Would you buy a cleaned coin and let it retone????

kryptonitecomics

I see nice coins sometimes that have great detail and if not cleaned would be real stunners. I was looking at a coin today that is obviously cleaned as their are hairlines all over this thing. Value aside......would you add a coin look this to your collection with the intent of letting it tone over the years and maybe have a chance at becomming a presentable piece again??? or would you just characterized this coin as damaged goods and stay away completely???


1824 Bust Half


P.S. I am not looking to purchase the coin above. but I wanted to have something to use as an example. This particular coin also looks to have a rim bump of some sort at 11 o'clock on the Obverse.

airplanenut

It really depends on the coin--my gut says no, but if the cleaning isn't noticeable, then maybe... if it's got strong hairlines, it'll have the hairlines with or without the retoning...

MrEureka

Good question. My answer is "yes", provided that the discount warrants the compromise.

FrattLaw

Sure, I bought a 1921 Peace $ that was an early business strike from proof dies in AU condition because of the cleaning. I put it in a Wayte Raymond album and its starting to tone up nicely. With or without the hairlines I still like the coin.

Michael

RYK

Would you buy a cleaned coin that already has nicely retoned and upon reasonable inspection, you cannot see the cleaning? I had this issue come up at the ANA. There was a dealer who had original-appearing NCS-graded Dahlonega $5's and was selling them for about 1/2 Trends.

Gonfunko

I would have to say yes. In fact, I did once, although indirectly. I got an 1834 Large Cent off of eBay, and upon it's arrival saw that it was cleaned, but not too severely. I didn't want to bother with a return, so I just stuck it in my binder for about a week and it toned up rather nicely. Hint - Mead Five Star binders retone copper fast and well.

AuldFartte

I've done it.

nwcs

Retoning isn't always possible, depending upon the cleaning. I tried it once and got frustrated at waiting.

tsacch

sunshine and a wet sulfuric envelope for about 3 months would help..........or bleach it and let her go blueish greay. like this one i bet is...bleached that is.bleacher

Myqqy

Personally, I avoid bright white bust halves, and have no interest in purchasing them to see if they'll retone attractively. I've seen a lot of bust halves that have been cleaned (by dipping perhaps) that have started the retoning process in ugly, irregular blotches.....
The 1824 that you linked looks like it has already started to retone fairly well- but all the hairlines would bug me......

coinbuf

Yes, but it depends on how the coin was "cleaned". I have an 1895-O Morgan dollar with ef details but nets down to VF for a thumbed cheek on Miss Liberty. While I know that this coin will never be a slab candiate; it looks great in my dansco and cost under $100.

Chris

magikbilly

Hi,
I would never knowingly purchase a cleaned coin. It is a problem coin to me.

Best,
Billy

dorkkarl

<< <i>Would you buy a cleaned coin and let it retone???? >>

you better believe it!!!

K S

sliderider

I collect bodybags, anyway, so I would have to say 'yes'. If I was missing a piece in a set, I'd fill it with a damaged coin until something better came along. I read somewhere recently that even the esteemed Norweb collection contained some pieces that would have normally warranted a no grade. The only reason some of them got slabbed and graded was because of who owned them.

JadeRareCoin

Sure. It depends on the coin AND the price.

JrGMan2004

<< <i>Would you buy a cleaned coin that already has nicely retoned and upon reasonable inspection, you cannot see the cleaning? I had this issue come up at the ANA. There was a dealer who had original-appearing NCS-graded Dahlonega $5's and was selling them for about 1/2 Trends. >>

Yes... I recently recieved a Bust Half... it has been described as lightly cleaned... well, it has real nice toning, and I can't see ANY evidence of a cleaning... a gorgeous coin though

ziggy29

I'd buy just about any coin if the price was right. If someone wanted to sell me a mildly cleaned XF coin for VG money, for example, bring it on. I could let it retone or even make it a pocket piece until it wears down to VF (and takes most of the cleaning with it).

Having said that, if I don't like the eye appeal of a coin it would take a rather significant discount to make me want to buy it -- but with few exceptions, at the right price I'd buy just about anything.

OKbustchaser

Of course, I would. ALL--that's right, I said ALL-- even so-called "orginal" bust and seated material has been cleaned in the past unless it merely sat in a bank vault from receipt from mint until the mid to late 1960's.

Jim
Regardless of what the TPG's say.

UncleJoe

Absolutely. I do it all the time.

Of course it must have been a cleaning that did not damage the surface of the coin and yes I expect to buy the coin at a decent discount.

Joe.

dorkkarl

buying cleaned coins & letting them retone is as good a money-maker as there is in the hobby.

K S

Shamika

I'll bet many of us have already purchased retoned that were cleaned coins years ago and don't even know it.

ziggy29

<< <i>I'll bet many of us have already purchased retoned that were cleaned coins years ago and don't even know it. >>

Yep. Or realized it years after we originally bought them.

kryptonitecomics

Good insight here guys..............I waqs really wondering about the presence of the hairline and the fact that even if the coin toned, the hairlines would be present even though they may be a lot harder to see.

My initial thought is on the right day a coin like this could be slabbed, if the cleaning wasn't too bad and the coin retoned appropraitely. I am sure there are thousands if not hundreds of thousands of coins that saw this type of cleaning, and have since found a home in plastic. To me this is not the same as dipping, since we all know that is a very common practice. This involves abrasive cleaning that leaves these types of marks and not a dip which removes luster. To my knowledge their is no way to replae luster once it is gone, other than maybe whizzing the coin, which would be detectable.

Nysoto

Hairlines from abrasive cleaning (like the 1824) cannot be hidden by retoning. Look for original coins without hairlines on common years/varieties. I have some cleaned/dipped coins on more difficult varieties and they are retoning, but I try to avoid the abrasive baking soda/ajax type of cleaning, as this damage cannot be reversed. Hairlines can be hidden by photography, ebay is a dumping ground for these coins.

Bill

Bunker

This coin was lightly cleaned at one time and I think that it has Re-Toned nicely.

nankraut

What Shamika and Ziggy said:

merz2

I bought an AU 1914-D Lincoln that was obviously cleaned.I plan to keep it and let it go brown.