I have this lusious 1938-D brilliant uncirculated buffalo. Only one thing wrong. It has dark spots on Obv & Rev. I want to try to get it back to its original charcter without losing the brilliance. What would you suggest ? Dave
very tough and may not be possible. I would try an acetone bath maybe a day or so in a covered glass container. I doubt the spots will diminish but it is safe and one never knows.
I personally would not touch it ,leave it be. Not hat a 38 D is that valuable and could be replaced fairly easy. I picked up a nice toned one at the last show in Baltimore for $7. Not having the coin in hand I'm thinking carbon spots.
Good advice. If they are carbon spots, live with it. If some sort of surface debris acetone soaking MAY help, nothing to lose.
Try some steel wool and a light acetic acid solution...... Just kidding, I would leave it be. Chances are if you were to remove them, you would still see remnants of them and the coin would be considered cleaned.
The spots may not be beautiful, but they do give it character. Better character than if you cleaned it.
Based on the pictures I would say at one time that coin was completely (or very nearly so) black. Then it was dipped, which removed most of the black toning, leaving behind what you see now, and the underlying remaining luster. The only thing that will get the remaining black off the coin is to dip it again. But if you were to do that, then a good deal of the remaining luster, if not all of it, would also be removed. Best bet, sell the coin and buy another.
I would leave it alone. An acetone bath probably wont hurt it but it may make many tiny hits on the coin more visible. Any oil or stuff on the coin may be hiding tiny marks.
Here is a follow up on the spotted coin. I gave it an acetone soak for a couple of days and it helped about 80%. The reverse 95 %. What do you think ?
longer soak perhaps no down side. Its very tough the last resort may be a dilute dip it almost for sure though will hurt the luster may or may not remove the spots.
I wonder if I am being to critical looking at this coin with a digital microscope. The power is extream and the coin looks Magnificent in hand with great luster. Would the TPG's use magnification when grading ?
95% of their grading is done with the naked eye. Magnification, and then only 5x, is typically only used if they think they see a problem and need to verify it, or for grades 69 and 70. This is stated in the PCGS grading book.
Thanks much Doug. I can always count on you when I don't have a PCGS grading book handy. I have two other grading books, Photograde and NGC, but I haven't read how they grade coins. Dave
