It seems we can't get away from that question so I figured I'd put in my 1 cent/penny. Whether to clean a coin or not depends totally on the dirty coin in question. If it's not a key date nor worth a lot and if the coin is ugly because of the crud that's on it, then what harm can there be from making it look better, as long as you don't go overboard? :goofer: I picked up a Connecticut Copper that was in a NCS slab and it was still dirty after they "conserved" it. :goof: I couldn't take the dirt so I cleaned it. You can look at the before and after pics and draw your own conclusion as to which looks better and which you'd prefer, if it was your coin. This is actually a coin that's worth quite a bit, since it's a 33.4-q (R-5) but like I said in the beginning, I couldn't take the dirt on the coin so I had to remove it. :eating: Feel free to show before-and-after pics of your cleaning experiments. :thumb: Ribbit
It's a gorgeous brown in hand and one of my favorites. I love looking at the flaws and trying to understand how the conditions were back then, that so many coppers ended up looking like this. :kewl: Ribbit
Low voltage/amperage electrolysis with baking soda in the water and a copper electrode. Never use a stainless steel electrode when doing copper coins. :goofer: Ribbit
That is a very nice coin, and in my opinion looks way better after your cleaning then after it was "restored". I do however have what is probably a noobie question so please forgive me in advance! Is a coin that has undergone a "restoration" then considered a "cleaned" coin? Or would it still be considered 100% authentic? I am wondering because I have an 1820 penny that has some nice details on it but the overall shape of the coin is not very good as it has many small "pitting" marks on it. I have always understood it best to leave coins in their original shape so I slapped in it a 2x2 many years ago and never touched it. It is my oldest american coin and although I would never sell it I would almost hate to "clean" away 190 years of history, even if it is just dirt
You can get rid of the dirt easy enough, but don't clean it anymore than that. I think it will reduce it's value after that. Just my thoughts:whistle: Chemicals always do.
He has already cleaned it folks. His question - to clean or not to clean - was intended to show you the results of that cleaning in order to answer the question.
Post pics of it. Hard to answer the question without seeing what the damage is. As to the cleaning, my understanding is cleaning a coin isn't inofitself a no-no, it's how you clean it that can be a no-no. There are right ways and wrong ways and on slabbed coins you will see the TPG designating one Improperly Cleaned, which will hurt the value but a proper cleaning generally won't hurt the value and most times, it will increase the value by optimizing the eye appeal. :kewl: Exactly! :thumb: Some coins may have ugly toning and shouldn't be cleaned but there is no reason to leave dirt on a coin. :goof: I can't believe NGC slabbed that coin as dirty as it was. :goof: However, they can continue doing that since it keeps the price down to where I can afford them. I got that one for less than $100 and it's easily worth a whole lot more than that but with the way it looked in the slab, it didn't surprise me that it stayed cheap. And with how it turned out after cleaning it, I'm tickled with it. :thumb: Ribbit
As a general rule I don't believe in cleaning, sanding, polishing, etc. old items. BUT: I've placed a New Yorker steering wheel on my 68 Newport which is all original. I put a CB bracket in my 67 Imperial which too is all original. I pulled the catalictic converter off my 75 Camero. I've cleaned many coins to make them cleaner that were just for my own albums. My point is if it's yours, do with it what you want. If you plan on selling something, giving to someone, willing it to someone, that may be different. As for me I do with things that are mine as I well please. If that coin is not clean enough for you, your not planning on selling it, clean it as you wish. It's YOUR COIN.
I can't say you ruined it, because it was in pretty bad shape to begin with. But now it really looks like a harshly cleaned coin.
Please explain how. All I see are pleasing, chocolate-brown surfaces. What at first glances look cleaning scratches actually appear to be deeper defects or damages that have been with the coin for a century or two.
Well my opinion is that it was in very bad shape and the cleaning did improve it. I also think it improved the eye appeal also. I think I could live with the second coin and not the first. Is it cleaned? yes. Is it obvious? I think so because of the splotchy color. Is it harsh? not in my opinion. I think what toad did was preserve the coin as best as possible. NCS should get this coin again or a PCGS genuine holder.
I was always tempted to clean a coin until i found this forumn As you will find out never to clean a coin no matter what condition coins that are dirty etc. are very appealing, once you look at them And once you find a coin from a dealer and you think this is the coin that i need for my set after a examine it and feel the texture - slick greasy etc. your heart will sink, but keep on looking you will find that coin , and you will be happythat yoy almost paid $$ for a coin that was worthless :kewl:
cleaning i think if a coin looks like crap and is dirty to where its near unidentifable clean it. if it makes you feel good do it. i personally think theres to many judgemental people who love to say oh look you cleaned it..put it in your collection and be proud that your one of a small percentage who has a great piece of history in your collection...i have asked questions to learn. and at times i dont get an answer to the question other than looks cleaned to me.. that response rotts me, when i already know the coin is cleaned .i dont need to see 5 people post looks cleaned to me, yup sure is cleaned, i agree looks cleaned and so on..please show respect and help answer a question . i am constantly learning. i love coins and the great answers i get when i need to know something...thanks just my opinion. btw i say theres a good few people on here who have cleaned coins and to me with certain coins it may be needed..just my thoughts
