Would you ever consider buying a cleaned coin?

KoolCoin

Ebay has what appears to be a nice ANACS 1901 Barber half. It is graded AU detailed Net XF but cleaned. I contacted the seller and asked about visible hairlines and milkspots; but the response I received was "I only know what is on the holder." I was considering a 20th century type set and this looked like a good purchase. Take a look and give me your honest opinion.

1901 Barber Half

Thanks

KoolCoin

Donovan

There are plently of nice barbar halves if you just want a type coin. I wouldn't buy it if it were me.

Placid

If it dosent bother you and the price is reasonable for a 45 then go for it.
Original and less detail or cleaned and more detail for the same price.
Its a personal choice, if cleaned bothers you then don't.

agentjim007

only if it is very scarce/rare

airplanenut

I bought one--an UNC detail Indian cent for $5. Why? I wanted a good reference of what to never buy.

Jeremy

KollectorKing

YES!

I just bought it via BIN.

Thanks for the lead

Placid

Goldfinger

It depends on the coin, of course. Just because cleaning devalues a coin doesn't mean it has no value (one of the reasons I like ANACS). A cleaned or dipped coin can still have eye appeal, and if it's a true rarity it might be a good value.

That said, I don't think it makes sense for a 20th century type set. You can do better for the money.

-Jay

aem4162

sure, if it filled a hole or if an uncleaned one was too expensive. after you get a real coin, you can give the cleaned coin to a kid who might take up the hobby. everyone wins and the sky won't fall in if someone has 1 or 2 in their collection.

291fifth

ANACS is very quick to assign net grades so it is very possible to find nice coins in their net graded holders. My main problem with this coin is that the seller did not answer your question. Do you really want to reward this type of seller? In the case of a coin like this, which is not rare, I would say pass.

KoolCoin

KollectorKing,



<< <i>YES! >>




<< <i>I just bought it via BIN. >>




<< <i>Thanks for the lead >>



It wasn't meant to be a lead!!!

I guess I learned a lesson!!

Thanks for the help, excellent points pro and con!!!

KoolCoin

RiffRaff1967

<KollectorKing,>
<< YES! >>
<< I just bought it via BIN. >>
<It wasn't meant to be a lead!!! >

I'm hip - man that was cold!

tjkillian

<< <i>YES! I just bought it via BIN. Thanks for the lead >>



That's not what he meant. That was not cool.

Tom

Cladiator

KoolCoin,

Try not to post the link to an auction that you are going to bid on. The reasons are now evident. LOL If you must, just save the photo from the auction and post that.

trozau

Never ever link a coin listing that you are interested in unless you are willing to face extra competition.

ealandg

Yeah, that sucked.

Anyhow, I collect early stuff and the vast majority of it has been dipped at some point. As long as it was just a dip and not a scrub and has retoned nicely I don't hold it against it. For a Barber half, I'm betting you could get a nice original one.

Sorry you got sniped like that. It really wasn't very nice.

cladking

Cleaned coins are often discounted excessively. They can often be "redirtied" with
relatively little effort and some time. If you don't like them though there's no reason
to have it in a collection.

Cladiator

I think having that auction sniped out from under you was a blessing in disguise. I really think you will find a coin that better suits your needs than that one. At least this way you will find that better coin and not have to say..."dang, why did I get that cleaned one!?"

KoolCoin

Cladiator,

Yes, your probably right. I've been around long enough that the question should not have even been asked. I was warned by many years ago to never buy a cleaned coin because it will "come back to haunt you." Sometimes we just forget and tend to lose sight of our common sense

Thanks again everyone for your help regarding all aspects of buying a cleaned coin!!

KoolCoin