cleaned coins

Whitby · March 26, 2007 11:06AM

OK, here we go.

WHY is it such a huge deal if a coin has been cleaned or not?

Sure, if you do so to try to and get higher grade or hey, why not destroy the original look fine...otherwise, what am I missing.

It is not too uncommon to clean scrip when buying in sets, but I am certain, there are some other things at work in scrip than in the world of fine coins....?

pb2y · March 26, 2007 12:53PM

Those who scream mightily about cleaned coins are themselves so very guilty.
Dealers stand as the most corrupt. It leaves them "pure and clean

Swampboy · March 26, 2007 12:58PM

<< WHY is it such a huge deal if a coin has been cleaned or not? >>

Simple.
If it's cleaned it's not an original surface and that's what counts for U.S. coins.

pb2y · March 26, 2007 1:00PM

Are yor SURE of that?????????

arthurlegand · March 26, 2007 1:21PM

i rather have a ugly origional coin then a nice looking cleaned one cleaning does alter the survieces and alters the coins out look in my opion cleaned coins are a no go

cladking · March 26, 2007 1:45PM

Cleaned coins are damaged. While a few coins get this sort of treatment
in normal circulation it is really quite few. So as a rule of thumb, when a coin
appears to be cleaned it was damaged by a collector.

Other collectors tend to have a somewhat emotional response to this and dis-
count the coin in excess of the actual damage.

Scrip and most tokens are a different animal. Few of them circulated in the way
coins do and many of them will appear to be cleaned naturally. More importantly
token collectors tend to be far less concerned with condition. Indeed, some purist
scrip collectors actually prefer well used specimens if they have no damage and
no important information or design is lost.

I personally would avoid cleaning any coin, medal, or token unless experience
tells me it will look better afterward. Mostly this means just removing unsightly
contaminants or oils that might cause spotting later.

Dave99B · March 26, 2007 2:11PM

Bill Gates offers to give you a classic car.

Car A: 1956 Chevy Bel Air, mint condition; 3,000 original miles; Original pristine paint.

Car B: 1956 Chevy Bel Air, mint condition; 2,500 original miles; Entire body brushed up nice and shiny with a new brillo pad.

Which do you choose?

You choose "A", right? Why, what's the big deal?

Dave

notwilight · March 26, 2007 2:22PM

I'll come right out and use the S word...there's a bit of snobbery here. Elsewhere it's not such a big deal--not that it's unimportant but it doesn't give the coin "cooties". --Jerry

pb2y · March 26, 2007 2:25PM

Many great coins have been restored "cleaned" for the sake of posterity.
Dump this crap on future collectors and it will fail.

droopyd · March 26, 2007 3:14PM

<< Bill Gates offers to give you a classic car.

Car A: 1956 Chevy Bel Air, mint condition; 3,000 original miles; Original pristine paint.

Car B: 1956 Chevy Bel Air, mint condition; 2,500 original miles; Entire body brushed up nice and shiny with a new brillo pad.

Which do you choose?

You choose "A", right? Why, what's the big deal?

Dave >>

Since Bill Gates didn't get rich buying cars for total strangers, if I'm paying I choose "B" if it's a tenth the price of "A" and I can't afford "A."

At least you can drive the car, brillo-pad finish or no.

SpaceMonkey · March 26, 2007 3:15PM

<< 

<< Bill Gates offers to give you a classic car.

Car A: 1956 Chevy Bel Air, mint condition; 3,000 original miles; Original pristine paint.

Car B: 1956 Chevy Bel Air, mint condition; 2,500 original miles; Entire body brushed up nice and shiny with a new brillo pad.

Which do you choose?

You choose "A", right? Why, what's the big deal?

Dave >>

Since Bill Gates didn't get rich buying cars for total strangers, if I'm paying I choose "B" if it's a tenth the price of "A" and I can't afford "A."

At least you can drive the car, brillo-pad finish or no. >>

YES.... but could you SELL it?

Type2 · March 26, 2007 3:22PM

So if a coin has some PVC you should just let it eat away at the coin or stop it.

PerryHall · March 26, 2007 4:49PM

<< Bill Gates offers to give you a classic car.

Car A: 1956 Chevy Bel Air, mint condition; 3,000 original miles; Original pristine paint.

Car B: 1956 Chevy Bel Air, mint condition; 2,500 original miles; Entire body brushed up nice and shiny with a new brillo pad.

Which do you choose?

You choose "A", right? Why, what's the big deal?

Dave >>

Poor analogy. This is a better analogy. Car A is totally original and has never been cleaned. It has that nice crusty look that some coin collectors like including road tar, mud, bird chit, etc. Car B has been cleaned---gently washed and waxed.

Whitby · March 26, 2007 11:18PM

I am in the same boat as far as scrip collecting. If I know it was used, it has value. Pristine opieces that were kept in a slot or sleeve have no value to me at all.

As to coins, I understand the arguments about a cleaned coin not being as valuable. Look at furniture especially colonials and you always get the person who cleans the 18th century table and if uncleaned he would have had 100 grand more. Oh well.

The cleaned coin argument though does have a point if a cleaned coin is used to deceive and promote a higher condition and hence value. However, the "snobbery", you know what, go nuts, a coin is a coin as long as the thing is real and I enjoy the hobby, time will go on....

ricko · March 26, 2007 11:34PM

Most purists seek 'original' condition coins... that being said, if a coin is circulated (i.e. not proof or mint state - maintained 'as issued') then it no longer is in 'original' condition. It may be said, rightfully so, that cleaning - to various degrees - removes surface luster or 'skin'. So does circulation... and circulation adds dings and scratches. Intentional cleaning usually adds hairline scratches that allow it to be identified as cleaned. Also, color frequently can give it away. For a collector to seek circulated coins and decry a cleaned one is fairly hypocritical since handling and usage will continuously 'clean' the coin anyway. Many anomalies such as cleaning and toning are either demonized or praised due to influence of opinionated collectors on impressionable new collectors. Certain things become 'bible'... and are loudly sermonized as if passed down from some coin diety. Mostly, these are opinions, and yes, they do affect market value (i.e. stupid moon money for toning)... and speculators, flippers and dealers will reap profits due to these affectations. Basically, it comes to this, are you collecting to make money? Or are you collecting as a hobby? Do you want a coin for your collection and personal satisfaction? Well then, condition of the coin is relevant only to you and your wallet. If you want the prestige of a Registry Set.. well then, that is another venue. Your personal choice, always. Cheers, RickO

partagas · March 26, 2007 11:48PM

Many cleaned coins are 3rd party graded. It just depends on the severity of the cleaning. Lightly cleaned coins can be market acceptable. Especially if they are rare. Here is an example, this coin is PCGS XF45, but has traces of light cleaning in the right obverse field. If it didn't have the cleaning then this would be a solid AU coin. With this coin you get AU looks for xf money. For you non Seated Half experts, this coin is very pricey and rare in xf and above.

Whitby · March 26, 2007 11:53PM

Well said.

I collect out of the fun and joy of it.

Its cool to know I have scrip from my Moms hometown and knowing half of the people who may have at one point spent the thing to buy milk or bread for their kids.

As for coins. I collect from the histpry and really fun of it. It was fun to find an off center strike in circulation. It was fun to find a blank planchet for a cent in circulation.

My first CC dollar was fun to get because, its the history and culture behind the coin.

If you collect for value or money, thats great too. However, on both sides of this spectrum, the fun of collecting can get spoiled and thats not what anybody wants.

cleaned coins

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