Is it just me...weird collecting

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by ryang74, Oct 31, 2020.

  1. ryang74

    ryang74 Active Member

    CB8E3A41-6BE9-4D64-9036-957592C9BE5A.jpeg Lately I’ve had an affinity for graded cleaned Morgan’s - Obv cleaned, rev cleaned, unc cleaned details, etc. - I’m obsessed with what and how cleaned coins are decided cleaned and all the different variations of cleanliness. And I don’t I’m the only one, as I’ve been in bidding wars on eBay for common dated cleaned coins paying over what the coin is worth. Is there a niche collecting corner for the cleaned?
     
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  3. potty dollar 1878

    potty dollar 1878 Well-Known Member

    No i don't collect cleaned coins/the question is would you rather buy detail cleaned coins or holed/plugged detail coinsin some situations.But if I were to buy cleaned coins don't buy the common dates buy the key dates in high grade and get it for %75-50 less than its worth it will hold its value at least so you will not loose money in the long run when its time to sell.
     
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  4. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    Not to me. A cleaned coin is a damaged coin. I have some that are cleaned and retoned but they are still a damaged coin.
     
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  5. cpm9ball

    cpm9ball CANNOT RE-MEMBER

    I've heard that some people buy problem coins that have been slabbed just so they can crack them out and resell them to a sucker.
     
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  6. ryang74

    ryang74 Active Member

    Well that’s crappy - I can literally look at them under my loupe for a good while looking at the intricacies. I do have a couple that are quite questionable. But all in all it’s just interesting to me. (Cited from: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/is-it-just-me-weird-collecting.369259/)
     
  7. SensibleSal66

    SensibleSal66 U.S Casual Collector / Error Collector

    Not me . I buy Cleaned coins that I can't otherwise buy that are usually more rare and expensive at a nice affordable price .
     
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  8. physics-fan3.14

    physics-fan3.14 You got any more of them.... prooflikes?

    No. Definitely not.

    A cleaned coin is a problem coin.

    I'd strongly urge you not to pursue such coins, and definitely absolutely never get into a bidding war over them.

    These coins are considered unattractive and worth a significant discount by the vast majority of collectors - spending too much money (some would argue, any money at all) on cleaned problem coins (especially common widgets as you show) is a sure trip to the bankruptcy hall.
     
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  9. ryang74

    ryang74 Active Member

    Were error coins ever a eye sore to the coin community like toned coins were once deemed ugly. I consider myself a newcomer coming into the collecting world in 2009 and missed a lot of the nuisances of years past.
     
  10. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    I don't think so, just look at some older coins. The ones with errors circulated as well as without errors. What was diffent and rejected by the public? Gold Indians with the incluse design and more modern, SBA's. The incluse design was thought to contain germs and the design of the SBA's.
     
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  11. physics-fan3.14

    physics-fan3.14 You got any more of them.... prooflikes?

    1. Even before toned coins were popular, there were still some who liked them.

    2. Error coins were not well understood, and so were not popular until a generation or two ago. They weren't deemed ugly... people just didn't really understand what they were.

    3. A century ago, cleaned coins were commonplace and well accepted. It was understood that "shiny" coins were desirable. The marketplace has evolved since then. We now prize originality. If the coin is extremely rare, than collectors will settle for a cleaned coin, but a cleaned coin will absolutely sell for a discount (and be harder to sell) every single time.
     
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  12. Lawtoad

    Lawtoad Well-Known Member

    I have coins in my collection that have been cleaned (most are old cleanings). With older U.S. coins, in my experience, it becomes a task to find ones that have not been cleaned in the past. I have been concentrating lately on old U.S. coppers and ancients.It used to be common for collectors of large cents and half cents to periodically "oil" their coins. While not technically a cleaning, it does alter the coins surface. The old coppers also have a high incidence of being cleaned in the past. As noted above, for scarcer dates, sometimes the budget will only allow for cleaned.
     
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  13. Publius2

    Publius2 Well-Known Member

    While I absolutely agree with @physics-fan3.14 about avoiding cleaned coins as a general rule, I have on rare occasions deliberately purchased a details coin. The example below is not cleaned but has a gouge in a focal area on the obverse . I got this coin for about 40% of its non-details value and do not regret it. But I would not buy a details coin, cleaned or otherwise, of anything that was common or easily obtained in a better state. FWIW.

    DSC_0259-tile.jpg
     
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  14. Mountain Man

    Mountain Man Supporter! Supporter

    I believe there is and buying a "cleaned" coin, slabbed or not, is fine in my book because I collect for the beauty of the coin design and have never sold a collected coin in my life. It's all about collecting what you enjoy, and can afford, so "cleaned" coins (many of which I can't even tell) are a good way to fill those missing slots. Good hunting.
     
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  15. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    I’ll be the monkey in the woodpile. My coin collecting is driven by my love of history. I own several cleaned or otherwise damaged coins that I would have passed by because they held eye appeal and the damage made the coin much more affordable. I would never clean a coin. However I will not turn away from one of it fits my purpose either.
     
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  16. Burton Strauss III

    Burton Strauss III Brother can you spare a trime? Supporter

    It's YOUR collection.

    If it makes YOU happy, that is all that matters.

    Bleep the naysayers
     
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  17. longshot

    longshot Enthusiast Supporter

    I'm not 100% sure what you mean by "paying more than they are worth" for cleaned coins. But as far as I know most coins that are cleaned are available for discounted prices, as they should be.
    Now the coin you show is a $200 coin in MS60, and is from what I see doesn't look half bad. If you like it, and can aquire it for a significant discount, more power to you. Just have a feel for what similar coins are selling for. JMHO
     
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2020
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  18. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    And yet... if the "tiny minority" of collectors who want them yields up two competing bidders on the same auction, you can do quite well selling them.

    Yes, a cleaned coin is a problem coin, and problem coins sell at a discount. But a 1916-D dime at a significant discount is still an expensive coin.
     
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  19. physics-fan3.14

    physics-fan3.14 You got any more of them.... prooflikes?

    - it's going to be hard to sell...
    - a 1916D Merc and a 85S Morgan as shown by the OP are two *very* different creatures

    A 16D Merc will have desirability in most grades because the people have been conditioned that it's a rarity (despite its wide availability). It's a coin in high demand, no matter what condition. The price drop for a cleaned 16D is going to be noticeable, but nothing compared to the price drop for an *extremely* common coin such as an 85S Morgan. I'd wager a cleaned 85S Morgan should sell for maybe 1/3 of the price of an non-problem coin, whereas a 16D Merc might sell for 2/3 the price of a problem-free coin.
     
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  20. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    Not all collectors are motivated to be sellers. And if those of us that are not sellers are not concerned with a return on our purchase, then why not collect what we find to be appealing regardless of the pariah that may be branded by a label? I have an AU three dollar princess that is noted cleaned. I would challenge the best here to detect the cleaning. Oh, it is there but certainly does not detract from the beauty of the coin. I purchased her at spot because of the label. I assure you that I would have passed given the value of an AU less details label. I am proud to own her and she is willed to my grandson who loves her too.
     
  21. physics-fan3.14

    physics-fan3.14 You got any more of them.... prooflikes?

    Randy, I certainly respect your position. I'd argue that for something like the $3 you describe, an attractive and well valued details coin may make sense for some collectors. Problem free $3 pieces can be quite pricey. In your case, you've decided that a coin with a very slight problem makes sense for your collection. I wouldn't advise buying a harshly cleaned coin, regardless, but an argument can me made for your approach.

    To me, that's very different than an extremely common coin like an 85S Morgan. There are literally tens of thousands of problem free examples available for very low prices. I can think of no reasonable justification for intentionally buying a cleaned problem coin over a problem free coin like this.
     
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