How To Tell If Morgan Dollar Has Been Cleaned

I wrote this on some other forum, but decided to post it hither to help some folks who might accept questions most this.
I decided to create a write-upwardly about cleaned coins. Every day, I meet more and more cleaned coins existence posted on the forum past new collectors. Often, these cleaned coins are sold as Uncirculated or loftier course coins. People new to the hobby volition often purchase these coins at bargain prices hoping to get a great deal. Instead, they receive a coin that has been polished, dipped, or harshly cleaned. This guide will help new collectors distinguish cleaned coins from coins with original surfaces. I posted this in the Archetype and Colonial Coins forum, equally most of the cleaned U.s.a. coins I see are classic coins.

What Does It Mean When a Coin Is Cleaned?

A money that has been cleaned has been, well, cleaned. Information technology has usually been dipped in a cleaning solution, scrubbed with a brush, or wiped with a fabric. A cleaned money is ordinarily worth less than one that has not been cleaned. It besides usually has less eye appeal than un-cleaned coins. Never clean a money unless y'all are conserving information technology with a chemic similar acetone, or you know exactly what you are doing.

Types of Coin Cleaning
There are several means that coins are cleaned. Here is a list of the most common means, and terminology.

Overdipped: An overdipped coin means that the coin was dipped in a cleaning solution for too long. A coin can be dipped properly many times and non exist considered cleaned - it might expect completely normal. However, when a coin is dipped for too long or dried after the dip improperly , the luster or toning might start to be stripped.
This method of cleaning will often remove luster/toning from an AU/Uncirculated coin, and strip off the "gunk" on a worn money. The coin might have reflective surfaces as well.
Whizzed: Fifty-fifty though whizzing is technically not considered cleaning, I volition include it here as information technology can be a fleck hard to spot for someone new to collecting, and alters the surface of the coin - often used to give a coin "artificial" cartwheel luster.
A coin that has been whizzed has been "whizzed" by a wire brush rotating at a loftier speed. This will create many small hairlines on the coin. The whizzed coin may appear to have an odd blueprint of luster, and many hairlines when rotated under light.
Improperly Cleaned: This category covers several methods of cleaning. Often, coins in this category will accept large hairlines on them from being cleaned with a wire castor, lack of luster, or an odd colour. Proof coins that have been buffed with a microfiber fabric, and as a result have fine hairlines, too fit into this category.
Examples of Cleaned Coins

Coins with incuse hairlines that are parallel to each other well-nigh always signify that a coin has been cleaned.

A note about hairlines - In that location may be raised hairlines on a coin, known as die polishing lines. This ways the die used to make the money was polished. These lines from polishing of the die often will announced on a coin's surfaces - but they volition be raised hairlines, unlike cleaning, which often causes incuse hairlines. The presence of die polishing lines does not accept annihilation to practise with a cleaned coin - this is just a note on how to distinguish the ii.

Here is a money with a lack of any toning (or luster) around the devices, fifty-fifty though information technology'southward definitely worn. Well-nigh probable this money was cleaned with a wire brush:

Remember that a well-circulated coin will normally lack luster. If a coin that appears to be worn downward to, say, Very Fine, simply appears shiny or prooflike, it is most likely cleaned. On the other hand, an AU/Uncirculated money should have luster. If it doesn't, that points to the coin being cleaned.

This money has an odd color from beingness cleaned, well-nigh likely from beingness dipped. It also lacks original mint luster:
This money appears shiny, just 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 to a higher place 1900 dollar has luster - only non the original mint luster. The lack of original mint luster on a college-form money oftentimes points to improper cleaning or an improper dip, which can strip mint luster from a money.

Copper coins will often larn a pink colour if they have been cleaned. I have cleaned a common appointment Lincoln cent to bear witness what a cleaned copper coin will look like:

Halos Effectually Devices - Does This Mean a Money Is Cleaned?

The brusk answer: Not 100% of the time.

The long answer: Halos of toning around devices (stars, portrait, appointment, etc.) tin can signify that a coin has been cleaned, and the cleaning did not reach into the corners of the devices. Yet, 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 money exhibits no signs of a cleaning except for halos of toning around the devices, so we can say it well-nigh likely hasn't been cleaned.

TPGs, Market Acceptable Cleaning, and Buying Coins Online

When offset purchasing coins, information technology is all-time to beginning off by only buying coins certified by i of the iv (reputable) third-party grading companies. They are PCGS, NGC, ANACS, and ICG. Other grading services do not have equally good of a reputation, and might over-grade coins or grade cleaned or damaged coins with a direct course.
Yous might meet a coin in a tertiary-party grading company's holder that appears to be cleaned that does non take that noted on the slab. You might wonder "Why didn't they say "Cleaned" on the slab?" Many times, this is considering they thought the cleaning was market acceptable. This ways that they idea the coin was not cleaned harshly enough to warrant a "Details - Cleaned" class, or a coin has been exposed to the surroundings and has toned, therefore hiding the cleaning. A coin like this may straight form one twenty-four hours at a TPG and might receive a "details" grade another day.

A coin may be graded with a "Details" or "Genuine" grade. This ways the money has a trouble - whether it is cleaning, damage, contradistinct surfaces, or whizzing, etc - and the 3rd party grader has deemed this problem to non be market acceptable. Purchase these coins with caution, equally you may have trouble selling them if yous decide to do so in the time to come. Remember - "buy the coin, not the holder." Make sure to examine all coins advisedly before buying them.
When purchasing a money online as a new collector, it's best to buy coins certified by PCGS or NGC. However, don't just assume the money will be un-cleaned and await like the assigned grade in hand. Make sure you examine the money carefully on the photos. Check for all the items listed above (hairlines, lack of luster on AU/Unc. Coins, shiny coins that are heavily worn, etc.). Unless the photos are of excellent quality, and then it may be difficult to analyze the money from the photos. Well-known dealers on eBay will often utilize loftier-resolution, clear photos.

Note: Conserving Coins

A notation about conserving coins: To conserve a money means to remove crud off the surface of a coin without irresolute the coin for the worse. For instance, acetone can be safely used to remove organic thing on coins without damaging the coin beingness conserved.
This is different than cleaning a coin, which alters the metal on the surface of the coin for the worse.
Notation that conservation will not remove evidence of a cleaning on a coin.

Hope this article helped yous 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.
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@Insider tin can explicate it much better if he would like too. But that isn't what dipping ordinarily does. Usually you lot can't fifty-fifty tell as the money looks like the mean solar day it was minted. You tin strip it ect if you lot mess it up or do it to much but dipping shouldn't be lumped in with the other things given the intention
@baseball21 What does dipping usually do? Will edit the post with the corrected info.
Edited the article to include that info. Thanks.
I cannot post without either having it come out more than than once or having a long cycle of nada. I entered this several minutes agone and nothing happened. Somewhen it volition evidence upwards.
The OP'southward post is fairly OK. Information technology needs some clarification. With his permission, information technology is easier for me to put my additional comments in a different colour to his mail service.
Yes, all comments/suggestions are welcome.
green18 Unknown fellow member Sweet on Commemorative Coins Supporter

Oh Kripes.......please don't outset speaking in 'colors'...........emo-shies, OK, but delight, no colors.
SilverDollar2017, posted: "I wrote this on another forum, just decided to post information technology here to help some folks who might have questions well-nigh this."
I decided to create a write-up almost cleaned coins. Every day, I run across more and more than cleaned coins being posted on the forum past new collectors. Often, these cleaned coins are sold equally Uncirculated or high grade coins. People new to the hobby volition oft purchase these coins at bargain prices hoping to get a great bargain. Instead, they receive a coin that has been polished, dipped, or harshly cleaned. Cheers for taking the time to educate the states on this very important topic. You are exactly right about this.

What Does It Mean When a Coin Is Cleaned?

A coin that has been cleaned has been, well, cleaned. It has usually been dipped in a cleaning solution, scrubbed with a brush, or wiped with a cloth. A cleaned money is usually worth less than 1 that has non been cleaned. It also usually has less eye appeal than un-cleaned coins. Never make clean a coin unless you are conserving it with a chemical similar acetone, or you know exactly what you are doing.

Types of Coin Cleaning
There are several ways that coins are cleaned. Here is a listing of the most mutual ways, and terminology.

Overdipped: An overdipped coin means that the money was dipped in a cleaning solution for likewise long. A money can be dipped [properly many times] and non exist considered cleaned - it might look completely normal. However, when a coin is dipped for too long [or stale improperly], the luster or toning might get-go to be stripped. This method of cleaning volition frequently remove luster/toning from an AU/Uncirculated coin, and strip off the "gunk" on a worn money. The coin might have reflective surfaces or announced shiny/prooflike. Dipping a money will never make it PL. It tin can reveal a PL surface that is hidden by dirt, brume, or toning.
Whizzed: A coin that has been whizzed has been "whizzed" by a wire brush rotating at a high speed. This volition create many small hairlines on the money. The whizzed coin may announced to take an odd pattern of luster, and many hairlines when rotated nether light. Whizzing, buffing, burnishing, polishing, etc. are not considered to be cleaning.
Improperly Cleaned: This category covers several methods of cleaning. Ofttimes, coins in this category will have big hairlines on them from existence cleaned with a wire castor, lack of luster, or an odd color. Proof coins that have been buffed with a microfiber cloth, and equally 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.
One must not confuse incuse hairlines with raised lines. Raised lines signify die polishing lines (basically, that means the coin has non been cleaned), not signs of a cleaning. The presence of die polishing signifies nada. Many types of chemical and mechanical cleaning do not affect the raised polishing lines.

Here is a coin with a lack of any toning (or luster) around the devices, even though information technology'due south definitely worn. About probable this money was cleaned with a wire brush:

IMHO, This coin was not cleaned with a wire brush. It appears to be a normal circulated money. Notation the two types of luster (the reflection of calorie-free from a surface) present in the image. In that location is some mint luster in the receses of the pilus while the rest of the coin is lustrous due to the lite reflecting from the metallic.

Retrieve that a well-circulated coin will normally lack luster. If a coin that appears to be worn downward to, say, Very Fine, simply appears shiny or prooflike, it is most likely cleaned. On the other hand, an AU/Uncirculated money should have luster. If information technology doesn't, that points to the coin being cleaned.

This coin has an odd colour from being cleaned, nigh probable from being dipped. Information technology also lacks luster: I disagree, this coin has blazing luster - but not original Mint luster. It has been polished.
This coin appears shiny, but has no luster. Remember that luster and "shiny" don't mean the same matter. A shiny money will be cogitating, while a lustrous coin will have cartwheel luster. This is the problem many accept that with terms similar luster. Luster is reflective and comes in many forms whether on an original, as-made surface or one that is contradistinct in some fashion. Original Mint luster is what the OP is referring to. Thus, the 1900 dollar has shiny luster but it is not coming from an original surface.This means that if you rotate the money at different angles, you will see a cartwheel design of luster.

Copper coins will acquire a pink color if they have been cleaned. I take cleaned a mutual appointment Lincoln cent to show what a cleaned copper coin will look similar:

Halos Around Devices - Does This Mean a Coin Is Cleaned?

The short reply: Not 100% of the fourth dimension.

The long respond: Halos of toning around devices (stars, portrait, date, etc.) can signify that a coin has been cleaned, and the cleaning did not attain into the corners of the devices. However, it oftentimes 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 acquired by a cleaning. However, if a coin exhibits no signs of a cleaning except for halos of toning around the devices, so we can say it most probable hasn't been cleaned.

TPGs, Market Acceptable Cleaning, and Buying Coins Online

When outset purchasing coins, information technology is best to beginning off past only buying coins certified by [one of the iv major grading services. Two are:] PCGS or NGC. Other grading services exercise not have as good of a reputation, and might over-grade coins or class cleaned or damaged coins with a straight grade.
Yous might see a money in a PCGS or NGC holder that appears to be cleaned that does non take that noted on the slab. You might wonder "Why didn't they say "Cleaned" on the slab?" Many times, this is considering they thought the cleaning was market place acceptable. This ways that they idea the coin was not cleaned harshly plenty 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. Purchase these coins with caution, as y'all may have trouble selling them if y'all decide to do so in the future. Remember - "buy the money, not the holder." Brand sure to examine all coins advisedly before buying them.
When purchasing a coin online as a new collector, information technology's best to buy coins certified past PCGS or NGC. Yet, don't but assume the money will exist un-cleaned and look like the assigned grade in hand. Make sure you examine the money carefully on the photos. Check for all the items listed above (hairlines, lack of luster on AU/Unc. Coins, shiny coins that are heavily worn, etc.). Unless the photos are of excellent quality, and then it may be hard to analyze the coin from the photos. Well-known dealers on eBay will frequently use loftier-resolution, clear photos.

Note: Conserving Coins

A note well-nigh conserving coins: To conserve a money means to remove grime off the surface of a money without changing the metallic of a coin in any way. For instance, acetone can be safely used to remove organic affair on coins without dissentious the coin being conserved.
This is different than cleaning a coin, which alters the metal on the surface of the coin.
Notation that conservation will not remove testify of a cleaning on a coin.
About all conservation is cleaning and the surface of a coin is changed - usually for the better.
Hope this article helped you understand cleaned coins better, or if you are new to collecting, assistance you sympathise how coins are cleaned and how to avoid them.

Thanks for reading. [/QUOTE]
@Insider Thanks for the input. For some reason, yet, I can't edit it - I call back I've gone over the time limit on editing.
If the Mods/staff could somehow unlock the outset post and let me edit it that would exist corking.
Good data. Thanks for sharing.
Don't worry, it was a very expert treatment of the subject.
I just gave you ii days to edit the postal service

ldhair, green18 and Gregg like this.
Thanks! I volition edit information technology at present.
And take out my comments as the info "belongs" to you.
Thanks once again @Insider for the suggestions.