So I recently came across a coin that I suspect has been cleaned. I'd say dipped rather than rubbed with a cloth or a polish. I'm referring to a 1916 s obv walker. I'd grade it about a G4-G6 maybe a lil higher but not much. I just get the feeling it was cleaned at some point. I don't see any swirls or scratches under 10x mag, just normal wear, but it just doesn't have that "dirty tarnished look" covering the fields and little cracks as much as you might expect a 100 year old coin to have. This is hard to see in a picture. Anyway, in such a grade and supposing the coin had been "dipped" how much would it kill the value? Also what are the chances it'll quickly regain some of that tarnish. It was an eBay pickup with a good return policy. I'd love to have the coin and I could be TOTALLY wrong, but I have that feeling it was cleaned.
I hope the pics came through. I can't take it out of the original flip or it isn't returnable. There's a little glare from the plastic. Thanks for the looks.
Dipped? I don't know if I could tell from these pics if it was recently dipped. I like it. I'd keep it.
As far as returning it, ask yourself why you bought the coin at the price and grade you did and ask yourself if buying it cleaned changes you wanting to buy it.
I did say to myself that it looked pretty clean for the wear. The auction pics were even more difficult too tell from. If I knew for sure it was cleaned I would have skipped over it. At auction I called it a G4-G6 and got it for $78 from a good seller. If I were able to notice that it was polished or rubbed I'd send it back no second thoughts. It might not be dipped but as you said it looks clean for the wear. With that said, the price I got it for wasn't all that bad and that's why I'm out looking for opinions and debating with myself on keeping it or not. Thanks for the look.
Just be ever mindful of what you have in your pocket.......I've got an ASE and an 2014 Hall of Fame Dollar in mine at the moment. I keep checkin' to make sure they're still there.
Also be mindful of where those pockets end up. I was given a shiny 1997 ASE when I went to my first coin show as a YN. I went home and threw those pants into the laundry, ASE and all. I still have the ASE, it's just no longer UNC...
Truth. I just recently read these articles: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dirty-money/ https://www.coinworld.com/news/paper-money/2017/01/our-paper-money-can-be-dis gustingly-filthy-studies-show.html @findone can you get better photos, one with better and more even lighting?
Not sure if it is dipped or cleaned, but it definitely has that washed out look. I would return it if possible, and get one with a natural patina in relation to the wear. I have some coins that have been cleaned, and I regret buying them every time I look at them.
I know cleaning harms value, but how much approximately? This coin still has appeal so that should make up for the cleaning a bit?
