Your Gut-wrenching Tales of Ruining a Coin

ChuckC · November 3, 2004 5:59AM

I can't say that I've ever damaged, scratched, dropped, or ruined a coin (yet), but I've heard a couple stories about how a wife cleaned all her hubands coins or how a $3,000 mint state coin was sctrached by the staple when removing it from its flip. How about your stories?

Weiss · November 3, 2004 6:06AM

When I was in 7th or 8th grade, already a collector for 5 years or more, I took a VF or so 3-cent nickel in a 2x2 to school to show to some kids who didn't believe there was such thing.

One kid, a bully, came up and flipped the coin out of my hand. Once it landed, he stepped on it and dragged it under his shoe towards him so he could pick it up. It wasn't as if it was a particularly valuable coin, and I don't think he thought he was going to keep it. He just didn't realize what dragging the 2x2 on the ground would do to the coin.

Sure 'nuff, pretty deep scratches all the way across the obverse. It's not like I beat the living s#!t out of him, but to say nobody thought of him as a bully anymore would be an understatement.

guysmy · November 3, 2004 7:51AM

I took a brillo pad to a few of my coins as a child. I scrubbed one (worthless junk anyway) medal so much the cheesy fake gold plating started wearing off.

relayer · November 3, 2004 7:55AM

I scratched a $300 raw coin on a grain of sand on my copystand while taking a picture of it.

I took the picture of the obverse, then flipped it over and scooted it over to be in frame.

When I looked at the obverse there was a scratch. When I looked at the picture, it wasn't there

CaptainRon · November 3, 2004 8:07AM

I wish I could say that I was young when I did this however...... I trashed about a half dozen or so nice original UNC and or AU IHC's by dipping them to make them a nice pretty red. After I did the first few they looked awsome. Unforetunely that just encouraged me to do more. Which also looked awsome (Actually they didn't, but hay I was ignorant, and believed that they did). Well a couple months later after recieving a few more nice RB's, I got ready to destroy them as well., however first I decided to admire my past work, and lo and behold I nearly cried. It's amazing how shi77y copper looks a few months after being dipped. One of these days I'll post the before, after and much after pics. Needless to say, I started talking to a few people who in turn got me headed in the right direction. I even remember an embarrising argument I got in with Russ about it. I don't ever think I told hem I was wrong....

Numismanic · November 3, 2004 8:22AM

I was showing my friend a nice 57 Jefferson nickel with nice steps that I had cherrypicked, but when I returned home I couldn't find it. I figured it would show up eventually. One day while I was finishing my laundry I found a soggy 2x2 in one of my shirt pockets but no coin!

When I finally removed all of my clothes there was the errant nickel. Amazingly there was no scratches or nicks, but it has a nice prooflike look to it now.

ChuckC · November 3, 2004 11:53AM

to all of you I say D'OH!

Flipman · November 3, 2004 12:04PM

How does one post a image on this forum?

I have a great picture of a nasty flip that ruined a coin. It was free (found in the garbage of a local coin show). I shouldn;t have used it but free is free right? You get what you pay for. Anyways, back to the story I threw in the flip this great DCAM 1996 Lincoln cent. Man it was beautiful. At least a PR-64DCAM! I think it was a pop top or whatever you call it. I threw it in a shoebox under my bed. I went to look for it a few months back and thought it was stolen. I found out my dad took the coins from me since I had borrowed some staples from his work. Who would have thunk the FBI has cameras?

Back to what I was getting at...... The coin has a nasty spot on it. The flip had a piece of lays chips from some dealer in it that I failed to see. I should check each flip with a 50x microscope and I suggest you do the same if you get free flips. Smoeone might be trying to ruin your coins since you are asking for free things. I sure learned a lesson!

pharmer · November 3, 2004 12:16PM

GTG, is that you?

poorguy · November 3, 2004 12:30PM

When I finally removed all of my clothes there was the errant nickel. Amazingly there was no scratches or nicks, but it has a nice prooflike look to it now.

Don't give the coin doctors any ideas now.

Flipman · November 3, 2004 12:40PM

Who is GTG? This is flipman the KING of flips! I haven't paid for one in my life and wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing I bought flips which I could have gotten for free.

pharmer · November 3, 2004 12:55PM

GTG, it is you! We been wonderin where you been

Flipman · November 3, 2004 12:56PM

I have been busy flipping up coins all day. My last show cleaned me out. I don't know who GTG is but I know everyone here s very nice and has taught me a lot over the last 2 days.

dthigpen · November 3, 2004 1:07PM

Flipman == Cameron, I'm guessing...

Flipman · November 3, 2004 1:16PM

Who is Cameron? Is that the guy in the open forum who is always asking for blonde pictures?

earlwbollinger · November 3, 2004 1:22PM

I have a SAE $1 coin that had a small black piece of crud right smack in the center of the obverse.
So I took some acetone and sure enough the black crud came off all nice and neat.
But then a small milk spot appeared on the smooth part of the obverse. Every time I tried to remove the milk spot with acetone it would move to
a different place on the coin. I eventually gave up, and left it as is.

Shamika · November 3, 2004 11:52PM

<< <i>I found out my dad took the coins from me since I had borrowed some staples from his work. >>

Wait a minute. Your dad took your coins because you "borrowed" some staples?

Shamika · November 3, 2004 11:52PM

GTG = Greag The Great

Your Gut-wrenching Tales of Ruining a Coin

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