I know that cleaning coins is a no no as far as collecting perfect specimens. My question is seeing as an error coin by definition has flaw(s) is it still taboo to clean such a coin. I found a couple cents awhile back with abnormalities that I should have taken better care and they have developed slight spots and discoloration that are distracting and I would like to do some minor cleaning. No no or go for it?
Why would it be alright for a grading company to clean the coin? Is this why it was not given a grade but called "Unc Details"?
Conservation-cleaning is different than just tossing your dirty coins in the dishwasher for a couple of cycles. If there is progressing damage occurring to your coin or substances that will damage the coin it can be removed "professionally" by using chemicals or processes that attack/ inhibit/ or stop it. Too many novice or well-intentioned collectors use off the shelf so-called coin cleaners which actually damage the coin thereby devaluing it substantially. There are several threads (and debates) on this forum as pointed out by Krispy. When I was a kid I had my coin collection gleaming by using Brasso and Silvo. What should have been worth hundreds of dollars was reduced to face value, probably around four bucks.
Would you happen to have a BEFORE image of the coin with the spot on it to compare to the AFTER condition, once NCS did their conservation work and slabbed the coin?
Technically, it's NCS that does the conservation, even though they are part of NGC. It's acceptable because they are the world's #1 experts in coin conservation and they know exactly what they are doing.
I sure I have a before photo unless I deleted it after it go back. :kewl:but should have the un re-sized photo of before. I will look
As many times as one on this forum, or any forum sees a question about cleaning coins, one can tend to get annoyed because there are thousands of threads about not cleaning your coins, and what affects cleaning can have on your coin. There have been recent posts on this forum, by somewhat frequent members that don't like to read, and are too lazy to do so, instead they just expect answers upfront without wanting to do any work themselves. I hope that gives you a better interpretation of Krispy's post.
I doubt that NCS uses any magic solutions that are not available to others. The difference is that they , and many others, know HOW to use the solutions on coins that are EVALUATED by them as being capable of being helped. The processes that have been mentioned in their news articles on restoration of shipwrecked coins is very similar if not the same as cleaning procedures used by collectors. Of course it does matter who does the cleaning and sealing afterwards. Since dipping is not considered "cleaning" [ big argument area], PCGS and NGC use to dip submitted coins for customers. I am not sure if they still offer this service or not. These coins would not go through NCS. In the case of Jello's coin I suspect it was dipped, but the remaining spot is where the corrosion had reacted a pit that the dip couldn't remove the black toning/corrosion entirely. AIMO. Jim
Acid-thiourea dip, no secret. It works and NCS uses it. The thing is that they use it intelligently. They knew to when to stop and thus that one black spot is left. If they went any further, the surfaces would have been ruined.
