I finished my Buffalo collection with this - grade?

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by Richard01, Feb 3, 2006.

Page 3 of 3
  1. Danr

    Danr Numismatist

    "Lightly cleaned" coins can be VERY tricky. I have been burned by them and I bet I am not alone.
     
    Danr, Apr 3, 2006
    #41 + Quote Reply
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  3. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    I'd bet the 1916 has been. As for the others it's hard to tell for sure based on the pics, but I'd wonder about the 2nd '36.
     
    GDJMSP, Apr 3, 2006
    #42 + Quote Reply
  4. AnemicOak

    AnemicOak Coin Hoarder

    How can I tell? What about it makes you say, yep that's been cleaned? I've already pulled it from the flip it came in & put it in an Airtite so it's mine, there's no returning it. Kinda bums me out that it might be.:( Being so new I'm finding that there are more pitfalls than I ever imagined. Here's a bigger pic of the 1916...
     

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    AnemicOak, Apr 3, 2006
    #43 + Quote Reply
  5. AnemicOak

    AnemicOak Coin Hoarder

    ...and here's a bigger pic of the 1936D.
     

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    AnemicOak, Apr 3, 2006
    #44 + Quote Reply
  6. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator


    It's more experience than anything else, you just learn what to look for and recognize a certain look when you see it. The '16 for example, I'd bet those brown streaks aren't toning, that's dip residue from the coin being improperly dipped. The '36-D has the same look and the same coloring, but the person who did it did a better job on that coin. You can also learn to judge the remaining luster - how much should or shouldn't be there based on the amount of wear the coin has.

    Learning to recognize a cleaned coin can be one of the toughest things there is in coin collecting. Many times even experienced collectors will miss it - dealers too. Do a search for the threads on coin cleaning - we've had many discussions on the subject.

    Could I be wrong - yes of course. But based on what I see in the pics I don't think I am.
     
    GDJMSP, Apr 3, 2006
    #45 + Quote Reply
  7. AnemicOak

    AnemicOak Coin Hoarder

    I'm sure you're not wrong. It just kinda bums me out.
     
    AnemicOak, Apr 4, 2006
    #46 + Quote Reply
  8. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Don't blame ya pal - been there, done that, got 3 T-shirts and wore 2 of 'em plumb out :mad: But that's what it's about, learning and then not making the same mistake again. We all do it - its how we learn.

    Don't be discouraged, education aint cheap in any form. But it can be more costly than it has to be - if you let it. But if you don't let it - well, that's another story ;)
     
    GDJMSP, Apr 4, 2006
    #47 + Quote Reply
  9. mrbrklyn

    mrbrklyn New Member


    Were did the discussion of theswe being cleaned come in? If a Buffalo has a striped look, it means that it has been cleaned?

    Ruben
     
    mrbrklyn, Apr 4, 2006
    #48 + Quote Reply
  10. AnemicOak

    AnemicOak Coin Hoarder

    Well I just heard from the dealer & he's positive that they have not been cleaned/dipped in any way. :shrugs:

    FWIW the coin still has a nice luster. I thought cleaning destroyed that?


    ~Brian
     
    AnemicOak, Apr 4, 2006
    #49 + Quote Reply
  11. Speedy

    Speedy Researching Coins Supporter

    Sometimes even a dealer will miss a cleaning.......some cleanings can destroy luster and sometimes it doesn't.....it takes time and lots of work to know every kind of cleaning....I have yet to know alot about them.
    I'm sure GD had a pretty good reason for thinking that it was cleaned.....

    Speedy
     
    Speedy, Apr 4, 2006
    #50 + Quote Reply
  12. AnemicOak

    AnemicOak Coin Hoarder

    I'm sure he did too & I don't doubt him. I just thought I'd post the dealers response along with a question.

    I got the 36D in the mail today. This one I can see where it might have been cleaned. It's a dull looking coin. The only spots shiny at all pretty much are a few wear spots on the high points. Has a slight grainy look to it at 10x.


    ~Brian
     
    AnemicOak, Apr 4, 2006
    #51 + Quote Reply
  13. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Because AnemicOak asked Ruben - read post #40.


    In my opinion, in this case - yes.
     
    GDJMSP, Apr 4, 2006
    #52 + Quote Reply
  14. Richard01

    Richard01 Senior Member

    Funny thing with Buffs and cleaning. About half of the 1913 raw buffs I've bought in BU (mostly for $15 or less) have been cleaned! It is very hard to tell, though my guess is a lot of the raw BU older buffs on ebay have been rejected by a tpg as being cleaned at some point! I have even had 'from an original role' coins come back cleaned! So many opportunities to get a bad deal... and I'll agree it can be almost imperceptible on some of these coins, where it is just a light cleaning, especially the 1913 buffs where they have a more textured look, and it tends (to me) to hide the signs of cleaning, since you don't have those clean fields to look at.
     
    Richard01, Apr 5, 2006
    #53 + Quote Reply
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