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What do I do now?
MurrayM
Posts: 6
Well, you all were right. You told me not to clean my coins. I have a 1921D Morgan that I "thought" wasn't an important coin . . . but then I started a Mint Mark type set. Sheesh. And--you guessed it--I had cleaned the coin.
Lady Liberty had a big black mark on her cheek; most unsightly. So, after trying a little soap and water, then a soak in vinegar, I dipped a Q-tip in some Tarn-X and gently removed the mark. She looked much better. However, in the sunlight I can tell that the rest of the coin has a faint tinge of gold toning--except for the brilliant white of the place I cleaned.
So what do I do now? I'd like to have the coin graded, but have no idea if PCGS would do it or just bodybag it. I'll appreciate any advice y'all can give me. Thanks!
Murray
Lady Liberty had a big black mark on her cheek; most unsightly. So, after trying a little soap and water, then a soak in vinegar, I dipped a Q-tip in some Tarn-X and gently removed the mark. She looked much better. However, in the sunlight I can tell that the rest of the coin has a faint tinge of gold toning--except for the brilliant white of the place I cleaned.
So what do I do now? I'd like to have the coin graded, but have no idea if PCGS would do it or just bodybag it. I'll appreciate any advice y'all can give me. Thanks!
Murray
Murray in SC
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And of course we were right about not cleaning your coins...
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Murray
<< <i>You know what I'm tempted to do? Get another one and then clean this one completely--just for fun. I inherited it from my grandmother, so it has sentimental value even if it won't grade.
Murray >>
Actually not a bad idea. It will certainly teach you what a cleaned coin looks like. Something you need to avoid in the future.
I'd recommend investing in some E-Z-Est from your local or not-so-local coin dealer. You may be able to save your Morgan by dipping the entire coin and then rinsing thoroughly with water followed by an 91% Isopropyl alcohol bath with either a gentle cotton cloth pat-dry or an air dry.
For "dipping" coins vs selectively "using a Q-tip", one must understand that the cleaning agent will not only affect a spot but the entire area around the spot. In some cases, this can be disastrous which is where experience comes in to play. I suppose you could use a microscope and a toothpick but then you'd simply change the spot from a "dark" spot to a "white" spot which would be immediately recognizeable. Again, experience is the key and the only way to gain experience is through screwing up a couple of common coins. It happens.
I only say this because it appears as if you are going to do this anyway so you might as well know "what" to do!
The name is LEE!
<< <i>Well, you all were right. You told me not to clean my coins. I have a 1921D Morgan that I "thought" wasn't an important coin . . . but then I started a Mint Mark type set. Sheesh. And--you guessed it--I had cleaned the coin.
Lady Liberty had a big black mark on her cheek; most unsightly. So, after trying a little soap and water, then a soak in vinegar, I dipped a Q-tip in some Tarn-X and gently removed the mark. She looked much better. However, in the sunlight I can tell that the rest of the coin has a faint tinge of gold toning--except for the brilliant white of the place I cleaned.
So what do I do now? I'd like to have the coin graded, but have no idea if PCGS would do it or just bodybag it. I'll appreciate any advice y'all can give me. Thanks!
Murray >>
just make sure you don't view it in sunlight
Thanks, Lee! I really appreciate knowing what product to use. (I'll put the SOS pads back under the sink
I will probably give it a try, since I've heard lots of discussion of "dipping" and had no idea what it would do to a coin. Since this one is fairly common, and already a bit screwed up, it seems perfect for experimenting.
Murray
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
<< <i>I'd give that 1921D silver dollar a dip, rinse it thoroughly, and wrap it in a Taco Bell napkin or similar to retone it. >>
Funny you should mention Taco Bell, Perry. I was pondering putting the coin in an envelope, or on the unfinished wooden bottom of a drawer, just to see what would happen. How long does it generally take for toning to develop in the napkin?
Murray
<< <i>
<< <i>I'd give that 1921D silver dollar a dip, rinse it thoroughly, and wrap it in a Taco Bell napkin or similar to retone it. >>
Funny you should mention Taco Bell, Perry. I was pondering putting the coin in an envelope, or on the unfinished wooden bottom of a drawer, just to see what would happen. How long does it generally take for toning to develop in the napkin?
Murray >>
Never tried it myself but several forum members have tried it with good results. This has been mentioned in several threads in the past including before and after pics. Any paper with a high sulfer content would probably result in similar results.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire