Metal detecting: Incredibly SAD story

wow, i had no idea a 'gentle' baking soda cleaning would do that. was this fellow new to the hobby? and its probably a very expensive cleaning. i hate that so bad for this guy.

 

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I still don’t understand what the coin looked like coming out of the ground? I would rather have a harshly cleaned coin than one with environmental damage.

 

I am also a member at Friendly Metal Detecting Forums (my username is Chroma over there). That thread was pretty frustrating, especially because one of the most outspoken forum members (who is not into numismatics) felt the need to give his uninformed opinion. Here you go:

"Hey, guys, JAK has only said that he "lightly cleaned it with baking soda". The operative word here is "... lightly ...". It will depend on what he meant by that. If he "ground it in with his thumb", producing microscopic "whiz marks", then sure, perhaps not-good. But if it was a very wet & dilute and not "ground in" (just to get dirt out of the recesses), then perhaps it's not discernible and harmless."

Ummm... "Not discernible and harmless"? Triple facepalm... The cleaning that was done is both discernible and harmful (to the value of the coin). I understand that most coins coming out of the ground will have environmental damage (I have experienced it firsthand), but why add improper cleaning to the mixture? And I understand the "I found it, I can do what I want" mentality, but that kind of thread just sets a bad example for anyone who wouldn't know any better.
I am hesitant to chime in on such a thread for fear of getting crushed by the metal detecting forum "elites." It's probably an honest mistake, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating.

 

I chimed in on the 'outspoken' members new thread about this topic. We were both very pleasant and respectful in our replies. I totally understand your hesitation, especially with me being a noob there with no previously meaningful posts, I could have been fodder for their dissent.

Have you seen the thread Tom started?

 

Hello Group,
How silver comes out of the ground IMO exclusively depends on what soil makes-up the ground. I live in Houston and have dug silver out of both caliche clay & sandy loam.
Both yielded un-stained, but dirty silver, needing only a rinse. One nice find out of
sandy loam was an AU 1944-D Washington quarter. After a quick rinse (No Rubbing)
I was able to sell it to a dealer who, after checking with a loop, agreed on an AU condition. (Actually, it still had some mint luster!)
Nice Belt buckle find, Chip,
J.T.

 

Yes

 

several ‘43 steels. Still looking for the ‘43 copper

a friend found a ‘43 but turned out somebody altered a ‘48.

 

yep. I always wear gloves but as you said it gets through.

 

‘Lol. The only way my hands will ever come clean will require sandpaper and a file.