I did the "BIG TABOO"

I admit it, I cleaned this coin. In my defense someone had already altered the surfaces by polishing them and it was ugly so unless there is a don't clean a cleaned coin rule I should be OK. Obviously don't do this to a untouched original coin. I figured I would try my hand at a little restoration and this is the before and after. Thoughts?

 

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I hope the bottom pics are the after. Nice job. What did you use?

 

A rare case of improvement in my opinion.
An acceptable move. It is what it is but being a better date, it would sell for more in after condition than before.

 

Looks pretty good to me....esspecially comparing to the before image.

 

I won't mention the chemicals used (pretty harsh process) to remove the deposits as I don't want to be responsible for any heart attacks, many old timers here (me included). The toning process consisted of wearing two socks in one boot for a few days with the coin between the layers.

 

LOL, maybe keep that detail confidential when it's time to sell!

 

Better than carrying it around in his underwear. I hope.

 

As long as you don't use CLR , than we are good!

 

I've heard about those "pennies".

 

Interesting toning method. I bet it smells pretty ripe though.

 

Nice toning method. My most creative was AT’ing a Philippine peso with a hard boiled egg

 

It's a cleaned coin in the end but it looks much more appealing than before. Given it is a semi-key date that is quite tough with this level of sharpness there are certainly many IHC collectors who would be interested in this coin.

 

Yep! I'm not really in the IHC market, but it doesn't bother me one bit to have coins like this in my collection.

 

I am actually trying to “improve” a coin too. A while back I bought an 1896-O Barber Half out of a junk/melt bin with VG sharpness, but cleaned/polished bright white. Currently it is sitting in a dark yellow coin envelope on a windowsill, and hopefully it will look better in a couple months. Real shame since it was probably a very nice coin before they cleaned it. But it was a no brainer for junk price.

 

As of now it's sitting at the far end of my desk

 

That's a good date but now it's cleaned twice so it's twice as ruined.

Lol. I think you improved it.

 

That method is actually mentioned in Penny Whimsy for retoning old copper large cents.

 

Ack.