Smoothing Coins? How to?

There's nothing wrong with trying to smooth out a giant "X" off a coin if it bothers you. Some folks taught me long ago to be completely honest in my own listings, though, and it has paid off in repeat customers who appreciate total transparency. So I'd recommend saying, "old scratches removed" when it comes time to sell.

As far as removing scratches, it would require at the very least a silver polishing cloth, I would think. Careful blending, with an understanding that you're going to end up with a brightly cleaned coin.

A coin with graffiti isn't "market acceptable" anyway, so smoothing it out/cleaning it is just changing the primary problem from one thing to another in my opinion.

 

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It depends how deep the scratch is and what the coin is minted in. Silver is difficult, copper is easier. With that said, depending on what kind of coin it is you may be better off making a money clip with it and selling it. Just a thought.

 

Yeah, but it's hard to find the coin after the train has passed. Sometimes it takes a long time to locate it and, if you're not careful. another train can sneak up on ya and make you an 'elongated human'.........

 

Cool idea. Again, change the primary problem from "grafitti" to "jewelry." At least it's useful!

 

I think he is using the older term where someone has scratched in their initials of a heart or something rather than modern term.

Shallow ones ( barely visible) could be lessened by carrying the coin in a pocket and let natural wear bring down the fields. deeper ones would require skills of a engraver or die maker and there are fewer of these today. That is why so many coins were "puttied" when this occurred. Of course that is not ethical and most experienced collectors ( and TPG) would notice it.

 

Bondo's not an option.........

 

My lucky day. I always wondered about living near the tracks. Which is it about the noise: you get used to it or you go deaf?

 

Huh?

 

I understand. If I wanted to pull of a scam, I wouldn't post to public forum, where my reputation would be on the line. I was curious about coins where somebody scratches a big x on a coin, would look nicer with it sanded off. It would still be damaged, but maybe less offensive.

 

Not without imparting more scratches. Even a 600 grit paper will leave visible scratches.

 

If you did resell the coin, you should note "Scratches Removed" and this would limit your audience to those less knowledgeable, however, in this audience, appearance is a factor. I bought a Stone Mountain half on fee-bay too quickly, not noticing an X cut into it and wish I could remove it, but not sure how to do it either.

 

Yeah, if I removed the graffiti and it looked decent, I would keep it. The coin as is has limited audience anyway, so what's the differnce

 

The fastest and easiest way to remove a big X on a coin bought on eBay is to return it to the seller for a refund.

 

why would anyone question your ethics? you wouldnt be a "dumb" criminal, you would be a "smart" criminal, which is totally more socially acceptable.

 

i think criminal is a strong word for coin doctoring.

 

Yes it can be done. But afterward the coin will only be worth little more than the scrap metal value.

Basically what ever you do to remove the scratches or graffiti will usually make the coin worth less than it was before. Unless it is already so badly damaged that it is already worth only scrap value.

 

most people doing something wrong; immoral, unethical, or illegal usually don't think they have. if you disclose what you have done then it is fine and a non-issue. however, it doesn't seem as though that was your planned course of action. it appears as if you bought a damaged coin, wished to doctor it up, and sell the doctored version as a "clean" specimen. if this transaction was conducted on ebay, yes, it would be all of the above.

more importantly, if there was a method to alter a coin that could go undetected, it would either never be mentioned (because it was never
detected), not worth the high costs associated with it versus the improved value on the altered specimen, or unsuccessful and unpopular. if I were one of the people who have bought coins from you right now, I would be ... not happy. it is only human nature to question WHAT ELSE you think is "ok" to do as well.

im not judging you, so dont get defensive. but being that you sell coins, im just communicating to you what it is the people who potentially or actually, bought from you are thinking.

 

who said anything about undetected? Im talking about sanding off graffiti, with some kind of electric sander. It would be hard to miss, but I would rather look at that, then ugly graffiti.

I laid out my plan, which was more like an idea, of taking a graffiti coin made from scratches, and sand blasting it off the coin. I never once said I wanted to doctor a coin and pass it off as a clean example. I would think a novice coin collector would notice a sand blast to the obverse

Your first two paragraphs, all you did was judge me, and make assumptions. LOL