cleaned coins

ANACONDA2

how can you tell if a coin has been cleaned

ccrdragon

Depends on the method of cleaning. Some cleaning leaves marks on the coin, some cleaning changes the color of the coin or dimishes the luster, some cleaning (if done right) is nearly undetectable.

paigowjohnny

Has daddy not taught you anything ???

NumisEd

Just show every coin in question to your father....he's a great numismatist. Also, if it comes from ebay, then it's probably cleaned.

ANACONDA2

I will be away from my dad for about 5 weeks and I'm thinking about submitting a coin to pcgs but i thinkl it's been cleaned. so how can i tell it's been cleaned?

KlectorKid

If u rotate it in the light and see lots of hairline scratchs chances are its been cleaned.

ANACONDA2

TTT

Shamika

Does it have that "Fresh Downey Scent"?

ANACONDA2

<< <i>Does it have that "Fresh Downey Scent"? >>

LOL

BAJJERFAN

Did you get the coin from Alan's Cleaning & Grading?

coinkat

There have been some excellent tips provided. Rotating the coin in light is always good...I use a loupe as well as the naked eye. The color is also important... dipped silver, especially in lower MS grades will look different than undipped silver. Sometimes you just have to learn by looking at coins and make the determination based upon what you have learned.

dorkkarl

if it ain't original, it's cleaned

K S

sinin1

I have trouble with copper


silver has - crisscrossing hairline scratches, or complete lack of luster



If you think it might be, it probably is


if it has wild colors, be more suspicious because cleaned coins tone back differently


one sure fire way to tell is, pay the dough, send to PCGS, see how it comes back

MadMarty

When there is slobber dripping from the coin.

KlectorKid

And then recently dipped copper will be bright read/pink.

dorkkarl

<< <i>if it ain't original, it's cleaned >>

oh, & btw, if it's cleaned, it ain't original. just thought i'd clarify that for everyone

K S

Baley

there are more than just 2 categories of coins: cleaned and not cleaned (aka "original") and anyone who says that there are just 2 kind of coins, cleaned and original, is either oversimplifying or being intentionally obtuse. There are

1. coins that were brushed with a wire brush or a rotary device (drill, dremel). These will have straight or curvy parallel lines of scratches, which may also criss cross and swirl all over. these will usually be very shiny and have no toning. Whizzed!

2. coins that were cleaned with silver cleaner or ajax or comet or baking soda or some similar abrasive they will be duller than a machine polished coin, depending on the degree of scrubbing. also, some coins appear to be rubbed with a pencil eraser or similar.

3. coins that were wiped and rubbed with a cloth will show shallower, finer scratches, rotating the coin in a light will reveal these. the coin will appear "smooth" to the naked eye when viewed at arms length.

4. coins that were dipped in jeweluster or ezest come out in a range from undetectable (usually, uncirculated or proof coins with very VERY light tarnish, hazing or soiling) through "ok looking" for ones that didn't come out so good, to "awful" for circulated silver, which should almost never be cleaned in any manner.

5. coins that were very very lightly "dusted" or "shined up" but are AU anyway and it really doesnt matter.

.etc.
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X Coins that are unquestionably original "looking", whether they are strictly original or not.

dont listen to anyone who tells you that things are black and white. it's a rainbow world.