Looking for some input on the grade of this 1921 10 centavos as well as ny advice on if I should try to clean it up to get rid of some of the gunk. It's tougher for me to grade bronze coins than silver/nickel. Thanks!
Yeah, I get what you are saying with the crud clinging to the raised elements of the coin. I know that is typical with silver coins that have been cleaned but don't know if it's the case with bronze. Any others with thoughts?
Here's one that NGC graded XF45 that has more wear across the snake (high point) as well as on the top feathers. I guess the real issue is the potential cleaning. I think it's probably an AU50 otherwise.
Well of course if that is XF 45 then yours is AU-50/53. But I am tight on grades and this current one is a little high for me. VF-35/XF-40.
Thoughts on ways to remove the schmutz? Olive oil? Distilled water soak? Acetone? Obviously I want to avoid abrasives, and I'd prefer to get the coin as nice as possible.
They say acetone will not damage the metal, and will only remove organic materials. I did experiment with it on a few coins. Some things it removed, some it did not, and the coins did not suffer any change in appearance. I can't see what you are trying to remove. It will remove gum, gunk, crud, (fresh fingerprints?). It won't "clean" your coin. But it won't hurt it either. It can remove something, which when that substance has been removed, there might be a problem underneath it on the coin which is now visible.
