There is dipping and there is lightening....

relicsncoins · April 19, 2011 5:37PM

I would venture that the majority of the hobby doesn't consider dipping a form of doctoring or at the very least an un-acceptable form of doctoring. Sure there is a percentage of the hobby that considers dipping no better than artificial toning. What about lightening a coin's toning, which can be done in certain cases for an overall improvement to the coin's appearance. Do you consider it doctoring or basically the same as dipping or maybe you consider them both doctoring?

melvin289 · April 19, 2011 5:45PM

Personally I have always considered dipping to be doctoring of a sort at least. It might be justified in some cases but one of those things that should be listed in a coins description.

Ron

DoubleEagle59 · April 19, 2011 10:54PM

ALL 'improvements' to a coin should be considered doctoring.

However, dipping is totally market acceptable. If it wasn't then 80% of the blast white coins on the market and in TPG slabs would be worth a great deal less than they are now.

I would assume the case for 'lightening' is similar.

llafoe · April 19, 2011 10:55PM

My cats are afraid of both!

As a sidenote... you may not want to let your children do a search for "dripping wet cat"!

llafoe · April 19, 2011 10:56PM

<< <i>If it wasn't then 80% of the blast white coins on the market and in TPG slabs would be worth a great deal less than they are now. >>

If it wasn't, they wouldn't have been slabbed; or would be slabbed Genuine.

partagas · April 19, 2011 11:06PM

I have done that to 2 coins, both were way too dark and near impossible to see the coin details with the naked eye. Both were XF common date seated quarters.

One turned out pretty nice, and the other a little better but still too dark.

PerryHall · April 19, 2011 11:12PM

Usually lightening a heavily toned coin results in uneven/splotchy surfaces that are unsatisfactory. Sometimes you are better off leaving the coin alone and, if you don't like it, just sell it to someone will like it as it is.

JRocco · April 19, 2011 11:40PM

I think we have to look at the coin in question also. If it is a coin in the TDN collecting range it should be left alone and only looked at from behind a glass partition, but a nice VF or even XF coin can be improved if done properly.
Kind of like when people say to be careful when touching a VF Barber quarter because you are going to leave a fingerprint???? Do people realize how many fingers have touched that Barber quarter in the last 100 years?
Dipping a coin is called for at times.

TheBigB · April 20, 2011 12:01AM

I have seen many coins improved by dipping and later PCGS approved.

I agree that heavy toning can be risky as the underlying surfaces are unknown.

There is dipping and there is lightening....

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