Do you Consider a Dipped Coin to Be Cleaned?

A recent discussion with a person I usually disagree with prompted me to ask the question: how do you feel about dipped coins? Please explain your response.

 

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Why only up to 2 choices? I see at least four choices that I'd check...

 

Gotta pick your top 2 - and then please explain the subtleties in your own words.

 

Not cleaning since you can't even actually tell a coin was dipped when done properly all you can do is say you think it was or guess based on it looking too nice.

Yes dipping is still a problem if you fry the coin

 

Yes.

 

Boy if Green18 see's the last option he'll want to vote twice on that one!

 

Yes as, what ever the specimen was dipped in remove anything from the coin,of course it did... thus no brainer....cleaned coin.

 

Dipping alters a coin.
Ergo it has been cleaned.
Whether one can detect that or not doesn't change the fact that it has been cleaned.

 

A dipping, properly done, is tantamount to conservation. The changes, although there on a microscopic level can not be seen with the naked eye or through even low magnification. The coin is for all intents and purposes absolutely fine and market acceptable, as the dipping isn't detectable. However, when you start to combine dippings after time you can rob the coin of its luster, rendering it a cleaned coin at some point that the modifications have now impaired the coin. So it isn't cut and dried. I've dipped coins before, to remove unattractive toning, or some such thing and submitted it for grading and they grade just fine. I've also dipped coins that once dipped have shown the cumulative effect of having been through the bath a few too many times...which was unpleasant.

 

If you can't detect something was done it would technically be conservation since no harm was done, but in reality it would be nothing since you wouldn't be able to tell. Cleaning is something that causes a details grade and can be observed

 

My pet peeve is the term "marker acceptable " as to me that's a thin line....and whom is the line judge?
As is it acceptable to keep sending in a specimen until it grades to your liking or grades at all?
Playing the devil advocate then it be ok if your child would retake their math test until they got a passing grade?
That said where does fairness to others students come in or honesty come into play?
Yes I understand it is done all the time....but what could the repercussions be to the hobby by views of none collectors whom may view the process anything but honest.

 

5 and 7 are really the same thing (IMHO)... as are 1& 2... And if you pick #5 (as I did) , that includes 8 as well.

I also picked #9 because, in my novice reading, unattractive toning can occur even if the coin was dipped properly, right?

 

If you are removing anything from the surface of the coin, even if it doesn't harm the surface, the resulting coin will be cleaner than before the dip.

 

yes, some of these options mean the same thing. However, they have different perspective.

 

Dipping alters the coins appearance thus it has been cleaned. Sometimes it improves the appearance and other times it harms the coin. Older coins should never be dipped.

 

For me, I am a bit of a purist. I do not want a coin that has been dipped. To me, dipped is the same as "cleaned." I look at that the same as I do a "details" marking, meaning I don't want it a tall. The same goes for things like fingerprints, milk spots, carbon spots,; don't want them.

 

You missed an important anwer in your poll...

I had to put "yes" since "cleaning" is the closest thing to correct in the poll.

But in reality, dipping is not cleaning, which is done to remove foreign debris from the coin surface (my definition).

Doctoring is the modification of a coin's surfaces to enhance its appearance or to hide issues the coin has in order to increase its value. Again, this is my definition.

Therefore, I consider dipping to be Doctoring, not Cleaning.

 

I chose the “secondary toning” option because to me, that’s the main symptom of improper dipping, especially if improperly rinsed. Washed out luster would be another. Also, the more circulation wear a coin has, the less acceptable a dip would be.

 

I consider it to be cleaning though sometimes market acceptable. I’m with Toughcoins a blast white Morgan mercy peace dollar or even a barber coin isn’t awful. The early stuff like seated or bust coins. No. And circulated coins look like crap too. Sometimes an old retone after a dip can look great though especially if in a cardboard album or holder for years. But I much prefer my coins with original skin