Cleaning coins?

I have never cleaned coins before mainly b/c I've come across quite a few blackened disasters and from what I've read. I have a couple of dimes that I need to dip and I am wondering which dip I can use that works without proving to be a bad idea? :headbang:

 

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none of them?

 

never clean a coin. that's it.

 

Since probably less than half of collectors/dealers oppose it, it is generally accepted by the market. Dipping is destructive in nature. It can only be done so much without irreversibly damaging the coin and maybe drastically reducing it's value.

The experience needed, is to be able to identify that dipping has occurred, and then estimating if you can do it "one mo time" with out crossing over to the damaged side. Many older coins may be on that thin line. If a silver coin has a value about bullion plus a little, dip away and watch to see if the luster and any cartwheel effect disappear or only the dark toning. Also be aware that removing dark covering ( which may have been out there intentionally) may reveal other problems with the coin.

When someone ( and I will also), says don't do it, we are assuming if one has to ask, they don't have the experience. So how does one get that? Some have lost good money getting experience on good coins. If you practice on coins that are melt value, you can get experience without changing their value as melt.

Now as to your question, I will answer so you stay away from battery acid, etc ( which work, but .....) EZest ( the old jeweluster ) seems the best. However, I would recommend you use some diluted 1 part EZ to 5 parts water to slow down the process and give you more time to see what is going on. You can discard the solution and make another one if necessary. Dipping a coin into the container, contaminates the solution and can transfer to other coins.

Again, I understand curiosity in people, God knows it will kill me some day, but I have only used 3 of my "lives" so far , so I know you will try it, but you will be happier if you practice a lot first. Also know that dips can have different effects on clad coins, and I have no experience there. IMO.

Jim

 

I just type too much!

Yes

 

I have cleaned coins by wiping them with a rag or even my finger nail to remove gunk. Of course, they were coins that were nearly worthless in the first place. I think everyone has wiped a coin from time to time if they've been collecting for awhile. I wouldn't do it to a 1909S VDB cent, 1916D Mercury dime, or a 1928 Peace dollar though.

 

Pretty much true. You should never even attempt to dip a coin worth anything UNTIL you know what you are doing.

Hence...part of the reason for asking how to do it.

 

Yes I was surprised when I went to one of my favorite coin shops and asked the question. I was told to go ahead and dip. Not only did one of the owners tell me to dip but they also sell some type of cleaner. I was totally surprised by his answer. Needless to say, I will be especially careful if I ever buy any silver from them. In the past I have only bought gold coins and tokens from them, oh yeah and 2 silver dollars neither look like they have ever been cleaned.

Well as far as becoming a dipper myself, I think I will pass, for now. Maybe I will revisit the idea at a later date but not anytime soon. :hail:

 

Every once in while someone says something that is really, really true.

As to cleaning or dipping a coin. I suggest using a Martini. A Vodka Martini of course. With Anchovy Olives too. Now take the coins, lay them down next to the Martini on a soft cotton cloth, drink the Martini, place the coins back where they were. Consider the job done.

Except for the Olives of course.

 

LOL Good idea Carl... i will get right to it. ) Traci

 

But there is so much more to it than that for each and every coin that one would even consider dipping is unique. And that's where the problem comes into play. For to learn how to tell whether the coin should first be dipped at all, then how tell how long to dip the coin - that requires a great deal of experience. It is not something you can explain with directions.


The directions on "how to" in here, are certainly guarded, granted, but the directions of "how to" in the real world, can more easily be accessed through multiple credible sources on the web. Then return here and,....disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer...
Oversimplify...ridicule...evade by non-discussion or selective discussion....whatever. Bottom line..can be done, and without the years and years of exalted experience continually implied, with a little researching, some intelligence, and a bit of trial and error on some non-critical coins.
LOOK FOR THE INFO PEOPLE..it's out there..maybe not much in here (but where really, you'd think it would be), but it's out there. Posting or asking such questions in here and getting straight forward yes or no answers is almost an exercise in futility. Can it be done?? (answer yes but, only will admit it if cornered by logic) Should it be done? (well...we can help there..absolutely never, ever, ever, or ever...) How it can be done??? (we do not discuss that here, at least directly, and if we must..then, only how WE think YOU ought to do it, not actually HOW to do it like we do...professional...disclaimer...experienced...disclaimer)
The internet is your friend....use it.

 

Tom,

There is something to what you say, but for the most part, I don't think it is a conspiracy as it is the voice of "experience" of "failures", as almost everyone who has dipped a coin, certainly has had failures, where the coin was damages or previous damage was exposed.

There is a difference in knowing how, and doing properly. I know how to remove your appendix with a high chance of survival, but if you let me do it, you are making a severe risk. How many people would you want to see me do it on, before you would feel secure? EZest comes with directions, and as you say there are details on the internet, but it is the practice that raises the success ratio. A background in Chemistry will really help understand what is happening and how to control the process, but it is the combination of knowledge and experience. The information is no secret as you say, and people will do what they want in the privacy of their home, but it doesn't mean that any one has to detail all they know about a subject unless they feel it is constructive and low risk. When we have mentioned acetone, many gives specific instructions to keep people from lighting up a cigar as they do so. That is just common sense.

You always have an interesting viewpoint and I enjoy reading them.

Jim

 

Jim
Removing an appendix and coin "cleaning" are hardly the same but I get your point. Nothing wrong with experienced collectors giving their opinion. I will forever be learning and appreciate and benefit from them. Lighting a cigar using acetone? Ok...so I guess that's the mentality this forum needs to be geared to put out information? One extreme to the other..neither really an accurate analogy, and I don't know if there really is one. Nothing wrong again, with opinions. I enjoy them, as I do most of yours. I guess I get tired of reading "warning...warning" on all clean posts, perhaps as much as some of the posters get tired of posting the repititive information, and then still really offer anything other than what basically amounts to their opinion. I guess I'll offer an analogy..It's like when you want simple instructions on how to hook up a simple piece of home entertainment equipment...I just want to know how to turn the damn thing on hook it up..not the 80 million "warning electric shock can occur" or, "this unit complies with FCC blah blah blah.." or "watch out for lightning" and "don't rub your feet on the carpet" and on and on and on of continuing paragraphs and sub paragraphs, addendums, of non-relevant information (in 5 different languages). That may not exactly be an accurate analogy either but as with me, I hope you do get the point. I'd rather read a disclaimer saying "We the founders here at the coin forum disagree with any and all assertions that coin cleaning can be accomplished, so we therefore reserve the right to block, badger, ridicule,
edit, discredit, or just plain ignore anything that is different than our opinions. We further state that our opinions are indeed facts". That woulda saved me a lot of time on that particular subject.

 

I agree, and that's also one of my favorite choices in olives. But, no question about it, it has to be vodka. To me, gin tastes like drinking perfume. I make mine very dry, too. Just keep the bottle of vermouth next to the bottle of vodka in the cabinet, that's as close as I let those two get.

 

Well, there are some facts, just due to real life chemistry, about any substance that can affect the metallic surface of the coin. Such as the fact that chemical dips contain acids, even if they aren't the strong acids, that react with toning, corrosion, patina, virgin metal, to do what they are intended to do. Another fact is how much of the original flow lines and luster is there before dipping, and how much will be left. Those are facts. The experience ( or practice if you prefer) has to somehow estimate those factors, and I know no algorithm which could be used. One needs good estimates to begin. Then the opinions are what dilution ( if any), how long, how to neutralize or rinse the acid off best, how to preserve the activated surface from the "uglies" after a period of time, etc.

So I see

Facts. Experience, Opinion. Facts you can get in references, experience has to be gotten by practice, trial and error. Opinions are the difficulties because no set of conditions are the same when different people dip a silver coin. This makes most people opt to not express opinions on subjects they fear will be misinterpreted.
IMO.

Jim

 

What does the Mint use to wash the planchets?

 

If those individuals that posted those opinions feared that their opinions would mislead folks, perhaps they should preface their opinions with their posts Jim, or even give it with the same weight they give their own opinion.,that would be one thing. I don't think that's the reason though and why the "conspiracy" part got interjected in there and has to do with anything I don't know. I do think those posters place their own opinion much higher than any supposed facts, which by human nature is understandable
but vacating a question (or watering it down, mocking or whatever) just because it comes up, or so it would seem, makes no sense. I welcome facts. I welcome opinions. I just want to know which is which along with it. Mixing them together muddies the water and further distorts what facts there are, but I suppose that's part of the intent.

 

So what does the mint use???