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Dippity-Do
Onastone
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Lots of threads mention coins that have been dipped. What are they being dipped in? Doesn't that clean them to an unnatural white look? How can you tell if a coin has been dipped?? Is there a surefire way to tell? Doesn't that change the status of a coin from Original or Uncirculated? I for one would prefer a coin that hasn't been altered. Are coin dips an old practice from way back when??? These questions sponsored by Dippity-Do.....now who remembers this one? 
https://youtu.be/qtKzTv9Opzo
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Not all dips are bad.... acetone does not affect metal, it only removes organic residues. Those that affect metal and remove tarnish are frowned upon... though some mild one's have been tolerated when carefully used. Severe dips can reduce or even remove luster. Often one can tell a dipped coin by residues, loss of luster, a 'flat' look.... and a coin that should not be 'mint state clean' when 100+ years old, is rightfully questioned - but not always dipped. Cheers, RickO
There are literally millions of 100 plus year old Morgan dollars that are original "blast white" out there simply because of the way they were stored by the Treasury Department for so many years. 100 plus year old "blast white" coins of other series, not so many. Most coins of that age should have some sort of patina on there surface.
it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide
Thanks RickO!! Acetone? Like nail polish remover?
Always use pure acetone. Many nail polish removers contain a conditioner that may not be good for the coins in the long run.
My rule for cleaning is if the contaminant on the coin is worse for it than the cleaning then dip away!
A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.
A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
Acetone is harmless to metal and a good resource for removing organic material (paint, grime, glue, etc.). It will also remove whatever oils and pollutants coins acquired over time. This can change their look somewhat.
We usually refer to the use of acetone as a "bath". A "dip" is commonly thought of as using an acid base solution. The most common in numismatics is eZest (once called Jeweluster).
eZest will remove toning from a coin, along with most anything else sitting on its surface. Many conservation services use it (including PCGS's and NGC's). It can be a miracle worker or a coin destroyer depending on the coin, the conserver, and the acid's application (strength, dip duration).
Lance.
OMG, It's DIP !!!