Does cleaning my Old Coins with terry cloth devalued them
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Here's a link to how to post a topic with images in our community https://coinauctionshelp.com/welcome-to ... community/
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
You also agree to follow these guidelines. You must agree to these rules to be a member of this forum. NO SPAM! Spam is deleted within minutes, no spam will ever be left in our community.
1. Post a front and back image of your coin with a specific question about what you’re seeing or asking about and one coin per topic.
2. Please remove coin from the holder unless it’s US or an official mint case or unless it is graded by a grading service.
3. Images should be taken by a camera or cell phone camera, we ask that members don’t use images through a microscope screen.
4. Always start your own topic, please don’t ask about your coin or post your coin in someone else’s coin topic.
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Does cleaning my Old Coins with terry cloth devalued them
Hi,
I have a 1879-CC Morgan Dollar that I cleaned with a dry terry cloth. I didn’t use any chemical or any cleaning solution just a dry terry cloth. By me doing that did I devalued the coin? If yes... how bad and why did I devalued my coins by doing that. Because the coin was really dirty, and I though that the coin really needed to be wipe clean. Thank you in advance for your advice.
I have a 1879-CC Morgan Dollar that I cleaned with a dry terry cloth. I didn’t use any chemical or any cleaning solution just a dry terry cloth. By me doing that did I devalued the coin? If yes... how bad and why did I devalued my coins by doing that. Because the coin was really dirty, and I though that the coin really needed to be wipe clean. Thank you in advance for your advice.
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Re: Does cleaning my Old Coins with terry cloth devalued them
Just the cloth and no chemicals .I don't see why it would unless it causes marks or some other damage .
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" All replies are my opinion based on experience"
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" All replies are my opinion based on experience"
Casual Collector 40+ years , 10 years Error coins ( still learning).
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Re: Does cleaning my Old Coins with terry cloth devalued them
You don't use anything to clean your circulated coins.
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Re: Does cleaning my Old Coins with terry cloth devalued them
Anything that will remove surface metal, even on a microscopic level (leaving scratches even as a facial tissue will do) is going to damage the value of a coin.
If the terry cloth you used is pure cotton, then the material the cloth is made of is not rough enough to, itself, mar the surface. But the word "wipe" makes coin collectors cringe. When you wipe, you can have dirt on the coin scratching across the surface. Wiping also diminishes the sharpness of detail (called "wear").
As Paul has said, hairlines will be showing if you have damaged it.
If the terry cloth you used is pure cotton, then the material the cloth is made of is not rough enough to, itself, mar the surface. But the word "wipe" makes coin collectors cringe. When you wipe, you can have dirt on the coin scratching across the surface. Wiping also diminishes the sharpness of detail (called "wear").
As Paul has said, hairlines will be showing if you have damaged it.
Common grading company shortcomings & resulting co$tly mi$take$ to collectors (using Kennedy No FG halves):
https://tinyurl.com/y7rksxu8
How much squash would a sasquatch squash if a sasquatch would squash squash?
https://tinyurl.com/y7rksxu8
How much squash would a sasquatch squash if a sasquatch would squash squash?
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Re: Does cleaning my Old Coins with terry cloth devalued them
Hey P, the reason Daniel says not to clean your circulated coins are as follows.Philrs4 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 27, 2021 1:56 am Hi,
I have a 1879-CC Morgan Dollar that I cleaned with a dry terry cloth. I didn’t use any chemical or any cleaning solution just a dry terry cloth. By me doing that did I devalued the coin? If yes... how bad and why did I devalued my coins by doing that. Because the coin was really dirty, and I though that the coin really needed to be wipe clean. Thank you in advance for your advice.
If you do anything to disturb the "patina" on the coin, it will ruin its value. For example when you wipe down a coin with a dry cloth, dirt and corrosion can get stuck on the rag, once this happens the rag becomes like sandpaper, so when you drag it across the surface, you can scratch the "patina" and then it ends up a cleaned coin, thus devaluing it.
Acid, which is the main component of most coin cleaners, will remove the patina, and leave a white coin, nice for an album but it will grade cleaned.
Abrasives, well you can guess why.
Last edited by Coin Mule on Wed Jan 27, 2021 10:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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CONECA Attributed 1878 P 8 TF VAM 23 TOP 100 SLOT 5
CONECA and ANACS MS62 Attributed 1882 CC VAM 3 A
CONECA and ANACS MS64 Attributed 1900 P VAM 4
ANACS 1884-O VAM-37A2 MPD
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Re: Does cleaning my Old Coins with terry cloth devalued them
Wow!!! I didn’t realize that even with just the dry cloth can still damage the coins like sand paper. I feel that Most of my old coins can use some cleaning. What are your thoughts on jewelry ultrasonic cleaner?
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Re: Does cleaning my Old Coins with terry cloth devalued them
Know that "shiny" to a coin collector does not mean the coin is in good condition. Coin collectors look for how well the details of the design are preserved and not worn away. Of course it is preferred if original mint luster is present, but its pretty easy for someone familiar with coins to be able to tell when an artificial shine is present form cleaning and polishing...which ruins the value of the coin.
If a chemical will alter the surface of the metal in any way, then don't use it. Acetone cannot harm the coin, and putting a coin into acetone may remove dirt. If not, Xylene might do it. Neither can change the metal itself or the look of the metal.
Coin cleaning chemicals are sold, and a lot of coins are ruined with them by people who do not know how to use them. Daniel has some videos on cleaning coins. I suggest you look them up to help you know what to do.
If a chemical will alter the surface of the metal in any way, then don't use it. Acetone cannot harm the coin, and putting a coin into acetone may remove dirt. If not, Xylene might do it. Neither can change the metal itself or the look of the metal.
Coin cleaning chemicals are sold, and a lot of coins are ruined with them by people who do not know how to use them. Daniel has some videos on cleaning coins. I suggest you look them up to help you know what to do.
Common grading company shortcomings & resulting co$tly mi$take$ to collectors (using Kennedy No FG halves):
https://tinyurl.com/y7rksxu8
How much squash would a sasquatch squash if a sasquatch would squash squash?
https://tinyurl.com/y7rksxu8
How much squash would a sasquatch squash if a sasquatch would squash squash?
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