Can this bullion piece be saved?

There's no downside to dipping a piece that's already worth only the bullion value. Use it as a learning opportunity.

 

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I disagree. That is true of many generic rounds but many bullion rounds are astatically pleasing.

 

my wife is aesthetically pleasing but when she works outside all day in the mud and dirt and grime, she still can use a shower.
( and she is not round, in case she reads this)

 

What probably ruins more dipped coins than anything else, is insufficient rinsing. ANY traces of dip left on the coins will continue to attack the metal and eventually will result is a discolored/corroded coin.

Second most common is overdipping that can kill the luster on a coin leaving it looking flat and dead.

Let me change that. Second is probably dipping an overly dark toned/tarnished coin so the damage the tarnish has done to the surfaces is revealed.

 

If this is indeed silver, try a silver jewelry polishing cloth. First, for the coin itself, rinse and pat dry to remove any dirt, etc. and then lightly rub the tarnished area. Repeat until tarnish is removed, then use attached "no chemical" cloth to polish it. The scratches, however, will not be "filled in" or removed.

 

NO! Unless you don't mind COMPLETELY destroying the proof surfaces.

 

You've been here how long, and you're recommending rubbing a coin with an abrasive cloth?

 

I prefer a brillo pad to clean my capped bust halves, shines em up real nice!

(in all seriousness I've never cleaned a coin, I don't know enough and would rather just pay ICG a $5 conservation fee (or whatever the other TPGs charge if I ever submit to them) if I'm submitting coins for grading)

 

It is not an "abrasive" cloth, it works chemically on the tarnish. I have cleaned numerous silver coins and have not scratched any of them. Although coins are "softer" metal than silver pieces/utensils, I can't imagine jewelers using a cloth that will scratch those pieces. Please note that I do not use the cloth on mint state coins, only circulated coins to help their appearance before putting them in 2x2 flips.

 

It's bullion - a bit more interesting than generic bars and rounds, but still bullion - if your LCS will give you $27 for it, sell it and look for a nicer piece

 

Okay. Thank you.

The coins I am thinking of dipping are silver rounds that frankly are ruined if I don't dip them, so, if I ruin them even more by my inexperienced dipping, I can just sell them for their silver content. I will do it if I decide it's worth the risk.

Thank you again for your advice.

 

That's good to know. I didn't realize that could be the case. Thanks for pointing that out!

 

Great. Thank you!

Do you hold the coin with your fingers when you do this? If not, what do you use to hold the coin?

 

You're right that it's "just bullion" but I like the piece and it will cost me more than $27 to buy a new one without tarnish. So, I'm inclined to try my hand at dipping it. I have nothing to lose and only what to gain - either in knowledge, experience or an untarnished piece.

 

In your experience, how much rinsing is needed? Do you also use baking powder and/or distilled water?

And how do you hold the coin, with your fingers?

 

Don't worry, I would never use a polishing cloth - that would scratch the coin.

 

A jeweler's polishing coin will not scratch the coin, it is not abrasive, it only works chemically. You will, however, scratch the coin if you do not wash and rinse it first, since any dirt/debris will be rubbed by the non-abrasive cloth, thus causing scratches (from the dirt/debris, not the cloth).

 

I'm sorry, but that's absolutely wrong. Jeweler's cloth is impregnated with rouge, or another fine abrasive.

You may not see the scratches with your naked eye, but I promise that anyone with experience will immediately be able to tell what you've done. It alters the way light reflects from the coin's surface, and the scratches themselves are visible under magnification.

I certainly can; I've watched them do it. As I said, the scratches aren't easily visible, so all the customer notices is that the piece is "shiny". Jewelry is usually polished before it's first sold, so there's no expectation of an "original surface" like there is with coins.

You may be happier with their appearance afterward, but show them to any dealer or moderately experienced collector, and they'll immediately tell you that your coins were "improperly cleaned".

 

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