How and ways to clean a coin.

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by anchor1112, Sep 9, 2005.

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  1. zaneman

    zaneman Former Moderator

    Hmm. I guess there is no point in me thinking much about this, as I'm sure several chemists have looked at this before I have.
     
    zaneman, Sep 27, 2005
    #21 + Quote Reply
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  3. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Probably, but if everybody thought that way - nothing new would ever come along ;)

    The problem as I understand it is that the spots are in the metal - not on the metal. So even if you could find something to remove them - the coin would likely be ruined.
     
    GDJMSP, Sep 27, 2005
    #22 + Quote Reply
  4. klo

    klo Developer

    cleaning question

    So someone on this thread mentioned that there is a company/service that will clean and 'bag' your coins for you (put them in the coin holders).

    So my question is, if a company can clean your coins to the point where they don't lose value, then anyone COULD clean a coin -- but apparently nobody knows how to do it?

    I was just wondering if anyone knew what such companies might do to your coin that makes cleaning them not possible on a casual level.

    -Kevin
     
    klo, Oct 2, 2005
    #23 + Quote Reply
  5. cmccurdy

    cmccurdy New Member

    Go to www.ngccoin.com and read about it. They even have some before and after pictures of some of their work. It's the NCS service, same company that slabs coins, NGC
     
    cmccurdy, Oct 2, 2005
    #24 + Quote Reply
  6. Speedy

    Speedy Researching Coins Supporter

    There are coins that are cleaned that have fooled the Big guys in the coin hobby but there is NO way to clean a coin and make it better...even NCS doesn't do that...

    Speedy
     
    Speedy, Oct 2, 2005
    #25 + Quote Reply
  7. cmccurdy

    cmccurdy New Member

    So NGC is pulling everybody's leg, posting false information and doctored photographs on their website, taking everybody's money? :eek:
     
    cmccurdy, Oct 2, 2005
    #26 + Quote Reply
  8. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Hardly - what Speedy means is that conserving a coin cannot improve its condition - but it can improve the grade. You see, the underlying condition of a coin can be hidden from view by dirt, unsightly toning and various contaminants. Conserving the coin removes these things from the surface allowing one to see what lies underneath. Thus fine detail that may have been covered up can be seen and eye appeal is often improved. And since eye appeal plays a part in the grade of a coin - the grade can improve.

    But make no mistake - conserving a coin cannot restore detail that is missing due to wear. It cannot restore luster. All it can do is allow one to see what is already there - hidden underneath.

    This is why many collectors attempt to clean their coins. They hope it will make them look better, be better. But cleaning a coin is much like brain surgery - if performed by an amateur - well the results can be catastrophic to say the least.
     
    GDJMSP, Oct 2, 2005
    #27 + Quote Reply
  9. cmccurdy

    cmccurdy New Member

    So if they can improve the eye appeal and make it grade a little higher, this "makes it better"... right???
     
    cmccurdy, Oct 2, 2005
    #28 + Quote Reply
  10. Speedy

    Speedy Researching Coins Supporter

    Right...if you go out and find a coin under a few feet of dirt...and you can't read anything...its has no value...but if you clean that coin it will have some value but not the value that it would have had before the dirt got caked on it and such...cleaning never helps a value...

    Take a coin like this....you have a Morgan dollar that was in a mint bag that sat in water....the water toned the coin a black...the balck toning lowers the grade and value because of eye appeal...but if you clean that coin (with lets say Acetone) and get off the black toning...it will help the eye appeal..and it might change the value but since the coin has been cleaned...many collectors don't want it...and in the long run...even though you don't have the dark toning...you have a coin that is not as good as you had before...IMO...I'm sure some that like toning would disagree with me!

    Search on this forum for Cleaning ....and I think you will find lots!

    Speedy
     
    Speedy, Oct 2, 2005
    #29 + Quote Reply
  11. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator


    If you choose to look at it that way - yes. But in reality it doesn't. The condition of the coin doesn't change.
     
    GDJMSP, Oct 2, 2005
    #30 + Quote Reply
  12. annie21

    annie21 Senior Member

    cleaning a coin

    no, no ,no. that's the only answer.
     
    annie21, Oct 16, 2005
    #31 + Quote Reply
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