Polished Coins

[JohnnyS 0]

Just been browsing on ebay for some UNC coins and came accross the following:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HIGHLY-POLISHED-FARTHING-COIN-CHOOSE-YOUR-YEAR-1911-1936-/140733406710?_trksid=p4340.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D555001%26algo%3DPW.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D29%26meid%3D2597866232978800171%26pid%3D100009%26prg%3D1013%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D160893821186%26

Can polished coins be damaged in the cleaning process and are they still collected?

Thanks again for your assistance.

[Nick 329]

Just been browsing on ebay for some UNC coins and came accross the following:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HIGHLY-POLISHED-FARTHING-COIN-CHOOSE-YOUR-YEAR-1911-1936-/140733406710?_trksid=p4340.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D555001%26algo%3DPW.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D29%26meid%3D2597866232978800171%26pid%3D100009%26prg%3D1013%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D160893821186%26

Can polished coins be damaged in the cleaning process and are they still collected?

Thanks again for your assistance.

They can only be damaged in the cleaning process. A polished coin is no use to man nor beast unless you're intending to use it for jewellery.

[Peter 615]

Novelty tat.

[TomGoodheart 403]

Essentially when a coin is freshly struck it has a certain surface appearance, commonly known as lustre. Over time some coins will change colour as the air oxidises the metal. Often this can be quite attractive and in some cases this 'toning' is combined with the original lustre. Some coins were chemically treated at the mint to darken them.

All of these different states are characteristic of the age of a coin and a sign that it has not been tampered with.

Polishing simply removes all traces of the above by removing the surface layer of the coin. The technical term for this is 'ruining' and a ruined coin will have no collectable value whatsoever, I'm afraid.

[declanwmagee 122]

Criminal vandalism!

[Peckris 579]

Just been browsing on ebay for some UNC coins and came accross the following:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HIGHLY-POLISHED-FARTHING-COIN-CHOOSE-YOUR-YEAR-1911-1936-/140733406710?_trksid=p4340.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D555001%26algo%3DPW.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D29%26meid%3D2597866232978800171%26pid%3D100009%26prg%3D1013%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D160893821186%26

Can polished coins be damaged in the cleaning process and are they still collected?

Thanks again for your assistance.

Strangely, some silver coins that have been lightly polished are still collected to some extent (probably by eBay collectors who don't know much better). However, bronze and copper coins that have been polished so much they look lacquered like those farthings, are beyond hope and totally ruined and worthless as coins.

[Accumulator 52]

Reading this you can have no doubt. Don't touch them with a barge-pole!