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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Vess1, post: 829990, member: 13650&quot;]This is a good question that comes up once in a while.&nbsp;&nbsp; Tom&#039;s got you on the right track.&nbsp; &nbsp; There&#039;s a general rule that if a coin does have something on it that is causing active corrosion, that it is better to remove the substance than let it destroy the coin any further.&nbsp; Otherwise, it&#039;s best not to clean.</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp; As Tom mentioned, its almost too late in the game to worry about it.&nbsp;&nbsp; Because in the not so distant past, it used to be acceptable to clean coins and they were preferred because they looked better.&nbsp; Well, if that was the case now and cleaning a coin you&#039;re selling might make it worth 10% more, what do you think people would do?&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; They estimate that the vast majority of collector coins from the past have already been cleaned at least once, to varying degrees.&nbsp;&nbsp; But,there&#039;s a difference between a quick dip in something and someone rubbing the surface with a piece of burlap!&nbsp;&nbsp; Many dipped coins have ended up in TPG slabs as acceptable.</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp; There are many things to look for on a cleaned coin.&nbsp; Many will be covered with fine hair lines.&nbsp; Often times you&#039;ll see dark, black areas inside the devices (that couldn&#039;t be reached) while the wide open, flat fields are clear and shiny.&nbsp; Or at least lighter in appearance.&nbsp;&nbsp; You&#039;ll notice this a lot.&nbsp;&nbsp; Often times, the color is off.&nbsp; A cleaned Indian head cent takes on an unnatural looking peach color.&nbsp; &nbsp; If you see a polished Morgan dollar, you&#039;ll recognize it right away.&nbsp; The whole coin will have an unnatural, mirror like finish to it over the entire surface.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;Also, look at the condition of the coin.&nbsp; That is a big one.&nbsp;&nbsp; A century old coin with moderate to heavy wear should not be shiny!&nbsp; Check to make sure that it has all the full details of an uncirculated coin, at least giving it an honest chance that it hasn&#039;t been cleaned.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; Then there are some that are not obvious and maybe nobody will know.&nbsp; &nbsp; Many older coins were cleaned at one time and have re-toned.&nbsp; &nbsp; Many of them would make it into a TPG slab today.&nbsp; I&#039;ve heard they are somewhat more lenient with older cleaned coins than with modern ones.&nbsp; &nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp; The main thing is, most coins have already been cleaned.&nbsp; It just comes down to the severity of their cleaning and what&#039;s market acceptable today.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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