Grumble Grumble Cleaned Coin

Hey all -

I just received a 1886P Morgan Dollar I purchased (at a *very* good price) on eBay. The coin is very pretty, probably about an AU-55 or -58. The only problem, as you've guessed from the title, is that it's been rather amateurishly cleaned. There are hairlines on every broad surface. I won't put up any pics because I don't like making grown men and women cry. I'm not seriously toasted about it as I paid slightly less than melt, but it would be nice to get it back to acceptability.

My question: Is it possible to remove these hairline scratches? Remember please, that the coin has already been cleaned, so the age old argument about whether or not to clean coins is moot. My thought was to use a microabrasive of some sort (dry baking powder?) and gentle abrasion over a long period, like carrying it in a baggie in my pocket for a while. This was actually suggested to me by an employee at a local coin store. He recommended mortar dust, but it seems to me that baking powder is finer.

A little help, please and thank you?

 

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One way to get rid of them is through normal wear. Anything else I can think of would just hide them - maybe. Now the best way I can see to completely get rid of them - sell the coin at melt and make a few bucks. That is pretty much all it is worth now.

 

Maybe that's why you got it at a *very* good price.

 

There is no way to remove the hairlines other than wear...which has already been stated. When a coin is cleaned and those hairlines appear...it is because the metal is physically scratched. So, wearing down beyond those scratches is the only way to "fix" it. Of course, I'm sure the scratches also extend deep into the fields which means it will take a lot of circulation wear to remove them.

The bottom line is, the coin is damaged and there isn't much that can be reasonably be done. Fortunately, an 1886 is a common date and in this condition is probably only worth melt.

 

I was assuming that wear would be the answer, not chemicals. The question posed is whether there's a method of *accelerated* wear that is effective and gentle enough not to harm anything larger than hairlines?

I could sell it and make a couple of bucks and I may yet do that. But first I'd like to know whether there's a process of reclamation (redemption?) for this poor, beleaguered coin.

 

I think the only "accelerated" form of wear you are going to find is to use the coin as a pocket piece. I'm not really a fan of pocket pieces...but a lot of people have them and enjoy them. Perhaps a year or two of that will provide the wear you need. Other than that, I can't really come up with an accelerated way to wear the coin that won't do damage to it.

 

If anyone suggests putting the coin in a rock tumbler you should ignore that advice.

 

If you think the coin is "very pretty" you might as well leave as-is. We are not talking a rarity here, so unfortunately there is no "acceptability" other than maybe using it as a pocketpiece. The best that would happen is you would end up with an even more worn common Morgan.

Buying raw off of ebay is always a risk, especially if looking for *very* good prices. If unwilling to buy slabbed or pay up for quality, this experience is bound to repeat itself over and over. If this is what you want to collect, there is nothing wrong with it. However, it seems as if you want better coins at bargain prices. If so I suggest you hit a show, stop into a B&M, or go somewhere that you can view coins in-hand.

 

Actually I'm quite happy overall with my eBay purchases. As was noted elsewhere, only one of nine purchases was problematic. On the contrary, all but two of my purchases significant exceeded my expectations, and of the remaining two, the coin under discussion meets them, regardless of whether it's been cleaned. I only shop for true bargains on eBay, my Red Book at my side and the NGC current value list bookmarked and at the ready.

As far as what I want to collect, I'm actually most attracted to slightly worn coins with that beautiful black background patina. Flawlessness is not a goal, I like coins that show character, but are still pleasing to the eye.

If long-duration microabrasion can improve the coin I'm game to try it. It certainly can't make it any worse.

 

Hmmm...just a quick question -- what's your goal for "removing" the hairlines? Do you plan to keep the coin in a collection? If not, I would just leave it as is -- it's only worth melt anyways and it's not worth the work nor the trouble IMHO trying to wear it down.

 

How can I explain this? I suppose it's like a maddening itch. You can't see anything, but you know it's there.

 

If you paid less than melt you are already ahead of the game. I would just keep it as is since the damage is already done. I know this coin to the left is cleaned, I got it out of a junk bin, and paid very close to melt for it:

 

Tone it artificially. People do this all the time to cover hairlines if they aren't too bad.

 

Trade it and a couple of bucks for a problem free example.

 

Uh-oh... now you've done it. The purists among us will be up 'n arms about that statement.

 

Sorry, should have made that clearer. I meant worse as in valuation, but you're right. I think I'll just put it in the book and keep an eye out for another coin in the same year. If I find one, back to eBay this one goes, with the notation "great condition, but some idjit cleaned it."

 

I'm sure someone's curious, so I decided to post pics after all.

 

I found your problem.

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