5% of your salary remaining. How do you pay your bills? While I admire you more than generous charitable contributions, one still has to eat.

 

I think his posts are tongue-in-cheek.

 

If he didn't give all his money away perhaps he could afford coins that don't need to be cleaned with vinegar.

 

And the Germans did NOT bomb Pearl Harbor, it was the Japanese

 

I doubt you've taken more heat in one day than I have, I can guarantee it.

 

Bugo,

There is really nothing wrong with what you do to your coins with regarding cleaning the tarnish, and other gunk, off of them, as they are your coins.

With that said; however, there is a clear distinction that should be mentioned between coins, such as the ones in this thread, which have no numismatic value beyond their silver content due to commonailty of date and mint, and excessive wear, etc.; and coins with numismatic value and premium value because of rarity, variety, rare error, VAM, etc., and that distinction should be mentioned so as to not give the impression to newbies to the hobby that every tarnished, crud encrusted coin, should be cleaned.

Quite the contrary, coins with value beyond their metal content, and if the owner of said coins is not a fan of toning; which is a naturally occurring process of silver; and said coins carry value and/or premium value as I stated above, this should be done by someone with enough experience to do it in a way that will not cause damage to the coin over time, which will be case of these coins.

Also, if you don't want to hear it, then don't start the thread, because unless responding members are in violation of posting rules here at CT, you will hear it from them anyway.

BU

 

Excuse me, but are we to believe you over a US Senator?