Been discussing cleaning coins, not in the harsh way, but in the appropriate way, whatever that means??? On a thread I read a person's comment that said, "I've seen tarnish on a coin and it continues to eat away at the coin." Now, I'm a bit confused, because I know that some people prize nicely toned coins. If the toning on the coin continues to "eat away at it," wouldn't the coloring change and the coin's value eventually degrade, as the toning eats away at the details? I'm asking here, hoping that I can get a toning expert/collector to answer this concern I have.
Ever hear the saying - a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing ? Well it is. It's a dangerous thing because some people take a little bit of knowledge that they don't understand and interpet it to mean all sorts of things. Of course a large part of the problem is a book written by Weimar White where he says that any all toning on a coin is damage and that the toning should be removed. Well, that's absolute nonsense. It his personal opinion that any and all toning is damage and that it should be removed. But the vast, vast majority of the numismatic community does not consider toning to be damage at all. And a large part of the community considers attractive toning to be an asset - a good thing. But as is true in many cases, there is a grain of truth in what was said. Toning, IF allowed to progress unchecked will eventually reach the point where it turns into corrosion and it will then damage the coin. But it is an easy matter to slow down toning to the point that for all practical purposes that it is stopped. And as long as that is done - then toning will not eat away at the coin. What you read was a case of a person saying something when they don't know what they are talking about. Or - someone who agrees with Weimar White and his opinions.
Of course, you never get out of the "little bit of knowledge" category, and go into the good amount of knowledge category, if you never ask questions. Well, I'm not afraid to ask, even if it shows my ignorance. Otherwise, I just keep on going being ignorant. I ask, because a few of my ASE, have obtained some toning. Being a purist, I don't want to clean the toning off. But, I also don't want my ASE to corrode away.
Never meant to imply that one should not ask questions. On the contrary I always, always, always urge people to ask questions. For as you say, that is one way to learn. Another way of course is to read. Read, read, read, read and then read some more. And never stop reading.
I'm not sure but this does appear to be really common with the internet. And with coins especially. I agree everyone should ask, ask, ask. The problem noted here is that so many read or hear one thing and stop there as if that is all there is to that. I've read so many things on the internet that are really to the point of being hilarious due to how little of reality they are. Always ask, ask, ask and then just to make sure, ask some more.
