Hi, I'm new to coin collecting, and I have just started with collecting old silver dollars and crown sized silver coins. I have been reading and learning a lot in this forum. Today I am hoping to get advice from you on the followings: In the last coin show I bought this 1890 Crown (see picture) which had some nice details but also appeared to be very dark. The following pictures have been "brightened" with Photoshop. The original coin is about 25% darker. The dealer told me that I should dip and clean up the darkness "and it will become a nice sharp coin". When I asked whether it would ruin the value, he said it wouldn't, as long as I used a specially made coin dip which was also available from another dealer in the show. I also asked the guy who sold the coin dip solution here. Of course he said I should dip it and it won't harm the coin. The dip will remove all the black coat and "restore" the coin to a bright condition without showing any corrosion, according to him. But I remember that all the books and articles I had read about coins told me NOT to remove anything from old coins unless it was dirt or grease. Personally I think this coin is a bit too dark, and I do want to pretty it up. But at the same time I don't know what will happen to it, and I don't want to take a risk because I really like this one. What should I do? Please let me know your suggestions. Thanks.
I would personally recommend not dipping that coin. There appears to be very thick toning, with very little if any underlying luster. If you dip that coin it will likely be washed out and unnatractive, whereas right now it has a very desirable and original looking patina. The way a coin that old should look IMO.
I'd also like to add, that generally speaking, dipping a coin isn't a good idea, particularly if you don't have expensive experience dipping coins. It may be true that sometimes dipping a coin can perhaps increase its value, quite often, especially on very dark coins it actually does the opposite.
What should I do? Please let me know your suggestions. Thanks.[/QUOTE] Don't dip it!! You will almost certainly decrease its value. Collectors, those who pay for coins, and thus sustain the market, like toned coins. As you become a more experienced collector, your appreciation of toned coins will increase. I know when I was new to the hobby, I wanted to clean and dip coins. And I did. Those coins now look dull and lifeless to me. I'm sure I couldn't get what I paid for them. Take it from someone who has experience, don't do it!!
A dip would just kill the coin. I would leave it as is. Dark coins don't clean up very well. I like it the way it is.
Something I forgot to say. If a dealer told me, I should dip a dark coin such as this, I would question much else he had to say.
A question for the OP, If dipping the coin would be easy and increase the value of the coin, why didn't the dealer dip it himself? Obviously he had some concerns about it ruining the value of the coin. Just my thoughts Richard
bRIGHT i WOULD THINK THAT IF YOU WANTED a bright shinny coin you would have bought a bright shinny coin. This coin looks wonderful just the way it is because of what it is. I don't think fixing it would improve it.
No, it won't. That coin has AU and maybe even Unc details. But it has been harshly cleaned. Your coin has high VF/low XF details. And if you dip it it will look even worse than it does now. Every bit of wear, every contact mark, will be accentuated. And as thick as the toning and dirt on your coin is, it would have to be dipped for some time to remove it. That would turn your coin into a harshly cleaned coin as well and lessen the value. Right now, it is not a harshly cleaned coin and it could be sold for what it is, an original VF/XF coin. Dip it, and it will be net graded to low VF and lose about half the value it has now.
Wow, thank you everybody, for your detailed answers. I'm glad that I didn't do anything. When I started, I liked to buy the shiny bright ones because they look "pretty". But it seems that I am now looking more and more at the toned ones.
Well now understand that you don't want to exactly look for coins like the one you posted here either. That one has toning that gone a bit too far. Once toning reaches that point, get's that dark and black, a certain amount of corrosion has taken place. If you like the dark grey toning, coins like this are about as far you want them to go.
Welcome to the forum! I agree with not using an acid coin dip. However, If I wanted to prevent the process from going further, I would rinse the coin in pure acetone, allow to air dry, and put into a safe holder such as a mylar flip ( maybe take the 2 1/2" size) or even in a cardboard/mylar holder. The acetone will effectively remove any moisture on the surface and help eliminate further corrosion. IMO. Jim
Welcome to CT, do not dip! Check out this link on cleaning coins, there's also an answer that relates to dipping. I have a feeling tons of dealers dip coins b/c one of my dealers told me the same thing, heck I couldn't believe he said it but he did, and they do. (desertgem) mentioned using acetone, and I agree. Just go up to a hardware store and buy a small can for around $5. Do not use nail polish remover as it contains harmful additives. good luck, take a look at my albums I may still have my Queen Victoria there. http://www.cointalk.com/t114758/
