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Cleaned coins

What are the tell-tale signs a coin has been cleaned? Is it easy to tell? What does whizzed mean?

Comments

  • TonedCoinTraderTonedCoinTrader Posts: 2,765 ✭✭✭
    Whizzed means some one peed on the coin















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    Toned Coins for sale @ tonedcointrader.com
  • CladiatorCladiator Posts: 18,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
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  • Catch22Catch22 Posts: 1,086 ✭✭
    The best way to tell cleaned coins is to look at a lot of cleaned coins. Seriously, seek out ANACS holdered coins at shows that have "Cleaned" remarks. The easiest sign is fine scratches along the surface of the coin. Easily visible with a loupe, but as you see more cleaned coins it becomes quickly apparent without a loupe. The scratches usually run very consistently parallel to one another and looks as if someone took very fine sand paper and rubbed the coin.

    Cleaning can also be noticed simply from the dull discoloration of the coin. Too many dips will get you a bag for cleaning, even though there are no obvious abrasion marks.

    Whizzing is an attempt to create the appearance of luster on a coin. Usually done on coins grading XF or better. The process involves microscopic brush marks from some sort of polisher to give the coin a little flash. As with cleaning, seek out coins labeled "whizzed" and ask to view them when you are at shows or at a Dealer's shop.

    I should also mention that one of the most common types of cleaning involves cleaning and toning together. In order to conceal the scratches from a cleaning, people will often try to tone the coin a little darker to conceal the marks. On copper coins, recoloring is sometimes used to hide the cleaning or a scratch on the surface.


    When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.

    Thomas Paine
  • RickMilauskasRickMilauskas Posts: 1,985 ✭✭✭
    I hate to think of what might have happened to a coin with chocolate brown toning.
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    Le cleaned.
  • ouch!
    "You must love soldiers in order to understand them, and understand them in order to lead them."
    -Henri Turenne


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  • bearcavebearcave Posts: 3,996 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Whizzed! Might have been better if it was peed on!

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    Ken
  • ibzman350ibzman350 Posts: 5,315
    image FAW

    Good topic, I can detect polished and whizzed coins, Can anyone show overdipped coins ??

    those are the coins that are tuff for me to detect.



    Herb
    Remember it's not how you pick your nose that matters, it's where you put the boogers.
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  • Why would anyone do this to a coin? It ruins it more than it makes it better.
    "You must love soldiers in order to understand them, and understand them in order to lead them."
    -Henri Turenne


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  • tsacchtsacch Posts: 2,929 ✭✭✭
    ignorance to what is considered proper by todays standards..... Many years ago, cleaning coins was acceptable. Many many bust halves were cleaned in the past....good for us folks holding uncleaned originals, but bad b/c they are expensive and there are tons or ruined coins.
    Family, kids, coins, sports (playing not watching), jet skiing, wakeboarding, Big Air....no one ever got hurt in the air....its the sudden stop that hurts. I hate Hurricane Sandy. I hate FEMA and i hate the blasted insurance companies.
  • Ignorance is not bliss
    "You must love soldiers in order to understand them, and understand them in order to lead them."
    -Henri Turenne


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  • 19Lyds19Lyds Posts: 26,490 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Ignorance is not bliss >>



    No, its a b%^ch!
    I decided to change calling the bathroom the John and renamed it the Jim. I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning.



    The name is LEE!

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