Polishing or coating of coins?

PlatinumDuck

I just recieved some sets of coins from a family member with titles like "Americas Greatest Coins", "Historic Buffalo Nickel", etc. In these sets are just old beat up circulated coins with various dates and degrees of wear. I noticed however that while some of the coins just look old and circulated, there are a few which look like they have either been polished until they shine like diamonds, or have been coated with something to make them look that shiny. I was just wondering if anyone knows for sure wich it is? I can tell there is not much value to these kind of sets that i would guess come from tv or ads in coin magazines that sell them for ridiculous prices. Any ideas are great and would be welcome.

Thanks,

PlatinumDuck

Pentimento

Have you ruled out the possibility that they are proof coins? Are they in U.S. Mint type sets or in those TV sets?

RichieURich

In most cases these coins have been polished to within an inch of their life. It looks nice on a wall, though, or it can be sold for silver value for the sets with silver in them.

Edited to add: to the Forums, PlatinumDuck!

PlatinumDuck

No, these are not proof coins at all, and not from mint sets or anything like that. I dont have a picture, but as an example, there is a 1934 silver quarter with the date worn into the rim pretty well and much of the reverse worn down, yet it is shiny like a proof, wich makes me think its been polished or coated with something. The few coins that look this way just have a look that makes them not seem right in some way.

RichieURich

You got that right. One of my sets has 4 Good Warnickels that are very highly polished and from a foot away look like proofs. When you get closer to them, ugly!

GoldenEyeNumismatics

most coins in those types of sets are lousy circ polished coins

WoodenJefferson

They look like these platinumduck?
These are from the Washington Mint...polished (buffed) with probably jewlers rouge, so bright you can't even take a descent pic of them from the glare. You can get bullion only from a coin like this, no numismatic value because they are common dates unless extreemly rare, then it doesn't matter if you have a hole drilled through it.

Nice conversation pieces or remembrance coins only...you were correct in your assumption.

The coins would have graded good to fine untouched...now cleaned