Clean or Don’t Clean Old 1943D Silver Dime?

*picking up a shield to defend against all the tomatoes that will be thrown*

Sure! Clean it! Yes, as stated above the general rule of numismatic appreciation is to not clean. However, from the original post it sounds like this is something you and your son are doing together...hopefully putting together a Mercury dime album. (A boy could be so lucky!) Who among us hasn't cleaned a buffalo or some other coin to get a date read? Lastly, it is a common date Mercury dime. If you really want to "buy" a nice coin, go on ebay and buy an MS one for $15-20. Besides, from the look of it, this coin already has one foot in the grave. I don't think cleaning it will dramatically affect the value and if it helps your son to appreciate a date and mint mark of a dime he is putting in an album, who cares? Clean it, but be sure to educate along the way.

 

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It's obvious that the OP doesn't know the difference between a cleaning(harsh) and a restoration.
It is obvious that you don't either.
A restoration done properly will not do any harm to the appearance of the coin. And that even goes as far as a complete dip in Thoreau.
There are many ways to restore a surface of a coin with oit any trace of it being done....

 

Now that is plain unfair. The member is just practicing, before I jump in and give an opinion.

 

I’m not mad and I'm not your bro. You come across like mommy and daddy didn't pay enough attention too you as a child. Your response to post #19 says it all.
This is Coin Talk. Sharing knowledge in a respectful manner, while demonstrating etiquette, and being polite, is encouraged.
Re-read post #19. Mr Earl was trying to help. Peace.

 

Wait there's more to come...

 

Generally you never clean coins. It only ruins them. Experts can conserve coins.
However, considering the OP coin is only going to be worth melt value if it
is cleaned or uncleaned it doesn't matter.

 

Someone's a bit angry! You try to criticize me even though you can clearly read I was responding to people. I was attempting to assist the original person in a kind manner so he wouldn't mess up in the future. I don't know why you're acting like a child over a post and criticizing people because you don't read at all.

Also you say it yourself; ". . . and being polite. . ." However, it seems you lack this since you can't seem to ask about a situation and jump on to be angry as soon as you don't agree with something or like what someone types.

Stop spewing insults, maybe take a break from the website for a bit and calm yourself down before typing.

Also, I'm not giving an opinion, I'm giving fact over the subject, Cleaning and restoration hurts the value of a coin.

 

That's not always true. There are proper ways to help some coins. There are also wrong ways. A coin worth $1.80 is not anything to fight over.

 

Oh, Goody!!!! I am going to hug myself while I wait.....

 

I wasn't intending to fight, I was just telling the original person that he shouldn't clean old coins in general, it's tbh his choice to clean this coin. (But like in general don't)

 

If you think that was fighting....well, I will be right back, after I limber up my typing fingers.

Don't hit me. I am old.

 

Oh you're going down!

 

You know you are right @Cowinthehole the majority of the coins today probably need more of a natural skin than another attempt at a cleaning/restoration.

 

It matters. especially if that new collector coin comes on to the market and Sam Stone finds it. He can definitely soak the coin in distilled water and sometimes roll a qtip lightly over the surfaces.
Then add it to his cabinet or his Dansco. Nothing wrong with a little experimentation right?
To me the surfaces are bright. Telling me @Sam Stone coin is rather a terminally toned coin than a fire.
It may have smoke damage, but to me not heat damage. a few long soaks in distilled water, would tell me if there is any reason to move further.
If not it finds it's self in a roll somewhere.

Sam, do you know anything about Luster? Wear? accidental contact? An old cleaning?

 

Learning almost anything from scratch. In fact I was going to ask about a 1964 quarter we have that has a starting luster. From what I'm reading here, I think it was either overcleaned or someone was able to put it away when it was new and someone else snatched it up and spent it. I'll see if I can get a reasonable photo that shows the luster.

I couldn't figure out good lighting that shows the luster, but this is the coin.

Thanks for everyone's input. At worst it has been entertaining and at best I'm learning.

 

Can I have the film rights for you vs. Dynoking?

Can I have the film rights for you vs. Dynoking? Maybe recruit Charley as referee or at least ring master/announcer. We will need girls (ladies) to walk back and forth between rounds and hold up the next round's number.

That was NOT intended to be sexist. I suppose we could get a Chipindale guy to share the placard duties.

 

I will do it, providing one of the contestants pays me to look the other way when he does a Liston. Yes, yes, I can be bought...I have a few coins I have been contemplating.

 

The coin itself appears in good legible condition. I believe @paddyman98 has the best idea. Whatever you decide to do keep us informed good luck and welcome to CT.

 

Hmm, Maybe. . .

 

Thanks everyone for the educational entertainment. We will leave the dime as it is, put it in a flip, and keep it to remind us of how we hope to evolve.

Thanks again!!