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Dipped vs Cleaned

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Aladdin Sane

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Nov 13, 2008, 9:47:24 PM11/13/08
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I recently saw a lovely SLQ on ebay that would look very nice in my
collection. It was a "Buy Me Now" and not an auction, and the price was
premium. For that kind of money, I was concerned that it was so bright and
shiny, so I questioned the seller if it had been cleaned. His response was
that it may have been dipped but shows no signs of having been cleaned.

I have always assumed that dipping is a form of cleaning. Am I in error
here? Doesn't dipping effect the value of the coin?

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^
AS & His Magic Hat

A conclusion is simply the place
where you decided to stop thinking.


Steve

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Nov 16, 2008, 4:42:14 PM11/16/08
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"Aladdin Sane" <jmaz...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:acCdnT_RiJgd973U...@giganews.com...

>
> I have always assumed that dipping is a form of cleaning. Am I in error
> here? Doesn't dipping effect the value of the coin?
>

It depends on what the coin looks like after dipping; the value may
increase, the value may decrease or it may be a push.

Steve


Frank Provasek

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Nov 16, 2008, 6:22:04 PM11/16/08
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On Nov 13, 8:47 pm, "Aladdin Sane" <jmazz...@comcast.net> wrote:
> I recently saw a lovely SLQ on ebay that would look very nice in my
> collection.  It was a "Buy Me Now" and not an auction, and the price was
> premium.  For that kind of money, I was concerned that it was so bright and
> shiny, so I questioned the seller if it had been cleaned.  His response was
> that it may have been dipped but shows no signs of having been cleaned.
>
> I have always assumed that dipping is a form of cleaning.  Am I in error
> here?  Doesn't dipping effect the value of the coin?
>
Dips (similar to Tarn-X) contain Thiocarbamide,
also known as Thiouria. It's a solvent for silver or copper
sulfides, which is what tarnish is. It works by converting the
sulfides back to metal. They are slightly acid, and if used
repeatedly, will dull some of the luster, but it is still an
acceptable
form of coin restoration.

"Cleaning" refers to abrasives (wire brushes, silver polish, baking
soda
paste, polishing cloths) which are always harmful since they remove or
move
metal on the coin, and always reduce the value.

--
RARE COIN AUCTIONS NO RESERVES www.frankcoins.com
http://myworld.ebay.com/frankcoins Texas Auction License
11259, Board member of Texas Coin Dealers Association,
Member TNA, ANA, PCGS, NGC - Full Time Since 1991

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