electrolytic deoxidation examples

NEVER EVER clean your coins. Unless of course they are clad you found metal detecting and want to spend them. And thats the bottom line folks

 

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And there is the moral of this story.

 

Just goes to show that not all of us are serious collectors. Cleaned coins are very easily detectable not to mention the serious drop in value

 

Thank you for hitting home on this one. Yes I was under the impression that electrolysis was non destructive. I've been getting most of my info from metal detectors and ancients. It seems as though maybe electrolysis is maybe "the least destructive" for very crusty "crusty" coins. I can not recall the website but I've been led to believe that electrolysis is a common acceptable method for professionals. Although this may be a last resort for heavily corroded coins.

 

I learned this lesson the hard way buy purchasing a 1917 type 1 standing liberty quarter for just over $500. The seller told me it was original and untouched. Never cleaned. I sent it to NGC for grading for another 100 bucks or so (don't remember exactly now) It came back slabbed and marked "Uncirculated Details" and under that it said "Cleaned". As a result of this grading I lost a full 50% of what I paid for the coin.

 

Just to be clear, I'm not promoting cleaning coins. It's a learning experience. Is acetone dipping cleaning? Or preservation? Maybe restoration.
Unfortunately acetone dipping does not remove corrosion. And I think some types of corrosion (heavy corrosion) are just as ugly as tape or glue. A contaminant on the surface of the coin is just that, on the surface and has most likely destroyed the coin face. I've heard that coin dealers are breaking slabs "cleaning" the coin and sending it back for better grades. What you consider cleaning is going to be up to you because apparently there is no good definition of coin cleaning. I'd rather not even use the word here anymore because it is not acceptable to collectors. I was hoping this thread would turn into non-invasive restoration methods .

 

you can have a coined "Restored" by the grading company but they will never tell how they do it.

 

I'm sorry to hear that. I'm not looking to trick anyone here or fool anybody with a cleaned coin. I'm making examples of cleaned verse not cleaned. And hoping for some feedback on acceptable preservation methods. And maybe even what to look for or avoid. You should post a picture of your cleaned coin here. It may help someone in the future.

 

Yes. I know.

 

Again I only did this as an example. And I was quite surprised with my results. It was just an experiment.

 

I understand. Yes I was well aware that I would depreciate my coins. I am just experimenting and sharing. I do not practice this nor am I promoting it. It is just for comparison.

 

The coins I used had no cartwheel left. Maybe I'll do some Modern coins and post the results. But electrolysis is considered a destructive method of cleaning. Although it may have potential uses for some extreme applications.

 

There arw whole threads on the cleaning correctly versus harsh cleaning. Conserving, restoring, cleaning correctly are all synonyms for the same thing, basically

 

Too much work your way. I'll just keep cleaning my pennies with a pencil eraser. LOL Kidding of course.

 

There was someone here who was pompously insisting that you should clean coins with a pencil eraser ("a soft one, of course"). I don't remember if he eventually got run off for trolling, or just lost interest.

 

Back in the 50s, it was a common thing for children to "clean" tarnished pennies with an eraser, so I imagine a lot of folks here would know that.

 

I subjected two modern coins to the electrolysis. Cartwheel effect remains, as does luster.. but if you already have either of these qualities in your coin you shouldn't mess with it.

 

My brother and I learned from Boy Scout guides that suggested it, so I did it myself as a small child.

 

I got Scott Traver's Coin Collector's Survival Manual, and Ron Guth's Coin Collecting for Dummies together for Christmas when I was 10.

I don't remember which one, but they mentioned cleaning with an eraser and how it produced a garish effect. I took a penny from change and tried it out.

It was horrific. I've never done it again.

 

Chemistry and metallurgy analysis has shown that the removal of tarnish/toning removes the surface layer of the metal. Luster is caused light bouncing of the microscopic flow lines formed during striking. Removing the surface metal removes these flow lines, which results in a dull, lifeless surface.

So what I hear you saying is that you've managed to refute the science and experimentation done over the last few decades. Well done. I can't wait to read about it in a future issue of the Journal of the Electrochemical Society or Journal of the American Society of Metallurgists.

I'm done with this nonsense. Best of luck with your future collecting endeavours.