second opinion please

[Guest]

I took my 3 finest coins to my local coin shop for a price quote out of curiosity. they were 1946 s/d, 1941 ddo 2, and 1956 d/d #8. he inspected them and said they are cool coins but worthless and said noone would buy them.... While they were the correct coins, I messed up by *sigh* cleaning them and bringing back their fomer glory. I never thought it would effect the value so adversely, and I cant wrap my mind around why it would. So was his prognoses correct and by me cleaning them I made the value hit rock bottom? Also how do you spot subtle errors with all that petina (gunk) on it?

[Maineman750]

You may find a buyer for them but I can understand a dealer not wanting them. You certainly have lowered the value by cleaning but to really say worthless, we would need pics.

[cimperialis]

The coin dealer was wrong that the coins are worthless if they are correctly attributed. There are many members here that value DDOs, RPMs, and OMMs. It was probably a bad call to clean them if you used something like lemon juice or other chemically abrasive mixtures. I don't know about the cents being rock bottom in price, but cleaning can significantly reduce the price of a coin. If there's organic gunk on the coin, you can use acetone to rinse it off. This should allow you to better inspect details.

[liveandievarieties]

As Sean said, acetone is about the only acceptable cleaning agent I'd reccommend. It removes only organic material and leaves the coin in it's natural, unaltered state.

To address your question of value- take the 46-S/D. Hypothetically speaking, if the coin were in AU condition it'd have a value somewhere in the $150 range. But if harshly cleaned you'll have a hard time finding a buyer for the coin at much more than $20. A cleaned coin is a damaged coin- I'd rather have this rare variety with a huge gash on the reverse than have one that is chrome-like.

And as for taking your die varieties to a "regular" coin dealer, that's like trying to sell your Picasso at a craft fair. Die varieties are a specialized field that require extensive knowledge and experience. Most coin dealers have their own area of preference, whether Morgan dollars or bullion, neither of which can I claim to be highly experienced in. Your best bet for finding people who appreciate the coins you do is a place like this, a club or eBay if you're wanting to sell them.

[RWBILLER]

My coin dealer is a great guy and we have traded, sold, and bought many coins between us. But when it comes to varaitys and errors - forget about it. He only deals with mostly business and proof coins and some major vararitys. That doesn't make him a bad guy - he just doesn't deal with that stuff. As far a's cleaned coins - I personally, would never buy a known cleaned coin.
Rog

[Trenton2626]

I didnt scratch the coins or anything....they were just dark dark brown from being handled so many years and I took a soft cloth and warm water to make like shiny new again. I thought shiny would bring better premium but I learned a tough lesson. thanks for all the replys you helped me enormouslu.

[Trenton2626]

As Sean said, acetone is about the only acceptable cleaning agent I'd reccommend. It removes only organic material and leaves the coin in it's natural, unaltered state.

To address your question of value- take the 46-S/D. Hypothetically speaking, if the coin were in AU condition it'd have a value somewhere in the $150 range. But if harshly cleaned you'll have a hard time finding a buyer for the coin at much more than $20. A cleaned coin is a damaged coin- I'd rather have this rare variety with a huge gash on the reverse than have one that is chrome-like.

And as for taking your die varieties to a "regular" coin dealer, that's like trying to sell your Picasso at a craft fair. Die varieties are a specialized field that require extensive knowledge and experience. Most coin dealers have their own area of preference, whether Morgan dollars or bullion, neither of which can I claim to be highly experienced in. Your best bet for finding people who appreciate the coins you do is a place like this, a club or eBay if you're wanting to sell them.

your picasso analogy really hit home...definately shed some light, and gave future insight.

[liveandievarieties]

If you only used water and a cloth, all may not be lost yet- depends on how hard you worked the coins. Since they're not cleaned with chemicals or something like copper cleaner, I'd wrap them in some kind of coarse paper, the consistency of construction paper, or a roughed up paper towel. Keep them there for a couple of years and they will most likely regain their original patina, or close to it.

Which dealer did you go to? I know several guys over in Tacoma- Uh, can't remember the guy's name now... he's in the old (flour mill?) antique mall. Also- I'd recommend Chris Holden- he's more of an error dealer (coins and paper money) as opposed to die varieties, but a hell of a good guy to buy from. I'm over there the second week of every April for the PNNA show.

[jfines69]

If you could post pics that would be helpful... If you clean coins make sure they are ones you never intend to sale for the value will be less... I have cleaned my own coins because I will not sell them!!!

[coppercoins]

First thing is to have your coins identified as to what they are by a reputable source.

Second thing is to determine whether the cleaning just hurt the value - or destroyed the value of your coins.

One thing to remember is that most dealers - I would say something on the order of 90% - don't have a clue and wouldn't know a die variety or error if it hit them in the face. Most of what they know is in the generalist market, usually leaning toward gold and silver. Most don't have time, energy, or interest in Lincoln cents.

It sounds to me like the opinion given to you was just that - an opinion of what THEY think without any real knowledge of the market as a whole.

I can tell you that if you have a genuine example of the 1946S/D that shows the variety well, I would buy it for $20 at a minimum regardless of whether it is cleaned, and I know what I'm doing. So that much right there proves him wrong.

[Trenton2626]

jfines, I think thats going to be a good rule of thumb for me. I shouldnt care about the value if im not selling it.

Coppercoins- wow, I would've thought dealers would know everything about this stuff, seeing how they own a coin store. But your absolutely right about being verified by a reputable source, but understand, I thought these dealers were just that. I assumed since they own a shop they would be experts like the people on this site. so from now on ill just send my coins in to be verified, which I shouldve done from square 1.

[liveandievarieties]

Nobody can be an expert on everything Trenton, that's why I firmly believe you can find something underpriced in nearly every shop.

[liveandievarieties]

I have cleaned my own coins because I will not sell them!!!

WHAT????

[Trenton2626]

WHAT????

I think I understand what hes saying...because if I found a 1992 d close AM or a 1969 s ddo I wouldnt sell it either. I would keep them kind of as trophies of my hard work and time spent. Of course thats not to say I dont have a price

[liveandievarieties]

Cleaning rare coins because you won't sell them? Quite the self-fulfiling prophecy.
That's like saying I love my '69 Camaro SS so much that I beat the side panels in with a baseball bat.