Old cleaning signs?

zski123

I've often wondered what causes certain types of discoloration on coins. I've been told that is it everything from storing method to old cleanings. The attached photo is an 1827 Capped Bust Half. It's not as dull as the photo depicts. The dealer who sold it said the lighter areas appearing more "tan" are signs of an old cleaning. I'm not a metallurgist but I don't think that's necessarily correct. Handling and oil deposits would create some of this I would imagine.
What say you?

FrankH

"Cleaned" is a flighty bird.,...

pursuitofliberty

While I can not determine for sure if that coin has ever been cleaned from those photos, that coins looks market acceptable with a fair amount of crust or "grey dirt", and is probably high EF low AU in grade.

The lighter areas in those pictures look like areas that have protected luster.

Would like to see the whole thing.

zski123

I attached the wrong photo. Here's the full coin.

YQQ

pocket wear and pocket polish IMO

silverpop

al long as it has not been harshly cleaned and shows it the coin is market acceptable

Crypto

Layers of age are the only true sign a coin hasn’t been cleaned. Think of it as layers/planes of skins from oils, dirt and oxidation that accumulate over the decades. Anything that has one or two even layers has often had previous layers stripped off.

moursund

@Crypto said:
Layers of age are the only true sign a coin hasn’t been cleaned. Think of it as layers/planes of skins from oils, dirt and oxidation that accumulate over the decades. Anything that has one or two even layers has often had previous layers stripped off.

I suppose a coin could accumulate layers of oxidation (and possibly even oil and dirt) after being cleaned.

Ebeneezer

What few recall is that back before modern grading standards by Sheldon it was very common to clean a coin. I've been at this since the mid-seventies and can recall older collectors at the time still doing so without consideration. Not discounting your thinking, only the chances are greater that it has been.

Sonorandesertrat

@Ebeneezer said:
What few recall is that back before modern grading standards by Sheldon it was very common to clean a coin. I've been at this since the mid-seventies and can recall older collectors at the time still doing so without consideration. Not discounting your thinking, only the chances are greater that it has been.

I recall my summer cleaning coins at a local B&M shop in 1972. People wanted white silver, pale gold, etc., so toning was dipped off too.

Crypto

@moursund said:

@Crypto said:
Layers of age are the only true sign a coin hasn’t been cleaned. Think of it as layers/planes of skins from oils, dirt and oxidation that accumulate over the decades. Anything that has one or two even layers has often had previous layers stripped off.

I suppose a coin could accumulate layers of oxidation (and possibly even oil and dirt) after being cleaned.

Not really although anything is possible. Most cleanings happen one they go into a more “protective” sate after entering collecting channels and there is more of a protective symmetry to the layers after that.

That said doctors have been trying to duplicate various looks for a long time.

ricko

That is a very nice coin as pictured. May well have had a cleaning in the past, but is well preserved and - at least in the picture - does not show signs of harsh cleaning. Cheers, RickO