1888-O Morgan Opinions

I just recently got this Morgan and I am needing everyone's opinion on it. I will further explain where I am going with this after I get some replies, but right now I just want to see what others think.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

To me all i can see is a 1888 O morgan dollar that is pretty chewed up and cleaned mabye would get VF details if graded !!

 

EF details, cleaned.

 

Okay. Now, my LCS owner talks about dipping coins, and how it doesn't affect value if done right. He dips, rinses, and then wipes it with a paper towel, which is what I assume puts all the scratches on it. He says there is nothing wrong with how he does it, and he does other people's coins in the same fashion. I disagree. I bought this coin specifically, because he had just finished dipping it when I had walked in, we had this conversation about his dipping methods days prior, and I wanted to post it on here and get other opinions. I am new to collecting, he knows this, and I don't want to call him out on what he is doing because I don't want to sound like a jerk, but I feel like he is really doing a disservice to people, selling these coins like this, as well as cleaning THEIR coins. I know their are other threads about dipping coins on this forum, but I just feel like it needs to be reiterated and this would be a good thread to do it. What is the correct, or best, method for dipping coins and not causing all those horrible looking surface scratches or affecting value? I know 'not dipping' is the best method, but if it is to be done, how should it?

 

If you want my honest opinion is that dipping is on good to me a coin is a piece of history with it is an AG-03 or a PF-70. I think even if a coin is in VF condition by dipping it you are not really adding an value if anything you are taking it away i dont think that coins should ever be dipped because in reality you are doing more damage to the coin then has already been done to it. Just my 2 cent on the matter !!

 

I agree. I am against coins being dipped. I am just curious about the whole, 'dipping not affecting value'.. does it not, if done correctly?

 

I agree: EF Details, Improperly Cleaned. With the lighting, I'd almost of said it was whizzed.

If this is indicative of his work, I would not buy any of his raw coins.

 

i would say anyway you do it, it will lower the value, the only reason it is done usually by thief's to try and pass the coin of as having more luster then it had !!

 

I'm no expert on cleaning coins, but many older white coins have been dipped. If memory serves, dipping takes a little bit of the surface of the coin with it and hurts its luster. You can certainly over-dip coins until they're dull and lifeless.

 

Coins such as this should not be dipped. You can't help the value. The OP coin had more than a dip. I'll guess someone took a brush after it.

Some MS coins can be helped. Knowing the right coin and doing it correctly is the part that most get wrong.

 

If done properly, it can improve the value. Dipping is typically done to remove heavy and unattractive toning. You must remember, toning in essence is corrosion of the coin's surface and if it does too far it can be damaging. Typically silver dollars are dipped to give them the blast white appearance that people want. Over dipping can make them dull and lusterless. This coin has strong hairlines on it that were either caused by his use of a paper towel or by a previous cleaning.

 

Never, ever wipe a collector coin.

 

The OP's coin is harshly cleaned--meaning that it is not a dip issue, but a mechanical cleaning process. It has been polished, shined, buffed, whizzed, or cleaned with some other abrasive that leaves hairlines all over the obverse and reverse. A coin like that in a common date is worth melt, and it is tragic to see any coin treated like that--as Doc Camaro said, gentle dipping can enhance some coins--mechanical cleaning and wiping ALWAYS destroys the surface.

 

I agree with Morgandude11, as usual, when he states that this coin has been mechanically cleaned and harshly at that. If this coin had merely been dipped it would not look like that. Dipping, while I am against it, can in fact "help" the coin in some situations.

Thanks for the thread William DeBerry, it has been very informative.

 

I do believe dipping is OK in some circumstances (primarily with MS coins with ugly toning.) I really don't see the point of dipping an XF or lower coin. I think that one reason it is done is to try to trick less experienced collectors into thinking they are buying a MS or AU coin.

 

Dipping is fine if done properly, and the coin is not over dipped, so as to destroy the natural luster of a mint state coin. However, one should not believe that the dipped coins are by any means "original--" most of the blast white coins that come from the 1850s through early twentieth century have been dipped. Silver coins (as well as other metals) tone due to environmental factors. The toning is by no means always attractive, but that is the way the original surface is of the coin after 100 or so years. If you want "blast white" coins from the "good old days," just understand that they were dipped in a "market acceptable" way--almost none of the 1870 and 1880 coins we all love are naturally white after 100+ years.

 

Not necessarily. This is because dipping actually removes a micro layer of the coin and with it goes luster. So, when you dip a circulated coin...they tend to look more dull. The only reason to dip a circulated coin is to remove toning. That's it. Frankly, the only reason is to remove bad toning because toning often hides evidence of cleaning. If someone is dipping circulated coins to make them appear better grade then they are taking a big risk IMHO.

 

True all of what is said herein. It is fine to dip a coin, such as an 1888o, as long as it isn't a MS 66 or 67 example. Garden variety coins are fine to experiment upon with dipping, but I would NEVER think of a key date, or some other rarity, as it does affect the luster if not done well, and can render a coin valueless.

 

I think in some instances that a key date would benefit from it...such as if the toning had gotten to a point where it was damaging the coin and/or hurting the value itself. That said a coin like that should be treated by someone who knows exactly what they are doing.