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Message:: [QUOTE="kkm, post: 6684539, member: 109476"]I am also a member at Friendly Metal Detecting Forums (my username is Chroma over there). That thread was pretty frustrating, especially because one of the most outspoken forum members (who is not into numismatics) felt the need to give his uninformed opinion. Here you go: "Hey, guys, JAK has only said that he "lightly cleaned it with baking soda". The operative word here is "... lightly ...". It will depend on what he meant by that. If he "ground it in with his thumb", producing microscopic "whiz marks", then sure, perhaps not-good. But if it was a very wet & dilute and not "ground in" (just to get dirt out of the recesses), then perhaps it's not discernible and harmless." Ummm... "Not discernible and harmless"? Triple facepalm... The cleaning that was done is both discernible and harmful (to the value of the coin). I understand that most coins coming out of the ground will have environmental damage (I have experienced it firsthand), but why add improper cleaning to the mixture? And I understand the "I found it, I can do what I want" mentality, but that kind of thread just sets a bad example for anyone who wouldn't know any better. I am hesitant to chime in on such a thread for fear of getting crushed by the metal detecting forum "elites." It's probably an honest mistake, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating.[/QUOTE]