How are coins properly dipped?

I have some coins with toning that, in my opinion, is not appealing. The coins are not worth any more than their silver value, so I would like to clean them. I have heard that there is a proper way to dip a coin. I would like for my coins to have the nice luster of an uncirculated coin, as opposed to the surfaces of an improperly cleaned coin. Can someone tell me how to properly dip a coin, and what materials I need to do so? The coins that I want to clean are just junk silver with no value over melt. I am well aware that this can hurt the coins resale value. It is not necessary for anyone to explain to me the dangers of cleaning a coin, as I am aware of them.
Thanks in advance

 

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I have never dipped a coin so I don't know the finer details about actually doing it...so I'm not going to advise you of that. But, I will say I don't have a problem with what you are doing. We all learn through doing...as long as you are OK with the risk of damaging your coins and not getting the luster you desire, I say go for it. Since they are junk silver, you won't hurt the value.

The only thing I would ask is...are the coins MS? If they are truly junk silver (old circulated 90% coins) they may have no luster under that toning due to circulation.

 

Most of the coins are actually 40% Kennedys.
I'm actually really curious to see how the coins turnout. Hopefully they will look nice

 

Have you ever heard of the aluminum and baking soda process?
1. a glass bowl -D)
2. baking soda. one tea spoon
3. A small piece of aluminum foil. sand it with sandpaper
4. warm to hot water. distilled is better.
5. mix the soda in the water and place the sanded foil into the water.
6. now place the coin [ONE TO TEST BEFORE THE ONES YOU REALLY WANT TO] into the water and just touch the coin to the aluminum foil, and watch.
7. take the coin out an rinse, then only, pat dry the coin, DO NO NOT RUB THE COIN.
8. REDO THE COIN, TILL THE COIN WILL NOT CLEAN/CONSERVE ANY MORE.
9 LET US KNOW WHAT THE OUT COME IS.
GOOD LUCK

 

Thanks I will probably try this method tomorrow with some toned modern coins that are only worth face value.

 

I had an uncle with a glass bowel...kept him out of the army.

 

Can't stop laughing

 

The method with the baking soda and aluminum (sorry about the previous post...the devil made me do it) might be hard to control. There are numerous products made for dipping silver and they are probably all very similar. I have a silver jewelry dip I have used that has a small basket for dipping the objects so that you can give it a quick dip and rinse it to see how it did before repeating as many times as you want.

 

I don't have a coin shop near my house, and as I live in Canada any product made for cleaning coins would have an outrageous shipping cost.
I will test out the baking soda and aluminum method, and if it doesn't work out I'll probably spend a ton on some dipping product.

 

I have seen Jewel Luster recommended. Sold as E-Z-Est Coin Cleaner.

 

There is a product called E-Z-EST Coin Cleaner that works quite well. I use it on tarnished non-numismatic silver bullion rounds and bars. Made by Aervoe Industries of Gardnerville, NV. I'm sure it's available from one of the online coin supply retailers, and I wouldn't think it'd be expensive to ship, even to Canada.

 

They sell that on a Canadian site called SilverGoldBull. Shipping is $20 though.

 

Shipping $20...for what, a 55 gallon drum!

 

Jewel luster is fine , I'd dilute it 50% with distilled water . Never use tap water on your coins just distilled . I'd also have some latex gloves and eye protection . Rubber tipped tweezers are needed , they make plastic ones just for coins . Dip the coin into the solution for 3 seconds and rinse , if further cleaning is desired dip one more time . Remember you are removing the top layer of the coin , so repeated dips will have a cumulative effect and could turn the coin into a lifeless coin devoid of luster.
One of the most important points of dipping is to know what coins can actually benefit and which won't . That's why you should practice on MS coins only worth melt , never on any collector coins . This is the method most dealers and tpgs use so it is the only one I'd use . Good luck and I'd sure like to see your results .

 

Thanks, so this method is TPG accepted?

 

Hmmm...if you do it right, self administered heart surgery is accepted.

 

I always wondered why they label coins "improperly cleaned" as I thought there was no "proper" way to clean a coin. Now I understand why; there is a proper way to clean coins. Thanks

 

The TPG's don't accept or endorse any method. They could label as such (Cleaned) or detail grade any dipped coin sent to them. It's their prerogative.

 

Don't they conserve coins? What is the difference between conserving and cleaning?

 

That's not entirely true. They have conservation services of their own which dip coins. They also know that any old silver coin that is blast white has been dipped. That said, whatever method they use as part of their conservation service is no doubt a proprietary secret.