To "clean" or not to "clean" - Dip Stain???

deansmint

I recently purchased this 1860 proof half in an original ANACS hard case from the late eighties that looked much more impressive than the PR61 certified grade, but the coin had a splotchy brown 'Toning' that was seemingly hiding enough frost to keep the coin from getting a cameo grade. After looking at the coin long enough I got the feeling that this was 'Dip' stain and decided to send the coin in to ANACS for the reholder service, which includes a regrade before the coin gets reholdered, before I cracked it and dipped it. I just recieved the coin back from ANACS in a new PR61 holder with "No difference in grade determination" listed on the invoice. Opinions please, dip stain or nasty toning??? These are scans and not photos, the fields are very reflective.

tsacch

that coins is screaming for NCS, do not dip that. If you do it yourself, I would only MS70 it and acetone at most.....spend the bucks and NCS her, I love her, can I have her, I mean buy her, I mean hold her?

mgoodm3

I wouldn't screw with an early proof such as that. NCS may be a useful inquiry

coinguy1

The coin looks to have possibly retoned from a dipping (and improper rinsing). If you don't like it, why not sell it instead of spending $ to get it "conserved"?

AZLARRY

If you want to keep the coin have NCS conserve it.

Derek2100

Definately a candidate for NCS. Considering the coins value worth the fee.

deansmint

Thank you so much for the responses. I purchased the coin because I liked the cameo contrast without the cameo premium and felt that the surfaces warranted a much higher grade. I very much so like the eye appeal of the coin even with the "toning", I just felt that the contrast on the devices would be revealed with the thickness of the toning lessened.

As far as I understand with NCS, you have to be a dealer to submit and Im not sure I like the idea of somebody else "preserving" my coin to the degree that they see as preferential.

Will a quick rinse in diluted dip affect the mirror feilds (fields SP???) dramatically???

deansmint

On a side note, this is the new ANACS holder and I am very much impressed with the way they handled the issues with the first generation of new holders. The plastic seems to be of a different composition and is much more sturdy, although the ink that prints the barcode is still smeared like it was on the coins that I got back about 6 months ago (But at least there was no lint or other artifacts that seemed to be present on just about every coin of a 20 coin submission 'back then'.) They also had this coin back to me within 10 days including shipping, and considering that this was a reholder and only a $5 charge I was very impressed.

lordmarcovan

<< <i>Will a quick rinse in diluted dip affect the mirror feilds (fields SP???) dramatically??? >>

It shouldn't. And you could perhaps use a Q-Tip with slightly stronger dilution to work at the spotted area, though that would be risky. I have had some success in dipping proofs with diluted Jeweluster. However, these were modern proofs that were relatively inexpensive coins. I would be pretty nervous messing with a nineteenth century proof coin, personally. Think I might go with NCS on that, or leave it alone. I think it is a pretty good looking coin for the grade, as-is. Particularly since those are scans and not photos- with the mirrors, that must be a handsome coin.

deansmint

<< <i>

<< <i>Will a quick rinse in diluted dip affect the mirror feilds (fields SP???) dramatically??? >>

It shouldn't. And you could perhaps use a Q-Tip with slightly stronger dilution to work at the spotted area, though that would be risky. I have had some success in dipping proofs with diluted Jeweluster. However, these were modern proofs that were relatively inexpensive coins. I would be pretty nervous messing with a nineteenth century proof coin, personally. Think I might go with NCS on that, or leave it alone. I think it is a pretty good looking coin for the grade, as-is. Particularly since those are scans and not photos- with the mirrors, that must be a handsome coin. >>



I will try to get some actual photos of the coin up. I think I have decided to send this in to NCS considering that they allow you to send in coins if you join the collectors club. Im just kind of afraid that they will over-clean the coin to the point that it is white, dull, and lifeless. I like a little color and tone, I think a little dilluted jewel luster will reveal the cameo on the reverse lettering and give the coin a much more original look than just having them strip it of everything.

Thanks to everyone for thier opinions, I will update this thread when the '"conservation" is complete.

Craton

Scary! If you dip that beautiful gal, you could expose hairlines that could be hiding underneath the toning. I see that you have decided on NCS .... good call.

Myqqy

Im just kind of afraid that they will over-clean the coin to the point that it is white, dull, and lifeless

I bet that the nice mirrors on your coin will keep it from being dull and lifeless......

AU58WALKERS

<< <i>Im just kind of afraid that they will over-clean the coin to the point that it is white, dull, and lifeless

I bet that the nice mirrors on your coin will keep it from being dull and lifeless...... >>



Depends on what ACID they drown this gal in!

Outhaul

I wouldn't touch it. Proofs are tricky and you never know what the outcome will be. Mark's advice is spot on. Sell the coin to smoeone who likes it and buy yourself a problem-free example.

Cheers,

Bob