What does a cleaned coin look like

The whizzed coin may appear to have an odd pattern of luster, and many hairlines when rotated under light. Improperly Cleaned: This category covers several methods of cleaning. Often, coins in this category will have large hairlines on them from being cleaned with a wire brush, lack of luster, or an odd color. Proof coins that have been buffed with a microfiber cloth, and as a result have fine hairlines, also fit into this category.

Examples of Cleaned Coins Coins with incuse hairlines that are parallel to each other almost always signify that a coin has been cleaned.

A note about hairlines - There may be raised hairlines on a coin, known as die polishing lines. This means the die used to make the coin was polished. These lines from polishing of the die often will appear on a coin's surfaces - but they will be raised hairlines, unlike cleaning, which often causes incuse hairlines.

The presence of die polishing lines does not have anything to do with a cleaned coin - this is just a note on how to distinguish the two. Here is a coin with a lack of any toning or luster around the devices, even though it's definitely worn. Most likely this coin was cleaned with a wire brush: Remember that a well-circulated coin will usually lack luster.

If a coin that appears to be worn down to, say, Very Fine, but appears shiny or prooflike, it is most likely cleaned. If it doesn't, that points to the coin being cleaned. This coin has an odd color from being cleaned, most likely from being dipped.

It also lacks original mint luster: This coin appears shiny, but has no original mint luster. Remember that not all luster is the same. A coin may be shiny and have luster, but it may not be original mint luster. For example, the above dollar has luster - just not the original mint luster.

The lack of original mint luster on a higher-grade coin often points to improper cleaning or an improper dip, which can strip mint luster from a coin. Copper coins will often acquire a pink color if they have been cleaned. The long answer: Halos of toning around devices stars, portrait, date, etc. However, it often just means a coin has a "crusty" patina on it. Therefore, if a coin exhibits signs of a cleaning hairlines, lack of luster and has halos around the devices, we can say that the halos were caused by a cleaning.

However, if a coin exhibits no signs of a cleaning except for halos of toning around the devices, then we can say it most likely hasn't been cleaned. TPGs, Market Acceptable Cleaning, and Buying Coins Online When first purchasing coins, it is best to start off by only buying coins certified by one of the four reputable third-party grading companies. Other grading services do not have as good of a reputation, and might over-grade coins or grade cleaned or damaged coins with a straight grade.

You might see a coin in a third-party grading company's holder that appears to be cleaned that does not have that noted on the slab. You might wonder "Why didn't they say "Cleaned" on the slab? This means that they thought the coin was not cleaned harshly enough to warrant a "Details - Cleaned" grade, or a coin has been exposed to the environment and has toned, therefore hiding the cleaning.

A coin like this may straight grade one day at a TPG and might receive a "details" grade another day. A coin may be graded with a "Details" or "Genuine" grade. This means the coin has a problem - whether it is cleaning, damage, altered surfaces, or whizzing, etc - and the third party grader has deemed this problem to not be market acceptable. Purchase these coins with caution, as you may have trouble selling them if you decide to do so in the future.

Remember - "buy the coin, not the holder. However, don't just assume the coin will be un-cleaned and look like the assigned grade in hand. Make sure you examine the coin carefully on the photos. Coins, shiny coins that are heavily worn, etc.

Unless the photos are of excellent quality, then it may be hard to analyze the coin from the photos. Well-known dealers on eBay will often use high-resolution, clear photos.

Note: Conserving Coins A note about conserving coins: To conserve a coin means to remove grime off the surface of a coin without changing the coin for the worse. For example, acetone can be safely used to remove organic matter on coins without damaging the coin being conserved. This is different than cleaning a coin, which alters the metal on the surface of the coin for the worse. Note that conservation will not remove evidence of a cleaning on a coin.

Hope this article helped you understand cleaned coins better, or if you are new to collecting, help you understand how coins are cleaned and how to avoid them. A coin like this may straight grade one day at a TPG and might receive a "details" grade another day. Purchase these coins with caution, as you may have trouble selling them if you decide to do so in the future. Remember - "buy the coin, not the holder. However, don't just assume the coin will be un-cleaned and look like the assigned grade in hand.

Make sure you examine the coin carefully on the photos. Coins, shiny coins that are heavily worn, etc. Unless the photos are of excellent quality, then it may be hard to analyze the coin from the photos. Well-known dealers on eBay will often use high-resolution, clear photos. Note: Conserving Coins A note about conserving coins: To conserve a coin means to remove grime off the surface of a coin without changing the metal of a coin in any way.

For example, acetone can be safely used to remove organic matter on coins without damaging the coin being conserved. This is different than cleaning a coin, which alters the metal on the surface of the coin. Note that conservation will not remove evidence of a cleaning on a coin. Hope this article helped you understand cleaned coins better, or if you are new to collecting, help you understand how coins are cleaned and how to avoid them.

Thanks for reading. Report this Post to the Staff. Well done. Two points of some importance. First, emphasis should be placed on understanding that photos only, unless professionally done, will often make it difficult to ascertain grade, eye appeal, or cleaning. Two, age should not influence cleaning acceptability. Today's use of the term "market acceptable" is much too broad and will be deleted as a determination once computer technical grading becomes dominant.

Mark that technical grade is objective, while eye appeal is subjective. Good write-up. There's always more to add, gotta start somewhere first tho!

Two other things I see a lot are proof coins getting a microfiber cloth buffing, those fine lines are really hard to distinguish and with a little movement of a light, presto-chango! And light surface "touch-ups", especially on older silver series to increase the "eye appeal.

Sad, but these are either schmucks selling known problems or an embarrassed new buyer trying to recoup his loss. See these all the time. Thank you SilverDollar. Actually read it twice. I noticed you said you're seeing more new collectors on the site are posting cleaned coins, I'm bad at identifying cleaned coins so I cannot but please tell me that you make them aware of this.

It may seem crass but I for one would hate to get a coin that has been cleaned and never know it. I have not seen this in the past but maybe I just haven't encountered it personally but I think it would be a good process for the forum to adopt. Good writeup. I would like to add that it's import not to confuse "shiny" with "luster.

Thanks for the suggestions. I will go ahead and add them to the post. Quote: I'm bad at identifying cleaned coins so I cannot but please tell me that you make them aware of this. Excellent thread and info posted here. I would emphasize for clarity, that cleaning means you somehow change the metal surface.

Conservation means you remove dirt without changing the metal in any way - chemically or physically. If you spill coffee on a coin, then rinsing off the coffee with distilled water is not "cleaning" in the numismatic sense, but you have conserved the coin. It was a common practice for coin collectors to "clean" their coins to keep them in mint condition. As time progressed, more and more metal was removed from the surface of the coin and thus destroying some of the finer details on the coin.

Today this practice is definitely frowned upon by coin collectors and professional numismatists. Once again, we're back to our cartwheels, which is our demonstration of the state of preservation of the surface of the coin. For example, silver coins will tone, or tarnish, as a result of the silver molecules interacting with elements in the environment.

As you will see with a tarnished silver coin, you have lost your cartwheel effect , and the surface of the coin itself will have suffered some damage. However, despite these changes, the surface of your coin is usually still intact, which you can easily verify under magnification.

The coin hasn't yet lost much value, because the surface is still intact, the way it left the mint. In fact, some toning is considered to be very beautiful, and an enhancement to the value of the coin!

But one thing is nearly certain, if you clean a coin to remove tarnish or toning, you will damage the surface of the coin. Some methods of cleaning metal use an acid "dip" for cleaning. This is a process where you dip the coin in a mildly acidic solution for a brief time and then wash it off. This method is one of the least damaging since it usually just strips a layer or two off the surface of the coin. Unfortunately, this includes the fragile flow lines which give the cartwheel effect.

Dipping also leaves the surface dull and ugly. Another good way to damage the surface of your coin is to use an abrasive cleaner. These come with names like Wright's Silver Polish and consist of a paste or cream.

You rub the product into the coin's surface until you have removed all the toning. Unfortunately, this process will also remove the flow lines, the cartwheel effect, a great number of molecular layers of the coin's surface itself, and a good portion of the coin's value. The bottom line is that you should almost never clean your coins.

About the only time I can think of that it might be appropriate to consider cleaning a coin would be if you dug up a rare U. Then I think, because of the coin's extremely high value and rarity, it might be worth sending it off to someone like the Numismatic Conservation Service to have it professionally cleaned.

Edited by: James Bucki. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads.