One Less PCI Slab in the World...

Oh, I have no doubt that it would be evident to someone skilled at looking for flaws on coins, but one has to remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Ben

 

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Okay - my question is this - what I have been told is that a properly cleaned coin in the lower grades (like CBH) will eventually tone back to the original color. While I do not think this is true of all coins, I thought with silver it could happen. Is this incorrect? It seems like there are two opinions. I agree with one that with high grade coins I could see where it makes a major difference, but with the lower grade coins I thought they would retone the orginal color. Now I am not talking about the CBH's that look like someone to a wire brush to them, polished, or about good blast white coin.

 

its near impossible to find Busties that have not been cleaned in their lifetime. Should you find one, expect to pay HUGE $$ for them.

Same holds true with Morgans and Peace dollars if the truth be told. How many Morgans do you think have been dipped?

I find coins much like going to the pet store. One always stands out and says BUY me.. Heck I have an 1817 BHD with a hold in it. Price was right, needed a new home and I gave it one.

 

I agree that silver will tone again but not back to it's original look.
I feel that once the original skin is gone it's gone.
What messes with many is that they see very few original coins to know the look.
Sure a cleaned coin will tone again but very few will fool an expert in that area.
With that said, I own a few cleaned coins and have no problem with that.
I bought them knowing they were cleaned and understand they will not bring the price of something original when the time comes to sell.
Just the way I see it.

 

I agree that an uncleaned coin is more valuable than a cleaned coin.
I agree that a cleaned MS coin has been permanently harmed and can't be restored.
I agree that very sophisticated and knowledgeble collectors [top 5%] will be able to detect and will avoid anything cleaned.

I don't believe cleaning is as important for circulated coins.
I don't believe the average collector cares about cleaning as much as the elite collector; and if they find a nice looking VF coin with a date/mintmark they need they will buy it.
I think a dipped circulated silver coin will "repair" itself over time, possibly accelerated by a vacation in Ben's cigar box.

Try and experiment. Buy a common date dipped [and therefore very cheap] morgan dollar. Carry it around in your pocket for a couple of months with some other coins -- an environment very similar to what created the circulated condition of the coin in the first place. Put it in an environment where it can naturally tone. My guess is that the coin will be acceptable to the vast majority of collectors. Only a couple of TPGs and the very elite collectors of the world will know or care.

But that's only my opinion.

 

Gotcha - I think. Of course this does not mean I will be able to tell. But thanks for the info.