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Newbie
Rob85635
Posts: 1,230 ✭✭✭
Greetings nuimismatists. My name is Rob and I am new to serious collecting of coins. I have collected US coins on an off for years, but nothing serious until lately. Not sure why, just been facinated with coins and getting more so as I get older. Perhaps it was the state quarters that re-sparked my interest, my favorite is the connecticut. I will be shopping for a high grade proof of that one for my collection.
Anyway, I am posting here to say hello and also to ask a few questions. Actually I have many questions but I know most will be answered in time. I purchased the PCGS guide to coin grading and I have a few other books and magazines about collecting coins. I will dutifully read these publications to learn as much as I can.
Before my first question, please feel free to flame me if I am not supposed to post newbie type questions here and I will look elsewhere for a place to ask questions. I did go and look at all the PCGS forums and this one seemed like a logical place to post. I saw a forum for Q and A but it said Q&A to PCGS, I certainly dont want to ask questions to experts there. If my postings bother anyone or if you know of a more appropriate place to post, please feel free to let me know and I shall be on my way.
I have a couple questions. I recently took my coins out of storage and placed almost all of them (what a project) into 2x2s for protection / organization. Among the coins was a bag of war nickels. I would very much like to be able to better see them to see if maybe I got one of the 42P double eyes I read about. The problem is that they are very tarnished. In the state they are in it is sort of hard to inspect them closely as they are so dark. I do not want to clean them if I should not. My question is should they be cleaned at all or left alone? If cleanable what should I use?
This leads to question 2. What is the difference (if there is one) between tarnished coins and toned coins? I tend to believe that there is a difference as I often see coins with wonderful colors to them, my nickels are all simply dark gry/brown.
My final question for now concerns a coin I have I want to send in for grading. It is a 1884 GSA CC Morgan Dollar. I sent my other GSA coin (1883 cc) into PCGS some years ago, but the instructions told me to take the coin out of any holder and place it in a plastic holder, which I did. I recieved my coin back MS63. The 1884 is in much better shape, back when I submitted the 1883 I thought it would be worth more cause it was a year older, now I know its all about condition, condition, condition (and rarity, and age, hehe). I saw on Ebay that PCGS can differentiate between GSA and non GSA coins. This obviously means that you can somehow submit the coin in its container. What I want to know is how I do this. Also, should I do this? Is it better to have it certified GSA? I do not plan on selling it, but it would be nice to have it certified as best I can.
Thank you for your time and any input would be appreciated, and again, if I am in the wrong place let me know.
Rob
Anyway, I am posting here to say hello and also to ask a few questions. Actually I have many questions but I know most will be answered in time. I purchased the PCGS guide to coin grading and I have a few other books and magazines about collecting coins. I will dutifully read these publications to learn as much as I can.
Before my first question, please feel free to flame me if I am not supposed to post newbie type questions here and I will look elsewhere for a place to ask questions. I did go and look at all the PCGS forums and this one seemed like a logical place to post. I saw a forum for Q and A but it said Q&A to PCGS, I certainly dont want to ask questions to experts there. If my postings bother anyone or if you know of a more appropriate place to post, please feel free to let me know and I shall be on my way.
I have a couple questions. I recently took my coins out of storage and placed almost all of them (what a project) into 2x2s for protection / organization. Among the coins was a bag of war nickels. I would very much like to be able to better see them to see if maybe I got one of the 42P double eyes I read about. The problem is that they are very tarnished. In the state they are in it is sort of hard to inspect them closely as they are so dark. I do not want to clean them if I should not. My question is should they be cleaned at all or left alone? If cleanable what should I use?
This leads to question 2. What is the difference (if there is one) between tarnished coins and toned coins? I tend to believe that there is a difference as I often see coins with wonderful colors to them, my nickels are all simply dark gry/brown.
My final question for now concerns a coin I have I want to send in for grading. It is a 1884 GSA CC Morgan Dollar. I sent my other GSA coin (1883 cc) into PCGS some years ago, but the instructions told me to take the coin out of any holder and place it in a plastic holder, which I did. I recieved my coin back MS63
. The 1884 is in much better shape, back when I submitted the 1883 I thought it would be worth more cause it was a year older, now I know its all about condition, condition, condition (and rarity, and age, hehe). I saw on Ebay that PCGS can differentiate between GSA and non GSA coins. This obviously means that you can somehow submit the coin in its container. What I want to know is how I do this. Also, should I do this? Is it better to have it certified GSA? I do not plan on selling it, but it would be nice to have it certified as best I can.Thank you for your time and any input would be appreciated, and again, if I am in the wrong place let me know.
Rob
Rob the Newbie
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The only stupid questions around here are the ones that people are afraid to ask, so ask away!!!
On the war nickles - think you can dip them in acetone to clean some of the tarnish off, but DO NOT rub them. You don't even need to rinse the acetone off because it will evaporate and leave no residue on the coin.
The difference between toning and tarnish is the chemicals involved and the colors that they create - tarnish is a tone, it's just not considered as attractive as some other forms of toning.
For the GSA coins - I would submit them to NGC. NGC will certify them in the GSA holder (w/o breaking them out of the holder). I would think that they will hold more value that way than by breaking them out and simply putting GSA on the slab.
Total Copper Nutcase - African, British Ships, Channel Islands!!!
'Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup'
In regards to dipping the coins as your recommend, will that detract from their desirability? How long do you dip them in acetone? I saw some silver cleaner in a plastic container at the jewelry counter of a department store. Is that more desirable to dip coins in?
Thanks
Rob
I am one who believes coins should not be cleaned by novices. Too many coins are ruined by dipping or whatever. If a coin is really bad, maybe it could be sent to NCS. They make a determination before proceeding, so if there is a chance the coin won't conserve, they leave it alone.
If you do decide to try dipping on your own, get a common roll of unc dimes, and experiment on those. Whatever you do, don't start trying to conserve without getting some experience. Again, all too many coins are ruined by people with good intensions.
Tony
President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay
I have dipped a Proof Eisenhower $1 in a solution of 50% Jewel Luster and 50% distilled water. Held the coin in the mixter for about 10 seconds then rinsed it in pure distilled water. I patted it dry in a clean cotton towel and it appeared to have done the trick.
I have dipped a silver coin, to experiment, in acetone and that also worked but not as well as the previously described method. I have done this only to experment in both procedures.
I collect colonials, so I don't do much dipping at all!
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"No Good Deed Goes Unpunished!"
"If it don't make $"
"It don't make cents""
Wow! Just think, there are 85,634 other Robs on the CU message boards. Amazing!
You have come to the right place to ask questions.
Each individual collector draws his own line between toning and tarnish. Generally
if he finds it attractive then it's toning. If it's borderline then it's heavy toning, and
if it's unattractive it's tarnish. If it actually pits the coin or is very ugly then it's cor-
rosion.
Very small corrosion on copper is often called spotting or carbon spots.
In checking for varieties (especially new ones), it's often helpful to lay out like coins
on their obverse on a flat surface. As you look from coin to coin the differences will
stand out better. Be sure to look at them with and without magnification.
Some, maybe alot of, collectors like the look of an " origanal " toned coin because of the aestetic appeal and the untampered element of an " original " toned coin. " Original " meaning never been cleaned or dipped. It`s not always easy to determine an " original " from one that isn`t and is a cause of debate when it isn`t clear cut. Here`s an example of one I consider to be an attractive " original " coin.
<< <i> Here`s an example of one I consider to be an attractive " original " coin. >>
I like that coin and wouldn't touch that toning either. Especially on circulated coins, you can end up with an unnatural looking coin - and enhance every ding, scratch or other distraction - by dipping it.
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Toning is pretty tarnish
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since 8/1/6
What did you use to get that terrific picture ccr?
I have a bunch of these war nickels, perhaps 50 or so, all in varying conditions and varying amounts of tarnish. The one pictured represents an average coin, some are darker, some lighter. Looking at the picture what do you think? leave them all alone? I am beginning to think so.
Rob
in circulation and are almost always dark by the time they wear to low grade XF.
Most collectors prefer these in original condition even when they are dark.
Glenn
I hope you enjoy yourself here.
Coinlearner, Ahrensdad, Nolawyer, RG, coinlieutenant, Yorkshireman, lordmarcovan, Soldi, masscrew, JimTyler, Relaxn, jclovescoins, justindan, doubleeagle07
Now listen boy, I'm tryin' to teach you sumthin' . . . . that ain't no optical illusion, it only looks like an optical illusion.
My mind reader refuses to charge me. . . . . . .
<< <i>What did you use to get that terrific picture ccr? >>
A Hewlett-Packard scanner. I don`t have a digital camera but, digital cameras do take better pictures and pick-up details that a scanner can`t.