You ever rub a Peace dollar with it ? Maybe a Frankie or a Morgan ? I have, leaves scratches just like that.
I voted corrosion , but roughly cleaning or polishing a coin to make people think it's in better shape than it is is the worst to me . All it takes is a couple tiny pieces of dirt to get caught under the softest cloth or brush and you have instant scratches . rzage
I have used soft cotton cloth on pretty much every kind of metal a coin is made with and no, never has a soft cotton cloth made visible scratches...
in all honesty have you ever thought that ncs enjoys a monopoly and maybe we could do something about it?
They do good work...I would rather DIY whenever possible but they have restored coins that when I see the before and after, I admit I cant tell exactly what they did. I would love to take one of those examples and have someone explain exactly what they did step by step. But its a business I know so I learn bits here and there where I can find info...It would pain me to do so but if I have a very valuable coin with a corrosion I could not place needing a fix I dont know about, I would use them. I just want to be able to handle all my own coin needs and only spend money on the coins (and flips or airtites) All of what I have come across to date I have been able to handle on my own.
I said "staple scratch", but meant "ANY scratch". Of the listed factors, a nasty scratch has the most adverse effect on eye appeal. It looks downright violent, like a scar.
For the princely sum of $75 / coin, they will provide a conservation report : http://www.ncscoin.com/conservation/services_and_fees.asp "Applies to ALL coins on invoice. A written description of the conservation work performed on the coin will be furnished. If no conservation work is performed, a report detailing the reasons why will be provided at a fee of $25 per coin." I gotta wonder how detailed that report is. I doubt one would learn new DIY techniques, since the micro-details are probably a trade secret. Anybody have any feedback ?
I'm going to say corrosion. It can spread and permanently disfigure the coin's surfaces. I guess all the choices in the poll do alter the coin surfaces but when I look at a corroded coin I cringe. Bruce
Drusus, I think that ancients are a bit different than a regular planchet/mint struck coin. I have demolished BU lincolns as a kid by wiping with cloth
The properties of metal do not change through time...a soft nonabrasive cotton cloth will not make visible scratches on metal...ESPECIALLY not like the ones shown on the coin posted. If you like I would be happy to demonstrate it in a video on a variety of metals.
No Dru, the properties of the metal do not change - but the surface texture of the different coins do change. Morgans, Peace dollars and the like have a much smoother and thus more easily scratched surface than any ancient coin ever though of. Believe what you want - but if you or anyone takes a BU Morgan or Peace and rubs it with a cotton T-shirt - the coin will asbolutely have scratches just like those in the coin pictured. And to prove it, I will go buy one next week, take before and after pics and post them here.
There is nothing quite as disappointing as finding a perfect Lincoln cent in a bu roll and turning it over to find a big honking fingerprint. I once found a fingerprint on a Proof coin... talk about disappointment and anger. Many copper coins can be improved by re-toning the high spots or scratches so they don't glare back at you. I would not do this to a coin I was going to sell or even give away as I feel each person has a right to do what they want to a coin. Even scratch it with soft cloths or brushes... ( But... if you do plan to clean or re-tone a coin please notify me before I try to buy it. Thanks, jeankay
Certainly it isnt 'proven' but lets just recreate what arazona jack said happened to him...I will get a BU penny, not only take before and after shots but record myself rubbing the surface of the coin...I will NOT use a T-shirt but a very soft cotton cloth...I can assure you it will not make anything like scatches on the surface. Once that is done then we can use a silver franklin or a BU Silver Eagle...I have several and would be more than happy to use them to put this funny business to rest once and for all... I'll get back to you in another thread so this can get back on track.