can a cleaned coin ever look natural again??

gn1090ss

hello all...I have a nicely detailed 1872-s silver dollar with strong vf details however it has been cleaned.I really like this date and would like to have it appear more natural.Would having it become my pocket piece enhance it over time.The coin is not polished but obviously way to shiny with many hairlines.

lordmarcovan

Carrying it as a pocket piece a while might work, though obviously you'd wanna avoid putting fresh hairlines in it, and doing what I would do, which would be to promptly lose the dang thing...

Russ

Yes, carrying it as a pocket piece will eventually wear away the signs of cleaning. But, it may bang it up pretty badly.

Russ, NCNE

ARCO

I heard of one collector who put his coins on some fresh lumber or wood and put the coin out in the sun for the summer. He said they picked up a more natural patina. Not perfect, but better. I don't have that kind of patience, but it might work

Tyler

Bochiman

What about an early lincoln?
I have one that someone said was cleaned (dipped) before and it doesn't have a natural color....the grade is VF+ but I would like to try to get the color back; if possible.

nwcs

I would think genuine wear might cover up a light cleaning well. But a heavy cleaning is usually not going to be fixed by wear.

gn1090ss

thanks yallll...anyone else ever experiment and have good results?

itsnotjustme

I have thought about this on occaision. What I would worry is a little wear will cover up the cleaning on higher points, but the hairlines in recessed areas would remain. So you'd have a lower grade coin with less--but still visible--signs of cleaning.

itsnotjustme

p.s. Welcome to the boards!