Does this constitute cleaning?

Welcome to our little neighborhood sir. As far as the cleaning goes don't sweat it too much now, just remember the more orig. the better.

Hooah!,

PFC Bega
USAR

 

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If that is the case, skip the middle man and buy your coins already slabbed. That is what I do. I have only submitted a handful of coins to a TPG in my life and I have owned thousands of slabbed coins over the years.

 

Some feel there might be an effect, so be prepared, but most with chemistry backgrounds do not think there is any harmful effects if the acetone is pure and the containers are glass. Search "acetone" in the menu bar above as there are precautionary steps to take in it's use.

Do not use on any non-metallic numismatic material, such as plastic tax tokens, etc. and keep away from slabbed coins as it will damage the plastic slab.



Jim

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Given the results of cleaning, is it easy to see if a coin has been cleaned?

(For example, if I want to purchase a certain coin, but I want to check it for improper cleaning)

 

Easy is a relative term as is cleaning, so almost everyone except the best experts will eventually encounter one they are unsure of. Other than experienced collectors, inexperienced ones who haven't carefully studied coin surfaces under magnification,some will see cleaning where there is none, and others will see no cleaning when there is. The average collector can tell light to severe cleaning, it is the expert cleaning that will be the limiting factor.

Maybe heresy here, but I suggest taking some relatively high grade coins from pocket change, look at the surface under magnification, and then clean them with different effort. A Brillo type pad would be most extreme, then using a soft brush, toothpaste, baking soda, or moist salt ( mild abrasive), then detergent or soap solution ( lesser abrasive), plain water. Then you can actually see the effects as even brushes will generally leave marks. Takes a little time and organization, but the education gained will be worth the time. Keep the coins after labeling for reference. IMO.

Jim

 

that's a great idea

 

That sounds like a good idea...and maybe on the fun side.