Some things we never talk about...

such as how often we change our socks or members of congress. I have not seen a discussion about how often to change the acetone once it is used to "clean" coins. Is it better to only use once, or can it be reused? If reused - change when cloudy or at a meteorological Blue Moon?

Asking for a friend....

 

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It’s so cheap... why not always use fresh?

 

I'm still a newb to coins, but I thought we should never clean coins. Period. Under what conditions and which coins should acetone be used then?

 

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/using-acetone.346263/

 

"Cleaning" when referencing acetone is more correctly like "conserving".
Acetone helps remove the crud and corruption that gets stuck in the nooks and crannies on coins.
It does not affect the metal nor the toning.
The main problem with acetone (besides its toxicity and flammability) is that it exposes coin surfaces that have been hidden under the crud.
Suddenly that area looks different than the rest of the coin.

Here's an example:


That area at about 2 o'clock is annoying BUT the coin is graded as original by PCGS and agreed to by CAC.

 

https://www.ngccoin.com/boards/topi...of-a-3-part-series-using-acetone/#Post5536102

 

I would prefer to change members of Congress more frequently than I change my socks. Just saying since you brought it up. Lol

 

"...like diapers, should be changed often -- and for the same reason."

 

If I'm just cleaning dirt off of a common batch of wheat pennies I'll use it over and over. If it's PVC poison I'm removing I'll change it out more often, depending upon the quality of the coin.

 

Exactly!

 

I don't consider the PCGS grade to be saying that the coin is original. Rather PCGS is telling me if there is wear and how much; also if there is excessive cleaning. I do hope that the CAC sticker is saying that they think the coin is original. Bottom line, I use my own eyes, look to the grading company to authenticate and judge wear, look to CAC for an evaluation of the surfaces.

 

I have to agree with you based on current thinking about TPG's grading.
What I understand is that coins lightly cleaned in the distant past and now re-toned are look at by TPG's as original, i.e., not as DETAILED coins.
I also believe that thought is not universally accepted.
So I also agree with your "bottom line".

 

If you're old like me it Depends!

 

Thanks...I'm sure my thinking is not universally accepted. Especially by those who profess to be experts in understanding today's commercial grading.
When you read the specifications PCGS and NGC have for grading, hairlines are allowed up to (I think) MS 63 or 64. Perhaps a wipe is not cleaning, but when I think of the word "original" it means honest, wholesome wear for circulated coins and for MS grades, I take "mint state" literally, so hits from being in a bag, from falling from the press into other coins, and oxidation from the elements over many decades. With that in mind, I really enjoy coins that have not been doctored, even MS coins with some signs of dust that's settled on them. l cringe at MS coins with CAC stickers that have obvious fingerprints.

 

AFTER READING PREVIOUS ARTICLES ON THIS SAME SUBJECT, I TRIED ON A WAR NICKEL THAT WAS MS-66, YET FOR A LARGE GLOB OF GLUE GOING UP THE LEGEND..on obverse right (liberty and date) and ir removed the acetone with no adverse affects, let soak for 2 hours, rinsed , and air dried, from now on will just air dry (as recommended) on really gunked up, but otherwise beautiful coins..thanks for the advice (paddynman)

 

"Cleaning" or "Conserving"? Think the big guys say do not clean in any way. But, they find, or call what they do as "Conserving" the many coins and it's OK. But, the new and old collectors are not to conserve, as if they do, are then seen as cleaning any item. It's the money investors that keep this up. Just think now, how our collecting groups are not bringing in our young people to our hobby, and it too will over time die. Most of our club's members are old and we may have about two young Numismatic collectors today out of about 50 members. Sad. The US Mint has not helped much. I stopped buying because the big guys buy up most what the mint puts out and then post for quick profits.

 

I don't have a problem with "conserving," but let's not call the coin "Mint State" once we're done with the conserving process. Perhaps the conserving created a beautiful AU coin...what's wrong with that?

 

That's really not how it works. The reason why they tell others not to is because most have no idea how to especially beyond the basic means of doing it. It's not cleaning just because a collector does it nor conserving just because a professional does it. All that matters is the final outcome

The groups will, the hobby wont

 

Because its still an MS coin. You don't automatically drop to 58 or lower from proper conservation