To clean or not to clean that is the temptation

[goldfish]

So why are you to buy that clean coin?      How much is it coin really worth after it's been cleaned? How much are you willing to pay for that cleaned coin. Doesn't it doesn't matter, talking to a dealer this morning sadly he said to me if it isn't slabbed  it's probably cleaned. So what's your thoughts big deal or no big deal?

[FlorinCollector]

Personally to me It depends.

If it was a coin purely for weight of stack i wouldnt mind at all i dont think if it had been cleaned. Would probably look to pay a little less than a non-cleaned version of the coin. 

[Jay2]

For pure stacking, I love a few shiny polished clean examples of each coin to scatter on the top layer of each box.

Very old ones though I generally prefer them dirty and sharp than clean and blurred.

[Pete]

I assume you are referring to say a bullion silver Eagle.
If not then my answer is not relevant.

These coins are priced at whatever a dealer reckons he can get away with selling.
As long as the coin is not dented or damaged the price bears little to no relationship to shiny or toned.

I would rather buy a nice shiny or slightly toned coin that a black ( out of a fire ) or very dirty ( found in a swamp ) coin.

A silver coin that is dirty can be washed and a toned coin can be dipped for a few seconds in e-Zest to bring it to a nice condition.
You would not notice a carefully polished coin if done correctly but if it was a proof then fine scratch lines are a give away and would devalue a proof.

As for bullion regular coins its all about decent condition and brand new mint issued coins can have multiple scuffs, dings and rub marks.

[JunkBond]

I quite like the saying:

"Leave it for the next owner, they can always clean it if they like".

 

[999magnum]

I dont have really valuable coins. Just your regular Mexican onzas, Canadian totem poles, the gooses. The Mexican Guatemochs(sp?), some Israeli silver coins, some Philipino Silver coins, but I clean them all. As soon as I get home I put the eraser to them and clean the mutha out of them. They're all for me. That's the way I like them.

[tbone]

Depends on the coin and value.  If I'm buying on ebay, anything over about $100 I want in a slab.  I just don't trust most sellers (unless its a big dealer).  Thats one reason I'll slab my own gold coins (excluding generic bullion ones anyway).  I worry about fakes more than cleaned on the bay.  But in person at a local dealer, I can usually tell if its been cleaned or has an issue.  Best advice is to stick to people or dealers you trust for most purchases