cleaning coinss

Hello,
I've learned already,from here,that just rubbing a coin with a Qtip,is not allowed.
Now,I wonder if soakig it in plain,warm water,and the flushing it under the faucet,is allowed? How about soaking and then spraying with canned ai?
Thanks,Or maybe just spraying with canned air?
Frank

 

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There was a discussion on here about canned air not always being just canned air. To me soaking a coin is okay - as long as it a common date, low grade, not worth a lot coin. I have not done it myself - but I have some pocket change coins that I should probably soak in something like acetone. So I am sure you will get a lot of various opinions on this.

 

Canned air has a propellent, that leaves behind a residue. Don't take my word for it, spray it on a sheet of paper up close. See the liquid?

 

I think any cleaning would be considered "Taboo" Its best just to keep
It as original as possible!!

 

Silver
I agree that a propellant will probably leave a residue.
But,this stuff is used on electronic circutry,which is not very tolerant of this.
Frank

 

Doing anything to rare coins is "doctoring" IMO.

Strictly verbotten!

 

Major,
You seem to be on the right track.
I ran a test yesterday;not scientific,but careful.
I took a batch of 24 of my coins,and soaked them in warm water for several hours.
Then I rinsed all of them from the faucet.
Half of these were allowed to dry overnight.
I dried the other 12 coins with canned air.
This morning,I discovered:
The 4 coins that were dried with a can that finally expired,left some shiny marks on the high points of some coins.
The 8 coins dried with a new can of air,all had shiny arks on the high points of the coins
Strangely,a couple of the 12 coins merely flushed with water from the faucet also had shiny marks.
I am certain that none of the coins had these marks prior to the test.
I got the same results with plain water that I got with careful cleaning with a Qtip.
The new can of canned air was harsher then the Qtips were.
Frank

 

Does this include conservation by the TPG's also?

 

Absolutely--I am a purist. I believe the only TGP that "conserved" coins, NCS, may be out of business. If so, I say good riddens.

That said, some isolated "conservation" may be beneficial. The SS Central America coins and bars are a good example.

 

Majorbigtime, I pretty much agree with you. Here's what kills me. Most all of my Morgans are slabbed by both major TPG's. But what gets me is I sent in an 1890 S Morgan dollar that I bought from a coin dealer to NGC and they body bagged it as improperly cleaned. I did not clean the coin as I don't clean coins. Seems to me that all cleaning is improper as long as it wasn't one of the TPG's that cleaned it. I DON'T CARE, "CONSERVATION" = CLEANING.. PERIOD!!!! AND YES I AM SCREAMING. Even if a coin has been cleaned, it STILL DESERVES A GRADE. Every coin has a grade whether it has been cleaned or not. Just designate it has been cleaned, doctored, or whatever. That is my pet peeve about coins. Could be wrong but that is my opinion and probably no one on this forum will change it.

 

According to Coin World, January 11, 2010, Vol. 51, Issue 2596 on page 72......under cleaned coins.....

"Cleaned coins may be advertised in Coin World. Cleaning has become an acceptable practice, and in some instances can be beneficial. Light dipping in a mild, non-abrasive solution may actually improve the coin's appearance and may increase its market value.
However, cleaning can also damage a coin. A coin that is dipped improperly or repetitively will have an impaired surface, reducing its market value. Coins which have been damaged by cleaning may be advertised because they still have collector value, but must be designated in the ad as "cleaned."
Customers are advised of the importance of utilizing the inspection and return period to be sure coins they have purchased meet their standards of acceptability."

So, if a reputable magazine can advertise and sell cleaned coins, cleaning them must be acceptable. I'd send that coin back and demand a grade!

 

SilverSurfer, I did talk to NGC but it is a dead issue, they will not give it a grade, just be wasting my money. It's amazing that anywhere you take it and everyone you show it to gives it a grade regardless of the cleaning, which isn't readily apparent.

 

There should be some kind of designation they can use, Even if the coin
Was cleaned!

 

Have you tried ANACS? They should be able to give you a "details" grade

 

Unfortunately the use of the term "cleaned" is not well defined numismatically. Basically, if cleaning can be detected by an experienced grader, it is "improper cleaning". But cleaning and conservation are not the same in my book. The use of acetone to remove PVC residue is conservation, although perhaps some purists would claim cleaning (as their coin corrodes away) . Probably all of us have felt that a coin was not cleaned , but so noted by a TPG, we can either resubmit it , or accept it as it is. The coin doesn't change, just our ego relating that we can tell if it is cleaned or not. Traditionally, acid dipping silver coins to make them bright white again has been accepted as OK, as long as it doesn't disrupt the surface luster noticeably by the experts. If it does, then it is "improperly cleaned". The terms: cleaning, conservation, artificial toning, natural toning, dipping, darkening, frosting, etc. are all hazy. IMO.

Jim

 

I see a coin that is rubbed down lacking details due to wear, but lacks any dirt or smuggy finger marks.....is that considered cleaned? I can tell it has been, and I'm not a grading expert. So, any coin that has wear, basically shouldn't be cleaned, right?

 

Does this make it clearer? What I'm saying is a coin that has flattened details but lacks dirt is cleaned.....detectable by me...I'm not an expert.

 

It might depend on how flattened the details are. Coins such as Walking Liberty halves and $10 Indians may show a little "rub" on the high points, especially the eagle's shoulder, but will otherwise be "clean" without being "cleaned".