I regret this...

I got a single half dollar role at my bank back when I was still naive about numismatics. The second I opened it, there was a beautifully toned 1964-d kennedy half dollar. I estimated its grade using the pcgs photograde feature, and concluded it to be at least ms-65. I was told by a couple people (who have no experience with coin collecting) that the coin had an ugly color and would look better it's "natural" color. I used some silver cleaning cream (I forget which brand) and gave it a nice rub. Reminiscing, I realize that this was a beautiful coin with great toning. It would have likely commanded at least $500 at auction... Just a fun little story about what not to do with coins.

 

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Most people have a story like that at one time or another, at least your hit was a small one

 

Kripes, I don't know what to say..........fool?

 

I once learned to take my titanium wedding band off when handling coins.....

 

I'm not sure who the bigger fool is, he who cleans and removes the color, or he who pays a ridiculous premium for it.

 

Note to self: If someone offers to give me flying lessons when they have never flown a plane themselves, don't go!

Chris

 

64-D in MS 65 is a $15 coin.
$500?

 

Shhhh... you’re ruining his “teachable moment” with facts...

 

Who knows? The rainbow toning could have made it a $500 coin.

 

Maybe it had been in the vault with the last of the JFK Investigation documents.

 

It had incredible natural rainbow toning on it.

 

So.... you didn't know enough to not clean it, but were knowledgeable enough to positively identify massively premium-worthy natural toning?

Seriously though, I agree with @mikenoodle, and can't help but to think @1916DMerc would be well served by paying attention. 'Tis better to learn from another's mistakes than it is to live through one's own.

 

PCGS price guide shows $40...a recent NGC 65PL example (rare?) sold last year for $3,290!
https://coins.ha.com/itm/a/1239-5543.s

 

Also saw that slabbed $15 coin...no bids.

 

Plus we don't know if it is MS 65, if we had a photo pre scrubbed it could be 63, 65, 66 who knows. Even with "rainbow" toning, if it's MS-65 there is a range of prices,
and $500 is not one of them. It's a $6 melt coin worth "around" $15.

 

I don’t touch coins with cleaner, dip etc. I figure that if the coin gods wanted me to have the coin, they wanted me to have it in that shape.

 

At least you didn't lose any money. You paid 50 cents for it and it was still worth that, or $6+ melt.

 

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The first thing I thought about was the post @1916DMerc put up about cleaning his 1921 Peace Dollar. I hope he sees this. I wonder what he decided to do after all?