Dipping coins, right or wrong?...

DieClash

When would you do it?

I never thought I'd dip a coin in anything stronger than acetone. But I dipped a few original Ikes awhile back and I am pretty happy with the results. I know all the traditionalists frown upon this practice, but if it helps to preserve the coin is it necessarily a bad practice? And by preserve, I mean removing the chemical reactants of the toning process from the coin's surface and placing the coin in an "inert" storage medium. The coin below turned because it was stored in a Whitman album for almost 30 years. After cleaning it now resides in an Intercept Shield ablum with anti-corrosive protection and silica gel desicants around the album.

Before and after images, dipped in "E*Z*Est" brand coin cleaner.

Uncirculated:





Proof:



Silver Proof:

Doogy

in your instances, i'd say it was the right thing to do

commoncents05

Right.

-Paul

Unknown

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GoldenEyeNumismatics

Dipping coins can never be categorized as "right" or "wrong." It can only be judged on a coin by coin basis. Sometimes dipping has ruined coins, and other times it has infinitely improved them.

mirabela

There are times when it is the right thing, IMO. I like the color of your dipped coins better, but it is worth noting that the old "skin" hid some of these coins' sins. The marks and planchet flaws are much more apparent now.

For what it's worth, there is an in-between step available with MS70 cleaner, which is basically a very strong detergent. It does not actually eat into the metal and dissolve the top layer like EZ-est does, but it can lift off haze and film really well. Certainly much of the toning on your Ikes would have left, for instance.

Big picture -- I think you helped those proofs, beyond question; the unc is a tossup for me.

DieClash

FYI - Every coin was purchased directly from the mint and removed from the plio-film or hard-plastic proof lens as the case may be. Cleaning that Unc. has exposed all of the warts and scars that were covered up by the golden film. I agree, its a toss-up. But I don't think that the cleaning "hurt" that Unc. coin. Rather its pointed out my need to go out and find a replacement that isn't so banged up.

I've read lots of complaints about the Mint's quality control, or lack thereof on these boards, and I can't believe this thing came out of a Mint Set, but it did. I probably have better circulated specimens in Ike roll than this banged-up thing.

Thanks for posting!




<< <i>There are times when it is the right thing, IMO. I like the color of your dipped coins better, but it is worth noting that the old "skin" hid some of these coins' sins. The marks and planchet flaws are much more apparent now.

For what it's worth, there is an in-between step available with MS70 cleaner, which is basically a very strong detergent. It does not actually eat into the metal and dissolve the top layer like EZ-est does, but it can lift off haze and film really well. Certainly much of the toning on your Ikes would have left, for instance.

Big picture -- I think you helped those proofs, beyond question; the unc is a tossup for me. >>

DieClash

I wonder if I posted a cleansed rare-date Morgan if this Post would've gotten more interest?

DieClash

Tyler1924S

The "after" of the 1898O looks better to me (No, I don't dip!). Looks better without the haze, and whatever that was at T & E of UNITED. The somewhat frosty devices show better on the post dip. Coin is better off if that haze was from PVC, as at least one of the '76 Ike's appeared to be.

BRdude

I, like you have "dipped" a few coins to remove unpleasant coloring or film, and find nothing wrong with it. What a person doesn't want to do is try to dip a circulated coin. Unlike uncirculated ones, it seems to take the life out of those. jmho.

dorkkarl

dip moderns like that all you want, there are billions of others out there.

but please keep your cotton picking hands off scarce coins! the basic rule is DON'T DIP!

K S

jmj3esq

What did you dip the clad coins in. Is there anything besides MS70 that wont end up damaging the clad? I once used ezest on clad with very bad results.

TwoSides2aCoin

There are no laws that I know of, nor any of God's commandments that forbid it, so it must not be wrong. ...but as a NATURALIST, it's just wrong to strip it off.

Now let's assume you did it to MAKE more money by selling it. Is it wrong to shine up a car prior to selling it ? It's a piece of metal and worth only what someone is willing to pay for it. I cannot judge a person for what they do, nor for their intent. I personally think Ikes are ugly, gawdy and worth about a buck, so it ain't no hair off my head and it's even less off of Ike's.

If you don't get my humor, just ignore my post.

ricko

Dieclash... I think we are soul mates... or twins separated at birth ... Dip away.. get rid of that ugly tarnish... let the beauty shine through.... Three cheers for dipping... YEEAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY..... Cheers, RickO