When you accidentally buy a cleaned coin or two....

What do you do? Do you sell ASAP, hold or what. I have two type coins I really like but really don't want cleaned. What should I do to rid of them?

 

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Could you post pictures of the coins and tell us how much you paid for them?

 

Pictures sorry not at the moment

but I have a 1906 IHC BU RD confirmed cleaned paid $20
an AU 1893 Columbo Expo Half AU Cleaned paid $15

 

You study those two coins until you understand what a cleaned coin looks like. Then you sell them.

 

2 questions...

Why did you like the coins before before someone told you that they were cleaned?

What about the coins themselves has changed so that now you don't like them?

 

I wouldn't be so anxious to part with them. Only reason cleaned coins are so taboo is due to the current state of collecting. If you like the coins, then enjoy them for the history that speaks to you from them. I own several cleaned coins. Doesn't bother me in the least....Remember, our numismatic ancestors did not have any qualms about cleaning their coins.

 

If you collect ancient coins you come to realize that almost all of them were at some point in their lives cleaned. Over time, if you have the time, unless their surfaces were "smoothed" or scoured, they will revert to a more natural aging appearance. If they are appealing to you, keep them.

 

I think the 1893 commemorative will always be worth more than melt, and many of these 100 year old silver and copper coins have an "old" cleaning.
As for the IHC you may not recover the purchase price unless you are willing to not disclose the cleaning to a new buyer. Personally, I would disclose the cleaning and take a small loss (sell at $15, or whatever.)
Sometimes you find a bargain coin that is worth more than you pay, and sometimes you pay more than it is worth. IT'S THE RAZOR'S EDGE!

 

Years ago the St Francis Hotel in San Francisco cleaned all the money they gave out as change. There may have been other businesses that did the same.

 

I own a few old cleaned coins which I thought were cleaned but I still enjoy them and can always sell them for what I paid...very common for Bust Halves to have an old cleaning...gotta love it!

 

Having a cleaned coin to fill a hole in my collection is better than just having a hole.

 

When I started collecting [about 65 years ago] the old timers told me to clean my silver coins with baking powder! Not as bad as the Metropolitan Museum in NYC though: they had a Pine Tree shilling [could have been an Oak or a Willow - was a long time ago] that was in with their New England silver. It looked like every time they polished the platters and pitchers in the exhibit, they polished the shilling too! Like I said, that was a long time ago too, so maybe the exhibit has changed since then. The Met is not a good place to give coins to. They once had one of the finest ancient Roman gold collections in existence. They sold it off to buy a Greek vase for about $3 million. [Rumor was that another reason to sell was that some of their big donors lusted after the coins, and this was a good excuse to de-accession them.] Turned out the vase had been looted, so the Met ended up with neither the coins or the vase.

 

I've bought cleaned coins, both "accidentally" & intentionally (you can get great deals on known cleaned coins). But I'm an eclectic collector &, I think, I have different criteria than most. For example, in my type sets I have some cleaned, since I'm just trying to collect/show the details of the coins. On some, I buy a cheaper (read: cleaned) coin when an uncleaned version is more than I want to spend, although I want that specimen/variety.

The thing is, you must do what satisfies you in your journey.

I suggest you hold on to them at least until you find replacements acceptable to you. And who knows, by then, your feelings about them may change. "Cleaned" is not the end of the world!

 

Keep the cleaned coins so you will have reference for future purchases. Start searching for replacements to your set.

 

I remember seeing a television documentary of a man that started a coin cleaning business and used a cement mixer to clean them. I can't remember what solution he used with it, but the coins were definitely clean. LOL

 

Excellent approach and a perfect opportunity to make what should also be an excellent point. I do hope the OP will honestly answer your questions.

Aside from this and considering the low prices paid, he may want to keep them even if only as a reminder. If viewed wisely, this could be used as an invaluable learning experience.

 

1) I like the coins mostly as type coins, and the blazing red of the INC really interested me

2)I guess you can say I dont like them because I dont want cleaned coins in a long term set. OCD I guess

 

I bought several Peace Dollars that were cleaned. In fact, a good many of the ones I've seen listed at various sites today are cleaned. As my knowledge about these cleaned coins grew, it became my own preference to avoid them without the peer pressure that's so flagrant here. I have one or two cleaned IHCs, too, though these were purchased at giveaway prices.

IMO, $20 is not too much to pay for a nice looking 1906 IHC. I have several of this date, my most expensive one was $59.14. Now if you can find a nice 1886 for that price...

 

I am all about re-living the history that lies in my coins. I certainly won't shun a coin that I desire if it has undergone a bath....... Not long ago I helped a good friend. His father had passed and he was quite an avid collector. I methodically went through the mans over stuffed safe inventorying everything. I opened one box. And in the first second nearly fainted. It was full of the most beautiful gleaming IHC's. Hundreds of them. Once I regained my senses I looked a bit closer. Each cent was a well worn and very highly polished cent. I went from mountain top high to low in a split second. The man did love polished IHC's. He had a bunch.