To peroxide or not to peroxide???

[ICE ADDICT]

I just cleaned a gorgeous 1867 Indian head in peroxide, while it worked nicely in removing all oxidation and bring out all the AU detail,the process also removed the nice green patina which I always liked. My question is; does the patina make the coin more attractive and possibly add value or does it make no difference?

Thanx for any replies..

[SC_hunter]

Nice coin but you should never "clean" a coin. It always hurts the price in a collectors eyes.

[BuckleBoy]

Nice coin but you should never "clean" a coin. It always hurts the price in a collectors eyes.

LOL I'll let Don in SJ reply to that comment....


Generally I stop the peroxide process if it looks like I'm losing patina--which would've happened anyhow if water were used.

Peroxide method varies, but it is still one of the mildest of cleaning methods--and actually better than water on the coin in most cases--Yes, water IS a cleaning method.

Got a photo of your coin?


Regards,


Buckleboy

[ICE ADDICT]

Sorry BB no photo, I don't have the means for that motion YET.

I understand the no cleaning theory, but what good does a crudded up coin do anybody?? I can't see a collector wanting to pay anything for a coin in such bad dug condition, unless of course it's a key or very rare.

Maybe I'm wrong!!

[BuckleBoy]

Sorry BB no photo, I don't have the means for that motion YET.

I understand the no cleaning theory, but what good does a crudded up coin do anybody?? I can't see a collector wanting to pay anything for a coin in such bad dug condition, unless of course it's a key or very rare.

Maybe I'm wrong!!

I'm not advocating leaving it cruddy--I always use peroxide for ground-found coppers, but if it is losing patina, I stop the process before it all comes off. Usually at that point, it is possible to ID the coin anyhow--which is very important. Silvers are another matter entirely...


-Buckleboy

[Don in SJ]

Nice coin but you should never "clean" a coin. It always hurts the price in a collectors eyes.

LOL I'll let Don in SJ reply to that comment....


Regards,


Buckleboy

I will just refer to my quote at the bottom of all my posts, it is from a top colonial coin collector.

"The mantra has always been don't clean a (copper) coin or it will lose value.
For undug coins this is true. For dug coins this is untrue.
The value will increase with judicious cleaning."

Don

[woody50]

Nice coin but you should never "clean" a coin. It always hurts the price in a collectors eyes.

LOL I'll let Don in SJ reply to that comment....


Generally I stop the peroxide process if it looks like I'm losing patina--which would've happened anyhow if water were used.

Peroxide method varies, but it is still one of the mildest of cleaning methods--and actually better than water on the coin in most cases--Yes, water IS a cleaning method.

Got a photo of your coin?


Regards,


Buckleboy

Hi Buckleboy, can you explain to me what the peroxide method is? (is the explanation somewhere here on the forum?)

[woody50]

I just cleaned a gorgeous 1867 Indian head in peroxide, while it worked nicely in removing all oxidation and bring out all the AU detail,the process also removed the nice green patina which I always liked. My question is; does the patina make the coin more attractive and possibly add value or does it make no difference?

Thanx for any replies..

No collector in the world wants a 150 year copper coin that blinks in the sun. Then want it with a nice old patina on it.
That is the first wish from a collector, the other is that it HAS NOT BEEN CLEANED (then you get top dollar, believe me).

[seger98]

I'm with buckleboy on this one, I clean until I think I've gone far enough. I don't think it hurts the value of the coin.

[BuckleBoy]

Hi Buckleboy, can you explain to me what the peroxide method is? (is the explanation somewhere here on the forum?)

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.p...c,39135.0.html


and


http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.p...,117293.0.html

[BuckleBoy]

No collector in the world wants a 150 year copper coin that blinks in the sun. Then want it with a nice old patina on it.
That is the first wish from a collector, the other is that it HAS NOT BEEN CLEANED (then you get top dollar, believe me).

For collectors of colonial coins, and early state-issued American coppers, this is untrue. If the coin is a rare enough variety, it will have significant value. Case in point, hogge's King George III copper likely made him over $10,000 richer. Uncleaned, the coin would not have sold for nearly as much.

Cleaning a dug copper in a responsible (and mild) way will enhance it's collector value.


Best Wishes,



Buckleboy

[ocalasix]

BB,

whats the best way to clean silver?..gregg

I'm not advocating leaving it cruddy--I always use peroxide for ground-found coppers, but if it is losing patina, I stop the process before it all comes off. Usually at that point, it is possible to ID the coin anyhow--which is very important. Silvers are another matter entirely...


-Buckleboy
[/quote]

[BuckleBoy]

BB,

whats the best way to clean silver?..gregg

Gregg, Reply #1:

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.p...,213567.0.html

And an example here in the last few photos of my post:

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.p...,113377.0.html


If you need more examples of silver cleaned using this method, let me know.



Best Wishes,



Buckleboy

[ocalasix]

thanks...gregg