DONT clean that coin!

[wolfpaw518]

DON'T clean that coin!

OK I won't! Why not

We all know that old coins should be left as is, from the first day that you pick up a metal detector, before you even learn how to use it, it's beat into your soul, if you clean it, it's value will drop!

Why?

What is it about an old "looking" coin that makes it more valuable?

neil

 

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[Farmercal]

Re: DON'T clean that coin!

I think what they mean is don't put potentially valuable coins through a rock tumbler which will mess them up. I have cleaned many old coins with dishwashing detergent and a soft toothbrush. All it does is get the surface dirt off and leaves any patina on the coin which gives it that old look. If you clean the coin with something like brasso it looks uncirculated but worn down which is undesirable by collectors. You don't have to leave the dirty.

 

[Jeffro]

Re: DON'T clean that coin!

I think the gist is this- if the coin is valuable, don't disturb the toning or suface in any way. To remove metal, or scratch it in any way diminishes the value. Yes, by removing toning with chems, you are removing metal. By whizzing, you are removing metal.

Cleaning off sweat and grime that has accumulated should be OK as long as you don't disturb the surface of the coin.

That is what collectors are worried about. Keeping the coin in as close to original shape as possible.

 

[wolfpaw518]

Re: DON'T clean that coin!

so...the concern is not damaging the coin its self in any way shape or form and not just the personal preference to an aged look...

Reading some of the past posts I was getting the impression that people just wanted the "look" [patina] of the older coins...

thanks all...
neil

 

[Snee]

Re: DON'T clean that coin!

Let's say, if you dip a tarnished silver quarter into some tarn-x or something like that. The way those solutions work, is it pretty much takes off the top layer of silver...the tarnish as well, leaving the shiny untouched silver. However, you also lose detail of the coin itself. There have been many stories I have read that have been about people cleaning their own coin and finding out it's worth less now. Valuable coins should be cleaned with intense care, or done professionally.

Acceptable ways of cleaning coins are things like letting them soak in distilled water, or olive oil. Don't rub or scrub your coins. There could be so much as a grain of sand where when you rub the coin, you scape it against the coin and damage it. Hope this helps put some things right.

 

[djui5]

Re: DON'T clean that coin!

When you clean a coin, the chemicals damage the coin, decreasing it's value.

Now, if you find a decent coin, and it's corroded to hell and back so bad you can barely tell what kinda coin it is, and you want to "purty it up" for your collection, then by all means go ahead! Just don't ever clean a coin you plan on selling someday.

 

[Mojave]

Re: DON'T clean that coin!

Here is the reason you don't want to clean coins (taken from the Coin Doc website):

When a coin blank is struck by the dies, the metal becomes molten and flows into the recesses of the die and outward from the center to the rim. The metal flow lines are responsible for what we call luster. These lines sit directly on the surface of the coin and are easily removed. Any disturbance of the flow lines by cleaning is immediately detectable by an expert.

Graders look for flow lines first when evaluating an uncirculated coin. Dipping a coin in silver cleaner reduces the height of flow lines because it removes the surface layer of the coin. The first time one does this the coin appears as if it has been improved but along with the toning you've also removed the protective oxide layer that develops on all coins. In a short time the coin "needs" to be dipped again. As little as three dippings can be enough to reduce the grade of a coin from uncirculated to AU. Excessive dipping eventually causes a coin to look flat and lifeless since it no longer has any luster.

Even coins with obvious wear normally have luster. Even EF-45 coins will have luster in the protected areas of the coin.

Once the luster is gone from cleaning, the uninitiated usually take to polishing the coin in desperate attempt to restore the coin to uncirculated condition (polishing is the process of moving metal). Polished coins are obvious to anyone accustomed to buying and selling coins. At that point the coin usually has been reduced to its metal value.

This doesn't make your coin worthless, but it is worth less than one in the same grade that hasn't been cleaned. Many new collectors may seek out cleaned coins as a way of acquiring examples of coins that they couldn't otherwise afford.

Obviously, if a coin has real deterioration or corrosion, the surface of the coin is all but gone, and cleaning would simply make the coin more recognizable, and because the value of such a coin would probably be minimal to start with, it would be OK. But, you should always do research to see if the coin you have would be worth alot even with corrosion/deterioration before attempting to clean it.

 

[Woodsie]

Re: DON'T clean that coin!

Try taking those dirty and grimed up clad pennies, dimes and quarters to your local bank. They may take them the first time.