I've read that some people have done this. Just be sure not to use any abrasives and pat it dry so as not to create hairlines. Personally, I don't think it's a good idea because what ever dirt or grime that may be on the coin could scratch the surfaces if you try to rub it off under the water. Your best bet is to soak it in pure acetone, rinse thoroughly with distilled water and pat dry. Chris
If you attempt cleaning any coin it is considered cleaning. Whether it will be obvious to someone else is the bigger concern. I would say this method will not appear as cleaning upon inspection, but it may alter the coin's surface later on due to toning or slight corrosion due to contaminants in the water left behind.
Will, there's something you need to understand - there is a huge difference between "cleaning" a coin, and "harshly cleaning" a coin. There is nothing wrong with cleaning a coin and it is perfectly acceptable to do so. Cleaning a coin leaves no traces of that cleaning behind and it does not alter the surfaces of the coin. That is why it is acceptable. Harshly cleaning a coin is not acceptable. Harshly cleaning a coin does leave traces behind and it does alter the surfaces of the coin. That is why it is unacceptable. What you are describing doing is acceptable. But you should never do it with tap water. As said already, tap water often has contaminants in it and because of that it should never be used to clean a coin. The correct way to do what you want to do would be to soak the coin in distilled water. And every now and then, holding the coin by the edges only, swish it around in that water to help loosen any dirt and contaminants. Once finished soaking, then rinse in a separate container of clean distilled water, place a towel on your counter top, stand the coin in edge on the towel, and lean it up against the backsplash of your counter top. And let the coin air dry. You never want to touch or rub the surface of the coin with anything, even your fingers, during this process. No cloth of any type, no brush of any type - nothing. The process I have described above is what you would do if the coin only has ordinary dirt and grime on it. It may or may not get all of the dirt and grime off the coin. But it will almost certainly get some of it off the coin. Acetone on the other hand (previously mentioned) has little if any effect on ordinary dirt and grime and should not be used for that reason. Yes, there are times when acetone should be used, but it should only be used when there is a substance on the coin that acetone will dissolve and remove, like PVC residue and some coatings often put on coins.
He doesn't seem satisfied with these responses so he starts another thread with the same question" edited - dbl thread removed My reply is the same as on the other thread.
i never thumbed the coin under water i only rince it under hot tap water i was only trying to figure out if i can still get the coin graded because it looked BU
