What is "Proper" Cleaning?

acetone and soap and water (fingers only) are generally considered acceptable and don't harm the surface of the coin. A lot of older silver (say pre 1880) has been wiped with something abrasive enough to cause hairlines. Often these coins retoned, covering the hairlines, and will grade at the TPG's... or sometimes not. There is this aspect of "market acceptability" that keeps things interesting. I feel that any old silver coin that is circulated, and bright white, has been messed with and is unattractive by and large.
Uncirc examples that are bright white without hairlines have probably been dipped but may still be quite attractive. There are some in the Pogue collection that will probably sell for moon money that are over 200 years old and bright white and lovely and we are supposed to believe that they were stored in vacuum jars and never exposed to sulfur compounds? It's still all about rarity, desirability and market acceptability.

 

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