I think that it seems that people have a different idea of what cleaning is. Some seem to think it is about changing the appearance of the coin like stripping it of its toning. When I think of cleaning I think of getting of things off coins that did not happen naturally that were put onto the coins by those handling them like grit and dirt. I opened a roll of pennies that were hand rolled with all kinds of crap on them like hair and pieces of tissue. I soaked the wheats in alcohol and water but the copper pennies I was adding to my set books, I just threw them in the sink with shampoo and swished them around. There was a lot. As I mentioned, one idea to clean a large amount of copper pennies is to throw them in with the laundry.
This makes no sense to me. If it is acceptable to clean Morgan dollars, why not the one above. Either icleaning is damage or not. Choose one. Ruben
I would throw the capped bust in with my white clothes and use plenty of bleach and see what happens.
I said it was acceptable to clean Ike dollars, a coin with relatively low numismatic or historical value, with acetone to remove a fingerprint. Cleaning the Bust coin that looks like it is a proof or proof like, would be risky and better left to professionals. If you read my posts, I always say that it is better NOT TO CLEAN. Conservation and cleaning are two different things altogether.
Ah - that was you? I didn't notice. I made no comment about that because i was uncertain about the long term affectiveness of that method or the resulting harm. When i don't know, i tend to listen and watch.
I'll be honest, I don't know the long term effect of acetone on coins. But I am a chemical engineer and see no real reason why it would severely harm the coin. But I think that it can sometimes leave the coin with an unnatural appearance. To me, that is damage enough. I do know the long term effects of fingerprints on coins. I have several early proofs that have fingerprints that will continue to darken forever. It is too late to do anything about them, and at this point it is literally part of the coin. If caught early enough, acetone can be effective. I guess it is up to you to decide if it is worth the risk of devaluing your coins.
So people will wear gloves when handling coins but not when playing with nitric acid. Not a good role model.
I don't clean my coins. But I do clean all of my original van Gogh's and Picasso's with steel wool and oven cleaner. I really like that used, shiny look and think it will help the values when I go to sell. Guy