Coin cleaning
oldgoldlover
Posts: 429 ✭✭✭
I am aware of the conservation services that remove post strike grime, etc. from a coin to improve eye appeal. If so would you recommend sending in a nice old gold coin for a bath? I am particularity interested in a process that takes none of the skin off the coin or discolors it.
If you answer is yes please post the entity that provided the service to you and how the coin gets back into a slab with the grade sense the TPG company has to regrade the coin.
0
Comments
Need to see a pic of it first. If it's crusty gold that can be a good thing. There is a good market for them.
Gold does not tarnish, and crusty gold is sought after by many (dirt and grime from normal daily use). I'd leave it as is most likely. If you are not happy with it why not sell and buy what pleases you.
bob
Crusty gold has a wide appeal among gold lovers... there have been many threads devoted to that on this forum. If you do not like that type of gold, why not just try an acetone bath... that will remove all the organics - though it might take several immersions of several hours. Cheers, RickO
Thanks for the rapid response. The coin has vault grime on it but it is not to the point it detracts from my eye. The only reason I would consider it is the coin has a proof like surface that can be seen when rotating it in the light and has very unabated surfaces. It also has an orange hue on the reverse as these coins seem to tone in this fashion. For now I have decided to I have it alone as it can always be void of organics but never returned to what is now one of a very few I have seen that has not been dipped or cleaned by other methods. Frankly PCGS seems to like this sort of coin from a grading standpoint as I have all my coins in their holders. The coin in question is a DE 1858 O and very few of the AU DEs of that era have not been bathed. Fewer have nice surfaces and remain in their original skin.
When I get my wife's camera and her help I will post pictures of a couple of my favorite $20 DEs and f early dollars I picked up.
Thanks again Rick
Acetone won't affect a coin unless it has grease covering a problem. Also this is pretty mild, saw it on Greysheet ad: http://www.conservcoins.com/
@logger7 ....Interesting.... cheaper on their site than on Amazon... I did read the MSDS sheet... I advise anyone who procures this to also read it.... Cheers, RickO
logger7 Thanks. I might try this but it will be on a coin I could stand to foul up.
A dealer I know used ms70 on an 1903-s Morgan he picked up at an auction last night, said it now has that ms70 look, needs some time on the sunny windowsill, I thought that only worked with gold. I heard the old ms70 was ok. I have never had a problem with "Conserv", only if the coin has environmental issues where it couldn't be helped.
Resist the urge to clean your coins. If you simply MUST then be careful with ginger or baking soda. Never use Clorox bleach as the coins turn out slippery and don't use WD40 other than sparingly.
I know that some top dealers have worked on gold.
They put it in boiling water.
It may remove the dirt without harming the coin.
I would think that Morgan had a problem before the MS70 treatment and it just uncovered it. I've haven't had a problem using it on uncirculated silver coins even at full strength. If I suspect there is a haze impairing the luster of an uncirculated silver coin I'll give it the MS70 bath. Most times my suspicion if right and the q-tip that was rolled around on the coin picks up the grime and leaves more lustrous clear surfaces.
Collector, occasional seller
I heard the old ms70 was a lot better. The "conserv" chemists put out "bu plus" which they claim is like the old ms70.
Can the gunk ever be fully removed between the denticles without damage
No and don't try.
bob
Absolutely, I have done it numerous times. All you need is time, chemicals, wooden tools (LOL - that's a fancy way to describe a sharpened toothpick) and a microscope.
PS It's called coin conservation and AFAIK none of the TPGS are going to take this much time on your coin except for one. PM me if you are interested in which one.
@AUandAG said:
I changed the "disagree" I gave you to a LOL. I don't want you to get anywhere near the record I have.
LOL, this is my take. If you have to ask the question then you have no experience in doing such a thing as cleaning/removing the grit from the crevices. Therefore, just do not attempt to do so. The odds of a botched job are much greater than a resounding success.
It's obvious that this coin is not a cheap puppy or such effort would not even be considered. Therefore just don't do it.
Spend a few years testing on cheap coins and then you don't have to ask the question.
bob:)
I have not cleaned a coin and do think CAC and PCGS look down on any cleaning no matter how good it was. They seem to like origional coins in every respect. NGC will grade a gold coin as a 53 even if it has a somewhat washed out look and no old AU coin is going to be void of some vault grim and what was picked up during circulation. I no longer have a NGC coin as I want my collection consistent as possible and liquidity is a factor as well. Still wont have anything to do with set registry as both TPGs have slabbed nice coins that should be shown.