What the deal with dipping?

coinguy89

Im like so confused about this. I hear people say "looks like its crap, been dipped" or "that needs a good dipping". At first when I started I thought that was a good thing, but then tryed it on a bunch of wheaties and misc. silver coins, and the outcome didn't look to good. So then I figured I wouldn't do that again. Many of you have mixed feelings about it, it seems. I also read that it was a bad thing to do. This might be a real dumb, newbie question, if so sorry. I would just like to know, why you dip, what should/should not be dipped, and what the different affects are. Also if a coins been cleaned don't grading serivces body bag it? Maybe im getting dipping mixed up with something else. Please Explain what's the deal.

Russ

Do a search. This is one of those topics that has been discussed to death, so there are already dozens of threads with the answers you seek.

Russ, NCNE

dollardude

This is my personal opinion. I never do anything to a coin no matter what, with two exceptions. One is if there is obvious PVC damage. Then, use a cotton swab and dab the damaged area with acetone, rinse with water, and pat dry with a soft cloth. This will prevent further damage. The other is, according to Russ, in the case of some modern proofs that were not rinsed properly at the mint, and "turn" inside a slab. Other than these two exceptions, I don't do ANYTHING to a coin, PERIOD. I hope this answers your question.

There are some folks who doctor coins, and in the process, ruin them. Sometimes they "dip" a coin (using jewelry cleaner, "coin" cleaner, or other chemicals) in an attempt to get a higher grade, but they end up instead getting a bodybag from PCGS or NGC for damage.

UncleWiggly

There's a 10 pg pamphlet called The Conservation Of Coins A Buyer's Guide. It was produced by ICG, ICTA, NGC, PCGS and PNG in 2001. I received my copy from NCS.


Jerry

Conder101

Part of the confusion stems from sloppy use of language. You can strip the sulfide layers off a coin with a commercial dip such as E Z est, Jewelustre, or Tarn-x. You can wash dirt and possibly some PVC residues off using MS-70 which is a mild detergent solution. Or you can degrease and remove organic contaminents from the coin with an organic solvent such as acetone. These are three different types of treatment, and the latter two are usually considered to be "safe" to do with coins while the first is much more problematic. Unfortunaely most people refer to all of these as "dipping" or "I dipped it" without clarifying what they dipped it in.

This can be very important when the coins in question are copper such as your wheat cents.. Copper can usually be "bathed" using MS-70, or "degreased" with acetone, but they should never be "dipped" with a commercial dip. It will strip it leaving it with an odd color. Circulated silver coins also seldom look good if they are dipped in a commercial dip.