Can the experts explain coin conservation one more time?

For my clarification, I'm sure this horse has been beaten to death, but I want to be sure I listened to the experts and not just a random commenter. From what I understand, acetone and MS-70 (both done the right way) are conservators, while EZ-est is a little bit on the gray side of things and sorcery?

 

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Cleaners.

The "conservator" schtick is a marketing term, presenting the practice of using the cleaners as an acceptable method.

Whether it is acceptable or not is for the collector to decide for their own benefit (or not).

 

I don't really care. The better a coin looks, the more I like it. I just do not want to impair future value (what a buyer would think, and damaging perceived value). Getting junk off might also prevent future environmental damage that might be in progress by not getting it off the surface. I am not talking about rubbing coins by physically abrasive means.

 

OK.

 

A chemical like water or acetone that cannot attack the surface of a coin is what I call safe conservation. Sometimes a coin needs to have harsher chemicals to truly save it from destruction, like if the toning is turning black and will become corrosion, then something like EZest might be appropriate, in appropriately skilled hands.

A novice using anything but distilled water or pure acetone is simply cleaning, and most likely will end very badly.

 

Simply, anything you put on a coin (THAT NO ONE CAN TELL SOMETHING WAS DONE TO IT) that makes it closer to the way it was when it was struck is called conservation.

Even running water over a coin can be called cleaning; yet if it is properly dried, no one can tell.

 

The only two things I use is a/ distilled water and then drying thoroughly. b/ 100% acetone (not the stuff for removing nail polish), Remember, acetone will only remove or loosen organic materials. Anything else is beyond my skill level.

 

The Corvette in the barn was dirty. It only cost $100.00
I washed it. It is now worth $125.00.

Dipping has 2 purposes, to make a coin more desirable and to make a coin more marketable. If defining dipping as conservation, as if it is some selfless act on behalf of humanity, and not about the Benjamins, is more palatable to the psyche, fine.

Mom makes you go to Confession. You know Mom is going to ask what the penance was. So, you make the sin more presentable.

Instead of stating you have impure thoughts about Sally, you state you think Sally is pretty. One Lords Prayer, instead of 6 Hail Mary's and 9 Our Father's.

 

It does a lot more than that, if done improperly. It adds undesirable aspects.

 

Explain it again, this time using those chicken nuggies!

 

Great commercial.

 

I'll save you the trouble. If your speaking of modern coins don't do anything as dealers / experts can tell it's been cleaned and it will devalue the coin. If it's an ancient coin it depends on the metal and condition. There are different methods for appropriately cleaning depending on weather its silver or bronze. EZ-est is an acid and will damage your coin don't use it. Just search Cointalk for "cleaning coins" and you will find a lot of useful information.

 

anybody else thing the germ of an idea for this was from: whole thing is good, but pertinent is around 3:30 min in.

 

EDIT IMO:

NOTE TO ALL: This is absolutely 100% misinformation. There is no 100% positive way to tell if a coin is cleaned properly as long as its surface has not been etched or the cleaning was not done properly so that evidence such as parallel hairlines, luster impairment or stains remain. Otherwise, you can only guess: "Duh, that coin is 140 years old and it looks brand new. It has been cleaned."

 

Not misinformation. Experienced dealers / collectors will most likely be able to tell that is has been cleaned; I never mentioned 100% of the time, no one is that good. The OP was asking about acetone and EZ-est. Both will etch / remove the top surface of a modern coin.

 

No. Acetone will not etch the coin.

 

This is just plain not true unless/until you define improperly. If by improperly you mean using acetone that has other junk in it (like as found in nail polish remover) then yes. If you mean using acetone and a wire brush or cloth or any other thing to abrade the surface of the coin, then yes. If you mean simply letting the coin soak in 100% acetone - then no. There are of course best practices for best results but too many people (I used to be one of them) are terrified to do ANYTHING to thier coins for fear of devaluing. Acetone is safe to use on your coins (with a very very small caveat for copper if you believe the .1%).

 

charley's post was 100% correct.

 

In the same way that saying - "water if used improperly causes death" is 100% correct.

Anything used improperly (by what degree?) causes undesirable results. Let's be real here because someone's trying to learn something and scaring them away with vague comments isn't very helpful in my humble opinion.

*edited to add* - There's definetly differing opinions on using acetone and how to use it for the best results, the best way to make a decision for oneself is to understand a bit of the chemistry behind it.

 

I'm not going to argue with you. I disagreed with you 100%. I did not post that experienced graders would detect cleaning 100%. Experienced and Proper cleaning are the key words. BTW, I'm going to help you prove your point! I should think PCGS graders are very experienced. They know a cleaned coin when they see it, right? That should prove your point.

High quality Acetone will rarely hurt a coin. It will not leave a film. It will remove many impurities on a coin's surface.