Better Coins Through Chemistry

becker

Years ago, I used to visit a fellow who's back room of the office was often so full of Clorox fumes the place smelled like the pool at the YMCA. Without the slightest hesitation he would say that he'd never met a coin he couldn't improve. Sometimes all a piece needed was a wipe with used motor oil or a few brush(wire or camel hair) strokes over the surfaces. Other times a coin would need some serious attention in the lab.

Certainly all of his activity was motivated by the "M" word. Fact is, during his career he managed to screw up thousands of coins.

Should we treasure strictly original coins regardless of the technical grade? I do know this. At the rate we're going a darkly toned VF Barber half with film of dirt on the surface may some day be as rare as the same coin in MS-68.

Do you agree or am I being just an out-of-touch-with-the-times purist?

Thanks for any response you care to offer.

kranky

Original, never-played-with coins will always be in demand. I wouldn't go so far as to say an original coin is desirable regardless of the technical grade, because original coins can be dogs also.

It's a shame that the greedy people are ruining nice coins by trying to make an extra buck, but hopefully the ability of people to detect it will increase. If people recognized that certain toning color as one that comes from using bleach, they wouldn't buy them and the doctors would quit doing it since the market is gone.

Hasn't whizzing just about died out, because whizzed coins can't get slabbed?

becker

Thanks for your response.
Your comments and observations are excellent.
I guess we need to consider that the coin factories and telemarketers are still pumping out lots of raw coins that have been harshly played with.
Best,
Tom