Are Improperly Cleaned Coins Still Worth It

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I talk a lot nearly cleaned coins versus uncleaned coins here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins.

You lot may be wondering what the big fuss is nearly cleaning coins and perhaps ask yourself why most collectors don't desire cleaned coins.

Or, you lot may exist trying to effigy out what a cleaned money looks like versus a regular, uncleaned money.

If you fall into either of those two camps, this post is for you.

What Is A Cleaned Coin?

Okay, so you may be wondering what I'm referring to when I'thousand talking about a cleaned coin.

Cleaned coins are those that have been:

• Washed with soap, toothpaste, or blistering soda
• Dipped in jewelry cleaner
• Soaked in ketchup, taco sauce, vinegar, lemon juice, or some other acidic condiment
• Rinsed in bleach, motor oil, or grease
• Scrubbed with a pad, steel wool, or another type of abrasive cleaning implement
• Polished with any blazon of cleaner or rag
• Doctored in any way to alter the advent of the finish

You'll be surprised how many coins accept been subjected to abuses from the higher up. Many coins from the 19th and early 20th centuries take met such fates, and they are only now becoming acceptable for the most scrutinizing of numismatists to collect once more as these cleaned coins retone.

Most of those once-cleaned coins plough upwards in tertiary-political party certified slabs with the scarlet letter of a "net grade" or "cleaned" descriptor on their holder labels.

The bottom line is, if your coin has been contradistinct by annoying cleaners, chemicals, or otherwise as described above, information technology's considered as cleaned.

But why is this bad?

Why Information technology's Bad To Make clean Coins

Why do I e'er make such a big deal about cleaning coins and more often than not advise readers confronting it?

Considering cleaning a coin removes its natural patina – the color and protective layer that forms on a coin over many years.

Most numismatists prefer that their coins accept their original patina for the sake of originality.

What takes 50, fourscore, 100, or more years to naturally form on a coin be polished away inside mere seconds by the mere rubbing of a baking soda-laced thumb over the fields and devices of an otherwise beautiful money.

Not but does a cleaned money lack originality, it too is devoid of a very thin layer of metallic. You see, cleaning a coin strips off the very top layer of metallic, which essentially amercement the coin beyond repair.

Cleaning coins is a big numismatic no-no, and many fine, rare coins have been ruined over the years by numismatists who were attempting to "upgrade" the appearance of their older coins.

I tin't stress it enough – Don't practice information technology!

Bottom line — forget most trying to make your coin look "shiny and new." Remember, when information technology comes to onetime coins, looking new is not skilful!

When And How You lot Tin Safely Clean Coins

There are relatively few occasions when I'd ever suggest that cleaning a coin may exist appropriate:

• The coin has ugly and potentially damaging dark-green polyvinylchloride (PVC) goo from an sometime plastic money holder.
• The money has loose clay and debris on it.
• An ancient money needs cleaning for proper attribution or identification.

Here are 3 prophylactic methods for cleaning coins in the in a higher place scenarios:

1. For a coin that has loose clay and droppings, hold itunder gently running, tepid water for a few seconds and then pat — don't rub — it dry out with a soft cloth.
2. If your coin has green PVC residue, you can remove it by carefully by dipping the coin in acetone for about 30 seconds, removing tough spots with a cotton swab, and letting the coin air dry. Warning, alarm, warning… if you use the acetone method, be sure to vesture latex gloves and only use the acetone in a well-ventilated expanse to avoid the fumes. Make sure you only use acetone from a hardware shop. Most grocery store acetone is labeled as nail smoothen remover and has fragrances that tin can damage the coin surface.
3. Make clean your dirty aboriginal coins by letting them sit in distilled water for upwards to 7 days, then follow that up by letting them soak in regular olive oil for up to a month. This should yield really good results and assist you avoid having to use more extreme measures such every bit using abrasives, heat, or stiff chemicals.

How To Tell If A Coin Has Been Cleaned

At present that I've talked a bit about how coins are frequently cleaned and why it's not appropriate to "better" the look of your coins, I can now tell you what you lot need to know in order to avoid buying cleaned coins.

• A cleaned coin will take a slow, bright look – ane that on a well-circulated coin would seem unnatural.
• Sometime pennies that have been worn should non look bright orange and have flashy surfaces. Old, worn pennies should be medium to nighttime brown in color and take about no reflectivity on the surface at all.
• Old silver coins volition look grey in color with darker patination around the devices, such every bit the lettering, date, and principal blueprint elements. A flashy, white silverish coin that has clearly been worn is a clear giveaway that it has been cleaned.
• Uncirculated or near uncirculated coins should have lustrous surfaces and radiating lines that reverberate shimmers of light in a cartwheel pattern as the coin is turned or rotated.
• The luster of a cleaned money will be severely impaired, if non lost altogether. Therefore, if an uncirculated coin has been cleaned, the best way to tell is to see if it has any cartwheel luster. If it doesn't, then don't purchase the coin.

Older coins that take been cleaned in the past may testify evidence of a by cleaning in a few key ways:

• Crud around design elements and lettering
• Evidence of heavy, dark toning on some parts of the coin but not on others
• Dull appearance in the fields

How To Avoid Buying Cleaned Coins

Allow me only tell you right off the bat that at that place is no such affair as a foolproof manner to avert ownership a cleaned coin.

Sometimes, a cleaned coin is but deceptive plenty equally to avert being defenseless. And sometimes a coin that was cleaned long ago may have regained enough patina to mask the old cleaning.

If you're buying your coin from an online money dealer or eBay:

• Merely buy from individuals who bear witness photos of the actual coin you're bidding on.
• Make sure the seller has a practiced reputation score and has been selling coins for at least a year or ii.
• Ensure the seller has a good return policy – 7 to 14 days is mutual.
• Ask the seller if the coin has been cleaned. If he or she doesn't know or refuses to answer, motion on.
• Buy slabbed coins that have been certified by reputable third-party coin companies like PCGS, NGC, or ANACS.

That last signal, about buying coins that have been certified, should be taken with caution. Some holders have been faked or contradistinct.

And the characterization information on whatever certified money slab represents only a 2nd opinion – there is no guarantee that the coin inside is precisely what the label says.

In the terminate, you nonetheless need to use your best judgment when buying slabbed coins or any coin – and always inspect each piece y'all buy with a coin loupe beforehand whenever possible.

More Near Cleaned Coins

• Why Cleaned Coins Can't Exist Uncleaned
• Detecting Cleaned Coins
• Improper Coin Cleanings
• How To Tell Which Coins On eBay Are Cleaned
• How To Re-Tone Silvery Coins
• How To Re-Tone Copper Coins

I'grand the Coin Editor here at TheFunTimesGuide. My love for coins began when I was xi years one-time. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. I'm a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) and take won multiple awards from the NLG for my work as a money journalist. I'one thousand also the editor at the Florida United Numismatists Club (FUN Topics magazine), and author of Images of America: The United States Mint in Philadelphia (a book that explores the colorful history of the Philadelphia Mint). I've contributed hundreds of articles for diverse coin publications including COINage, The Numismatist, Numismatic News, Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin Values, and CoinWeek. I've authored nearly 1,000 articles here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins (many of them with over 50K shares), and I welcome your coin questions in the comments below!

Source: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/cleaned-coins/

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