A new form of cleaning coins?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by crispy1995, Jul 27, 2005.

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  1. ajm229

    ajm229 Lincoln Cent Collector

    Deleted by AJM229 7/28/05 9:52 pm.
     
    ajm229, Jul 28, 2005
    #21 + Quote Reply
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  3. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    You're right of course - which is kind of what OldDan was saying with his earlier comment about it being relative.

    But please understand, there are a lot of new and relatively inexperienced collectors out there who access this site. Many of them read it every single day - but yet they never make a post. They read to learn. And what do you suppose they would learn if they see the members here saying it is OK to clean coins ?

    Would they realize the difference or would they possibly ruin or reduce the value of one or all of their coins because they thought it was alright to clean them ? Would they simply rinse them off in distilled water or would they get out the toothbrush ?

    Suppose one of them had a nice old, original colonial copper that had been in the family for a generation or two. And they think it would look better if it was cleaner - maybe even be worth more. So they go about cleaning it up. Then something happens in their family and they need $$$$. So they take the coins they've inherited, and cleaned up so they look better, to the local coin shop. And what was a $5,000 coin is now a $1,000 coin.

    Yeah - maybe you and I know that cleaning a well worn and circulated Lincoln cent or Washington quarter isn't going to hurt it any, what's to hurt after all - but they don't. And they might just think it applies to any coin. And anybody who thinks that cleaning can't be distinguished from wear - ya need to think some more. Because it can.

    That's why I at least try to always be so consistent with my answers to questions - especially about cleaning coins.
     
    GDJMSP, Jul 28, 2005
    #22 + Quote Reply
  4. Cloudsweeper99

    Cloudsweeper99 Treasure Hunter

    Very good point and well said. When you put it that way, I have to agree with you.
     
    Cloudsweeper99, Jul 28, 2005
    #23 + Quote Reply
  5. ajm229

    ajm229 Lincoln Cent Collector

    Deleted by AJM229 7/28/05 9:52 pm.
     
    ajm229, Jul 29, 2005
    #24 + Quote Reply
  6. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    We're gonna have to agree to disagree on this one aj ;)
     
    GDJMSP, Jul 29, 2005
    #25 + Quote Reply
  7. ajm229

    ajm229 Lincoln Cent Collector

    Deleted by AJM229 7/28/05 9:52 pm.
     
    ajm229, Jul 29, 2005
    #26 + Quote Reply
  8. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator


    Nothing - I've said at least twice now. But as I've also said - it doesn't remove any dirt, grime or anything else either. Unless it's just really caked on. So why bother ?

    And as for olive oil - once you take the coin out of the olive oil - how do you get the olive oil OFF the coin ? You can't just leave it there - the residue, over time, will cause unusual toning and cause additional dirt & grime to stick to the coin. So again - why bother ?
     
    GDJMSP, Jul 29, 2005
    #27 + Quote Reply
  9. ajm229

    ajm229 Lincoln Cent Collector

    Deleted by AJM229 7/28/05 9:52 pm.
     
    ajm229, Jul 29, 2005
    #28 + Quote Reply
  10. Morgan

    Morgan New Member

    Clean away their your coins!

    AJM-
    I agree with your view on cleaning a worn circulated coin.:D For those specific instances the possible damage due to cleaning is no worse than the years of wear the coin has recieved. Heck I have always been kinda grossed out by my pocket change. I keep thinking about the movie "Mallrats" and the use of A*s pennies.:eek:

    As far as a dish of distilled water goes you have to be extreemly carefull. The problem with distilled water is it still isn't pure H2O. Ions are still present. In fact depending on what is coating your dish, soap or residue from previous use, more ions can be created. Also the "dirt" you are remopving can form ions. This is all due to the polarity of the water molecule. It's just too darn reactive.:confused:

    The problem is if the wrong ions are present the original oxide layer of the coins surface can get disrupted. It may not be apparent but it can easily happen. Once disrupted the integrity is damaged and the coin will experience a different corrosion pattern. This is because the ion that disrupted the layer remains within the layer. Once there it can continue the corrosion.:(

    Yes cleaning a physically dirty coin can make things easier to read but it can also promote and accelerate the corrosion of the surface of the coin.:( :(

    Don't get me wrong I still agree with you but I also think that a forum such as this is a dangerous place to discuss the topic.
     
    Morgan, Jul 29, 2005
    #29 + Quote Reply
  11. SilverDollarMan

    SilverDollarMan Collecting Fool

    Dag.....a lot of comments. DON'T clean.
     
    SilverDollarMan, Jul 29, 2005
    #30 + Quote Reply
  12. ajm229

    ajm229 Lincoln Cent Collector

    No kidding. :(
     
    ajm229, Jul 29, 2005
    #31 + Quote Reply
  13. Speedy

    Speedy Researching Coins Supporter

    I would suggest that you'll listen...many of the guys who have posted on this thread have collected for many years...some collectors on this forum have collected for 50+/- years---many collector I know (other than on this forum) that have collected for years say the same this many of us do...cleaning a coin is NOT good....

    What is dangerous is when your disagree with people who know what they are talking about and have gone through the same thing you are going through...that is dangerous...so my suggestion...listen.

    Speedy
     
    Speedy, Jul 29, 2005
    #32 + Quote Reply
  14. OldDan

    OldDan 共和党

    How you got me thinking that these 67's could have been graded even higher if they had been white. I honestly believe they are graded down because of the coloring. Is there any evidence to show this one way or the other?
     
    OldDan, Jul 29, 2005
    #33 + Quote Reply
  15. The_Cave_Troll

    The_Cave_Troll The Coin Troll


    Without dipping them? I doubt it.
     
    The_Cave_Troll, Jul 29, 2005
    #34 + Quote Reply
  16. ajm229

    ajm229 Lincoln Cent Collector

    I have, and I have decided to dismiss it until I find actual proof for myself.
     
    ajm229, Jul 29, 2005
    #35 + Quote Reply
  17. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    It's certainly possible - but there is little or no evidence to support the idea. I have seen about 3 Morgans that were graded as MS69 - all of them were white. I have seen several that were graded as 68's - some toned, some not.

    In my opinion it's a matter of taste more than anything - to some the eye appeal increases with toning - to others it decreases - and thus the grade. So chocolate & vanilla.
     
    GDJMSP, Jul 29, 2005
    #36 + Quote Reply
  18. Speedy

    Speedy Researching Coins Supporter

    GDJMPS

    In your thoughts...were the Morgans that were graded MS69 graded right.....its hard for me to see how a coin can last that long (even if it was 1921) and can still be MS69....
    I saw a NGC PF69UCAMEO * Barber Quarter (maybe Half) on ebay one time...(Anaconda was selling it) and I just don't see HOW any coin that was minted that long ago can still be that high of grade....

    Speedy
     
    Speedy, Jul 30, 2005
    #37 + Quote Reply
  19. OldDan

    OldDan 共和党

    Speedy, I know that at your tender age it's hard for you to believe, but it is absolutely true in any number of cases. Example;
    Morgan dollar was issued... received and sorted through for the best example... choice coin put into its collection and stored properly... handled over the next 70 years by no more than three people who knew what they were doing with coins.
    While we are on the subject of "old" I would ask you the following question:
    Can you remember your grandmother having to walk over to the Tv set in order to change stations? Every thing is relative, and there isn't any changing of that .
     
    OldDan, Jul 30, 2005
    #38 + Quote Reply
  20. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Speedy your thinking is correct to a point as it is quite rare to find coins that old in such high grades. But as OldDan says - it does happen.

    Is it any harder to believe that a coin 125 yrs old can be graded as MS69 than it is a coin 750 yrs old can be graded as MS64 ? All it takes is proper handling and storage over the years for this to be possible. But it is quite rare for it to happen.
     
    GDJMSP, Jul 30, 2005
    #39 + Quote Reply
  21. Speedy

    Speedy Researching Coins Supporter

    But back then the was that many stored coins from what I have read what not the best....so that is why I asked.

    Nope...sorry...

    That is what I thought and why I asked the question ;--)

    Speedy
     
    Speedy, Jul 30, 2005
    #40 + Quote Reply
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