Tired Of Coin Docs, Whizzers & Destruction Of Them

if you dip a silver or cupro nikel coin in malt vinegare you will get al kinds of fantastic tones. being a brit i like my coins au naturale and showing signs of patination or in the case of ancients, wear. for me a heavily toned coin doesn't hold the same fascination as a circulated but natural patinated coin.

 

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I have not cleaned or polished any of my coins, when I was little my father taught me that you NEVER do either. I have been wondering about an ultrasonic cleaner as I don't think it would alter the coin in any way. Also is there an acceptable "liquid" that could be used? ie reverse osmosis deionized, distilled water, or something along those lines. I know you would have to be careful what the coin was in contact during this also, any input on this?

 

From personal experience.......I tried a ultrasonic cleaner on some flood plain recovery Lincoln cents from the PRE~20's (as it turned out after removing the mud & clay) in distilled water.

I was not pleased with the results. But it did allow me to discover the dates of the coins I'd dug up. The color left behind was just too "off" with the crud removed. May have been the mud they had been buried in or the attempt to get to just the coins.

Your results may very.

I'm an adventurous fellow and you can be too. Just pull some pocket change out and try it yourself if you have a U/Cleaner on them.

Highly diluted NH3 (ammonia) was recommended by others and it only made the coins look.........manipulated.

 

True. We are the guardians of our collections for future generations. Someday, maybe I'll own a 1913 V nickel...and we need to protect our coins TODAY
for the future.

 

If you wish to clean your own coin that is up to you. But selling coins the you know have been cleaned, dipped, acetone, conserved, or what ever you call it as never been touched is wrong. I watch people in my area come to the coin shows with cleaned coins and the look on their face when the dealers tell them their coins have been cleaned and are worth less. To make our passion (coin collecting) grow we must be above board and honest with the public. Without trust and honesty our passion will die and be lost forever.

 

I run into the same scenario with classic guns! It's really a toughy! Common Mauser's we'll replace the stocks, reblue the receivers and just over make it 75 years younger. However, a classic Colt - no way!!!
I just depends! and in every circumstance it depends on that particular firearm! It's a tough subject, but one thing is for sure - If in doubt leave be!
It's funny how similar coins and firearms really are! The original bluing on a classic is like the Luster of a coin. In fact the amount of original bluing can determine the majority of the price much like the amount of Luster that still remains!
Any contact with chemicals, cleaning, or just handling the coins starts the downward spiral of that ever so important Luster!

 

ronterry, I too collect guns and lovem' (one of my pastime passions and work requirement). However, I see them a little different than coin cleaning and so forth.

I will always clean my guns (government issue too as required) and lightly clean my older colts and older AK's but always try to keep them as natural as they are unless really necessary.

But I believe a coin has more history going further than a gun. A coin is much more delicate and tarnishes quicker as it has less metals and components on it than a gun does. Anywho, guns is a totally different topic and extremely hard to even compare but the point is that coins should be taken cared of instead of making them scarcer than what they are IMO.

 

I believe PCGS, if they did in fact use the word "acetone" was maybe referring to the coin's surface showing signs of being wiped. If properly used the acetone will not harm most coin surfaces, but using the wrong material to wipe it, or excessive pressure will definately harm the surfaces. Either way, they should clarify exactly what condemns the coin rather than what they believe is the root cause.

 

Yea, whipping is bad mojo! Imagine using Acetone to loosen the dirt and regardless of how great a micro fiber towel you have the dirt itself acts like sandpaper! Think swirl marks on a brand new glossy black cars paint job!

 

To me leave it to the experts , I've dipped a few coins in my day , but came to the conclussion that it's better just to leave them alone ,
store them right and don't buy problem coins you'll never have to dip them . Whizzing and AT a coin are decietful and done only to hide flaws or make money .
rzage