How can you tell if a coin has been cleaned?

coindaughter

How?

Placid

Got a picture?
Hairlines are the major sign of cleaning.
Tilt the coin aroound under a light and look for many small scratches on the surface.

sinin1

Coins have been / are cleaned in many different ways - some look like a kid took steel wool and tried to get off all the toning - you got to be careful that the scratches go in rather than out - then someone at the mint did it on the die.

Frequently a cleaning can be noticed by checking the luster and lack of it at various places.

Some coins have been dipped (too long) and look blast white but luster is all gone.

Some have a small shadow around the devices (raised areas).

As you see more, you get better at telling if a coin has been cleaned.

coppercoins

Hmm....that question is REALLY loaded. There have been entire chapters of books written on the subject.

If the color is wrong, the coin has probably been cleaned. If the surface is shiny like it has been polished. If the coin is dull, it has likely been dipped. There are many different things to look for and it takes experience to look for all of them and know them. Take time to figure out exactly what makes a coin look right, then you'll know a cleaned one when it comes along.

coindaughter

Thanks. That is a good start.