Cleaning Issues

Recently I bought a couple of Morgan dollars from a local dealer and sent them to PCGS for grading. They were not marked as cleaned. They came back as follows:
1893-O VF 92-cleaned
1880-S UNC 92-cleaned

So that leads to two questions.
1. How much can I expect this to affect their value by being cleaned?
2. Is there a point where it is okay to lightly clean a coin by dipping it in e-Zest coin cleaner?

Thanks.

 

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lol

 

1.) Significantly. In some cases, the value is basically destroyed in its entirety.

2.) Don't take this the wrong way, but if you are asking this question, the answer is no. Start with non-reactive methods like acetone and distilled water soaks that break up the crud and grime on a coin. e-Zest and similar cleaners chemically react with the surface of the coin. Don't use anything abrasive or scrape at the coin. Otherwise, see answer to Question 1.

 

Sure wish you had come here first with some photos. ( Or did you? ) I can understand why you might have wanted to have the 1893 O slabbed but the 1880 S? Common date.

 

Perhaps you should go back to that local dealer and get some practice honing your negotiating skills.

Chris

 

1) the value of YOUR coins is not destroyed in its entirety. The 80-S is likely junk (or close to it) material now, meaning scrap plus whatever "dollar" premium one is willing to pay at the worst. With the 93-O I think it would be better to take a look at the coin before trying to place a reasonable value upon it.

2) The answer is YES, and there are many residing in straight graded slabs that have been. However, and as I believe the other gentleman was alluding to, it's not something for the inexperienced and is actually more easy to ruin a coin when doesn't know what they're doing.

 

Jester, thanks for the info.

 

Good point, Chris but I think I will chalk it off to "experience and learning lesson" There is another dealer about 30 minutes north of me with great rep and I have done some business there. Think I will stick with them.

 

Glad I was able to make your day!

 

At the time I thought it was a MS-66 grade. Lesson learned.

 

Probably not the most useful reply....

 

I don't know your collecting experience, or how familiar you are with surface problems. However, I would suggest that you read a couple of books on coin grading, and hang out here on Cointalk, to learn and grow your knowledge base.

In answer to your questions, cleaning is going to severely reduce the value of your coin (it depends on how severely and what type of cleaning was used). I usually start at about 2/3rds of the problem-free coin's value for a minor cleaning, and reduce from there based on the severity. Can you post pictures of your coins? That may allow us to give you a better idea.

And for your second question - no, a dip will not erase the signs of cleaning already present on your coin. The designation that PCGS gave you is for a harsh cleaning method (wire brush, polish, jeweler's rag, etc.) that has left a permanent deformation of the surface metal. The only way to remove it is through years of circulation, or to sell it and buy a problem free coin. Sorry that you got these results, but stick around here and we'll help you learn.

 

Thanks physics. Don't have photos to show as I am still waiting for the coins to return from PCGS. I am 66 and just started collecting again a couple of years ago. I have the book Photogade and use PCGS online Photograde.

 

I picked up a couple of LED lighted magnifiers on ebay for about $5.00 each. 10X & 50X. The 10X is good for larger coins and the 50X is great for looking for the stuff you normally can't see in some dimly lit LCS's & Pawn Shops. I keep one at home and one in my pocket at all times. Aside from my GF and Puppy, they are my constant companions. As you learn about grading and defects you might find them extremely useful. A very cheap option as opposed to "trusting" a dealers grading.

 

Thanks Tommy. I will search that out.

 

I forgot to mention that each has both lens + ultra violet feature for notes and stamps. They take 3 AG10 batteries each and they are dirt cheap in bulk on the bay also.

 

What @physics-fan3.14 said is the best advise you can get. Posting images on here for others to analyze and give feedback on is going to be one of your greatest learning tools.

We've all made mistakes and most of us have come across raw coins in dealer's inventories that have been cleaned yet, are still being represented as problem free uncirculated. I come across them all the time. All you can do is just not buy them. Sometimes it's a legitimate oversight, other times they know it's a problem coin and they were bitten by it and hope to pass it along to another unsuspecting person.

 

Both of those are good, but don't really explain what to look for when grading (or learning to grade). That's why I wrote a book of my own. You can find it linked in my signature below.

 

Careful Jason, the mods might come in here on full red alert and zap you for self promotion. Wouldn't be the first time it's happened.

 

Perhaps.

I usually send a PM in cases like this. Or wait for others to post for me. That really is the better way to do it.... but sometimes it is better to be proactive and take a chance