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How do you tell if a coin has been cleaned/polished?
StarSpangledBanner
Posts: 45
Hello,
I am fairly new to collecting coins and one thing that I have found difficult is distinguishing if a coin has been cleaned or polished.
I was wondering if some of the experts out there had any advice on how to determine if a coin has been cleaned?
I have a hard time telling the difference between alteration in color due to environmental factors or age and slightly cleaned.
Thanks a lot,
have a great night.
I am fairly new to collecting coins and one thing that I have found difficult is distinguishing if a coin has been cleaned or polished.
I was wondering if some of the experts out there had any advice on how to determine if a coin has been cleaned?
I have a hard time telling the difference between alteration in color due to environmental factors or age and slightly cleaned.
Thanks a lot,
have a great night.
0
Comments
But first look at one that is known to not be cleaned or polished one in our hosts holder would work.
Then take a bit of soap on a scrubber to an old dime, nickel and penny and gently scrub them.
Take your loupe and view the coins. This ought to give you a good idea of what cleaning can
do to a coin. You should be able to see super small parallel scratches on the surface of the
coiins....this is a direct result of cleaning. Anytime you see parallel scratches you are looking
at a cleaned coin.
Dipping destroys the luster or shine on a coin. A coin that should not look dull but is, is probably
dipped far too long.
You should always examine your pocket change under glass (your handheld loupe). You will quickly
see how circulation differs from cleaning. Coins that circulate do not get lots of parallel scratches or
buffing marks or scrubbing areas.
Good luck,
bob
pull out some pocket change and clean and polish them in different fashions
then examine them in hand
grab a cookie there au n ag...
<< <i>Under high mag it is impossible not to detect a cleaning. >>
The question was asked by a new collector and he may not know what to look for on a cleaned coin even under high magnification.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
there is polishing(rubbing with abrasive)
there is cleaning ( could mean dipping or polishing/rubbing)
a little dipping seems to be tolerated with uncirculated coins only
no polishing/rubbing allowed
<< <i>a little dipping seems to be tolerated with uncirculated coins only
no polishing/rubbing allowed >>
Agree---a circulated silver coin that's been dipped looks unnatural. A coin can be overdipped to the point that the luster becomes dull and lifeless and will not get graded by the major grading services.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Once you have such a coin swirl it under a lamp and see how the surfaces play with the light. Once you are able to see it on your silver dollar, look for it on other coins. The effect might not be as dramatic, but on nearly all Mint State coins, it will be there, even on copper, gold and copper-nickel (nickels) coins.
Once you have to skill to spot mint luster, you will be able to see that it is lacking on coins that have been cleaned or polished. Nothing can restore mint luster once it has been destroyed. This is one of the basic skills that will help avoid unwise purchases has you advance in the hobby. This skill will also help you recognize Almost Uncirculated (AU) coins from full Mint State pieces. On AU coins, the cartwheel luster will be broken at some point.
What causes mint luster? Coins are struck under great pressure, and that pressure causes the metal to flow which creates surfaces that reflect light in the way that I have covered here.
It is hard to show mint luster with still photographs, but I’ll give it a shot here. The brighter areas on this 1878-CC Morgan dollar will continue to flow around the coin as you swirl it in the light.
You will see the same thing on this Trade Dollar.
This 1853 With Arrows quarter was dipped at one point to remove tarnish, but the mint luster remains.
And here is a 1913 $10 gold piece with its mint luster showing.
Finally here is a 1932-D quarter than has been whizzed to make it look like a Mint State coin. The coin has a white color, but the surfaces are dull. A collector bought this coin as an Unciruclated piece, and was probably cheated out of a few hundred dollars as a result.
Jacob
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
<< <i>The really simple answer is to look at it.
But first look at one that is known to not be cleaned or polished one in our hosts holder would work.
What if he is looking to learn about orig skin and for post-dip appearance?
Eric
<< <i>Thanks for all of your help; this thread has been very helpful. >>
...had this saved
The simplest way (though not always foolproof) is to see if the hairlines cross devices. If they do, that's cleaning. Polishing a die does not leave lines on devices like portraits and lettering because they are recessed.
Lance.
<< <i>What if he is looking to learn about orig skin and for post-dip appearance? >>
That is MUCH harder to show, and even the experts cannot tell in all cases if a coin has been dipped.
Sometimes it is due to experience. If you are looking at a silver coin that was minted, say before 1915, which is NOT a Morgan dollar, that has bright white surfaces, chances are it has been dipped.
<< <i>Excellent tutorial BillJones... another of your very informative responses. Thank you, Cheers, RickO >>
<< <i>
<< <i>What if he is looking to learn about orig skin and for post-dip appearance? >>
That is MUCH harder to show, and even the experts cannot tell in all cases if a coin has been dipped.
Sometimes it is due to experience. If you are looking at a silver coin that was minted, say before 1915, which is NOT a Morgan dollar, that has bright white surfaces, chances are it has been dipped. >>
Hi Bill,
I know!
Eric
You send it in to PCGS for grading and if it comes back "Genuine" (92) it's been cleaned.
Seriously,if you are just starting to collect coins,you should be very cautious with "raw" coins. Try to develop a relationship with a dealer,or long time collector,that you trust
and have that individual screen your purchases(especially the expensive ones) until you get "on your feet".
Everybody's got plans--until they get hit
--Mike Tyson
When you say dipped, what kind of substances do you refer to? I ask because sometimes I hear the term dip being used for Acetone, which seems to be accepted and sometimes I hear the term used for other solutions that seem not to be as well accepted. Sorry to ask the question here but not everyday I see an educational post like this one. Just trying to learn. Thank you!
Dipping is controversial. There those who insist that it should never be done, and coins that have been dipped are undesirable and should be avoided. I’ll freely admit that too many coins have been dipped and some pieces have been dipped too many times. Still there are instances where the chemical reactions that are occurring on a piece are doing long to term damage to the coin and should be arrested. There are other instances where the toning is ugly and removable. In those cases the marketability and therefore the value of coin can be enhanced by dipping.
One prime example of coins that should be dipped is the silver Proof coins from the 1936 to 1942 era. Many of these pieces have developed a cloudy haze that impairs the eye appeal of the coins. A quick dip can make them more attractive and pleasing to most collectors.
Best wishes,
Eric