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<p>[QUOTE="GDJMSP, post: 1174202, member: 112"]This thread is a prime example of why there is such a problem with cleaning coins. Here we have a bunch of people saying that this way is fine and others saying no it isn't. If you went back and looked you'd find literally thousands of threads on this one forum alone discussing the same issue and all saying the same things - over and over. And even if you took the time to find all the articles ever written on the subject in numismatic books and magazines, and written by those thought to be experts, you will find the exact same thing. One will say this is fine and another will say not it isn't.</p><p><br /></p><p>So who are you supposed to believe, who are you supposed to trust ? That's a pretty tough question isn't it.</p><p><br /></p><p>Well to answer that question you can consider this, something that experts agree on. Out of the milions and millions of raw coins out there in personal collections or sitting in a dealer's shop fully 80% of them, or more, are considered to be problem coins. Coins that if they were sent to NGC or PCGS would not be graded and slabbed. And the number one reason for that is because of harsh or improper cleaning.</p><p><br /></p><p>That's a pretty high precentage isn't it ? Guess why the percentage is so high. It's because the vast majority of all the things that can be used to clean a coin, very, very few of them will do so without harming the coin. That means that most of the people in all these threads, and all the books, and all the magazines - are wrong about what products are safe to use to clean a coin.</p><p><br /></p><p>Yes, there are some products out there that can be used to safely clean a coin. But even a large percentage of those (like coin dips), if used not used properly, will harm the coin and you'll end up with a problem coin. And other products (like acetone) can be safely used on one type of coin but not on another type of coin.</p><p><br /></p><p>Then there are other products like Coin-Care and Blue Ribbon, products that many say are wonderful and will help preserve your coins, products that they have used for years and years. If you send in a coin to the TPG that has had either of these products applied to them, the coin will not be graded and slabbed for these products contain oils that alter the surface of the coin.</p><p><br /></p><p>So again, what do you do - who do you trust ? Well, the wise choice is don't do anything. That's why the single most common advice you will ever get is - don't clean your coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>My personal opinion based on 50 years of experience in the hobby has taught me that the following things, if used properly, can be safely used to clean coins. Nothing else, and no other method should ever be used. They are - </p><p><br /></p><p>1 - distilled water</p><p><br /></p><p>2 - acetone, but never on copper coins</p><p><br /></p><p>3 - xylene</p><p><br /></p><p>4 - coin dips</p><p><br /></p><p>That's it, forget anything else. Now you can choose to believe that, or not. But the evidence, based on what happens to the millions of coins submitted to the TPGs, says you should believe it.</p><p><br /></p><p>note - Thad's product, Verdi-Care, appears to be safe to use for the removal of light verdigris. But I have no personal experience with the product so I can neither confirm nor deny what the outcome would be.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="GDJMSP, post: 1174202, member: 112"]This thread is a prime example of why there is such a problem with cleaning coins. Here we have a bunch of people saying that this way is fine and others saying no it isn't. If you went back and looked you'd find literally thousands of threads on this one forum alone discussing the same issue and all saying the same things - over and over. And even if you took the time to find all the articles ever written on the subject in numismatic books and magazines, and written by those thought to be experts, you will find the exact same thing. One will say this is fine and another will say not it isn't. So who are you supposed to believe, who are you supposed to trust ? That's a pretty tough question isn't it. Well to answer that question you can consider this, something that experts agree on. Out of the milions and millions of raw coins out there in personal collections or sitting in a dealer's shop fully 80% of them, or more, are considered to be problem coins. Coins that if they were sent to NGC or PCGS would not be graded and slabbed. And the number one reason for that is because of harsh or improper cleaning. That's a pretty high precentage isn't it ? Guess why the percentage is so high. It's because the vast majority of all the things that can be used to clean a coin, very, very few of them will do so without harming the coin. That means that most of the people in all these threads, and all the books, and all the magazines - are wrong about what products are safe to use to clean a coin. Yes, there are some products out there that can be used to safely clean a coin. But even a large percentage of those (like coin dips), if used not used properly, will harm the coin and you'll end up with a problem coin. And other products (like acetone) can be safely used on one type of coin but not on another type of coin. Then there are other products like Coin-Care and Blue Ribbon, products that many say are wonderful and will help preserve your coins, products that they have used for years and years. If you send in a coin to the TPG that has had either of these products applied to them, the coin will not be graded and slabbed for these products contain oils that alter the surface of the coin. So again, what do you do - who do you trust ? Well, the wise choice is don't do anything. That's why the single most common advice you will ever get is - don't clean your coins. My personal opinion based on 50 years of experience in the hobby has taught me that the following things, if used properly, can be safely used to clean coins. Nothing else, and no other method should ever be used. They are - 1 - distilled water 2 - acetone, but never on copper coins 3 - xylene 4 - coin dips That's it, forget anything else. Now you can choose to believe that, or not. But the evidence, based on what happens to the millions of coins submitted to the TPGs, says you should believe it. note - Thad's product, Verdi-Care, appears to be safe to use for the removal of light verdigris. But I have no personal experience with the product so I can neither confirm nor deny what the outcome would be.[/QUOTE]
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