I had a few as a kid. Now I’m looking at some listings on the web and there’s a lot to absorb.
But I’m curious what it means to clean one.
I just did a baking soda and boiling water treatment for some 20th century silver coins that I just wanted to see shine.
In doing this though I probably didn’t make it more valuable even if there was no damage from my pressure. It looks like patina is ok now and sought after, even oxidation, rainbows, colors and patterns.
Maybe I blew it on a 3 mark coin, but is that cleaning a coin for the purposes of professional coin graders?
I did a saliva and tinfoil treatment on a silver dollar. I wonder if that’s cleaning.
I’m going to send a few in to be graded just for the experience. The market has become about small flaws and chemical interruptions in the surface of a soft metal. the highest possible level of perfecton is sought.
My understanding is that if it is “cleaned” it means it gets a relative grade and will be noted on the cert, etc. So it can be important.