No patina, Pitting n coin surface

[James Cameron]

I often see in coins for sale a faint pitting in the coin surface it looks kinda rough, these coins dont seem to have a patina, and appear to have been cleaned of patina.
If this a result of harsh cleaning.
Can anyone explain what im seeing.
james

[jecollinss]

Hi James.

Yeah, it is due usually to brush cleaning and sometimes electrolysis. In many cases identification wouldn't be possible in as found condition. But be careful there are people out there who try to patinate with chemical means. This doesn't always mean the coin is a fake but you have to be careful especially of anything coming from Europe or Canada.