So is a dirty coin is worth more than a clean coin?

[MNetrac]

So I have read a ton of threads about cleaning coins and they all seem to have a plethora of effective solutions for cleaning coins but they also caveat every method by saying not to clean valuable coins.

I am confused because some of the IH, wheats, 2cent, etc. coins are pretty dirty and take some really hard toothbrush and soap scrubbing to get not even close to "clean". I have considered some of the methods listed on this site but am really worried that I will destroy the value of the coins. Even if I am cleaning a common wheatie I still want to do it in a neumasitacally appropriate way, if for nothing more than practice for when I have a valuable coin. For the record, I am not talking about taking a wire brush to a silver coin, I am interested in more of the soaking of pennies in H202 or other similar methods (e.g., acetone) - these destroy the value of key date coins?

So what's the deal - just never clean a potentially valuable coin? I am not looking to sell my coins, but I would personally never buy one of these dirty coins but maybe coin collectors value the crud on dug coins?

Thanks.

 

[DirtyDeedsDugDirtDeep]

IMHO, cleaning beyond gentle removal of caked on surface dirt will most assuredly reduce potential value.
Ask a coin dealer.
They will also tell you any dug coins are inherently worth less than non-dug because of the corrosion.
The most obvious are the nickels,as they fare the worst out in nature.
And it is certainly true with copper alloy coins like 1 and 2 cent pieces.
Although the early, rarer date and Colonial coppers will bring $$ dug or not.
Just look at ebay... if anything's going to bring money it will be on there.
You have to keep one thing in mind: after the surface dirt is removed,the pretty green patina you see is the actual,original surface of that 1877 Indian head you just dug.
Removing that surface takes all the original detail with it.
Now,I don't know if acetone will react with oxidized metals,but I know Peroxide can ruin coins if you're not careful; and I speak from experience !
I've always soaked pennies and the like in olive oil ; sometimes for months.And I've even tried machine shop cutting oil.
But I stay away from any high powered cleaning agents,and anything that may be caustic or acidic in nature.
Whatever you do,it's gonna be a crap shoot . I don't think anything is a sure fire guaranteed method 100% of the time.

 

[Goes4ever]

No one wants to buy a dirty coin, I do not agree with the statement above concerning patina, I have put many green coppers in peroxide and it removes the green leaving a nice chocolate brown color that if you wanted to, you could sell. Normally all I do to clean is water and soap on coppers, and water only on silver.

I took my 1916d merc I dug this year to a coin shop and he wanted to buy it bad, but I told him it was not for sale, and he did not offer me a lower price because it was dug. PROPER cleaning will improve a coins value VS the dug condition value, but PROPER is the key word here.

 

[DirtyDeedsDugDirtDeep]

Goes,
I apologize.
I should have been more specific about dug coin values .
If cleaned PROPERLY,as you've stated,there's little difference between 'dug' and non 'dug' silver coins.
If you can treat your coppers in peroxide and they turn brown,with no loss of surface texture or detail then I congratulate you; and would like to know the specifics of your process.
I've never been successful at removing or altering the green patina on coppers and still have 100% of the original surface texture using peroxide or anything else for that matter.
I'm wondering if (copper) coins found in different parts of the country wouldn't react differently, simply because of the different soil environments. Dark mid-west soil would have different acidity levels than,say the soil in Georgia or S.New Jersey pine woods.So the corrosion could actually be different chemical compounds depending on the environment.
I'm no chemist,so that is purely conjecture on my part.

 

[DirtyDeedsDugDirtDeep]

Just to add an FYI :
There's actually a Yahoo discussion group concerned with cleaning coins .
Check out UNCLEANED ANCIENT COINS in the Yahoo groups.
I am not a member yet, so I couldn't access their message board.
It seems it may be more directed to ancient European coins,but hey, they need luvin' too.

 

[Goes4ever]

yes very true, I am in the midwest, Ohio to be exact, and the soil here is VERY kind to coppers. If I want to use peroxide on lets say an indian that has a blotchy patina then I will heat peroxide till boling then place indian in it for 1-2 minutes. I rinse, pat dry, then apply a layer of wax to restore luster. I only use peroxide on coppers if patina is messed up. Because I prefer a nice solid green indian anyday over brown!

 

[DirtyDeedsDugDirtDeep]

Hi,
Thanks for the tip.
I will try it on a non-essential coin and see how it works.
Never tried heating the stuff up before.

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

n/t

 

[1goldsniper]

I had a wheatie a year ago that looked like it could have been a 1914D but it had the lime scale covering it so it's ID ing could not be sure. I found an online directory of those in the area that were old coin appraisers and took it to them. He checked it out with a scope and said he was sure it wasn't a 1914D probably a 1917. Than he said unless it is clean enough to to determine the date it is as good as worthless