You should not clean your coins. Most coin collectors see cleaning a coin as the equivalent of stripping down antique furniture and refinishing it.
When cleaning, the surface metal of the coin is often stripped. Anything used to scrub the coin will leave scratches (even 100% pure silk will leave hairline scratches). Most cleaning products will have some type of reaction with the coin's metal and the surface metal can also be removed in this manner.
Your best bet is to leave the coins alone. Cleaning the coin will leave traces - which can be found by the knowledgeable collector - who in turn will not buy the cleaned coin. Also if you ever wanted to send your coin into a grading company, they can recognize signs of cleaning and will send your coin back in a "cleaned" slab (also called a "body bag" in the coin world) - which is usually a greatly decreased value.
If you absolutely must must must clean your coins do not use the method described above as it will react with the metal in your coin. Use 100% acetone (do not use fingernail polish remover!). It must be 100% pure because other additives will react with the coin metal. Place your coin(s) in the solution for several minutes (do not leave in for long periods of time). Rinse your coin(s) in distilled water. Next remove your coins and either pat dry with a soft cloth or allow the coin to air dry (air drying is better as you don't risk scratching the coin with the cloth). NEVER scrub your coins!
I would still advise you to leave your coins as they are. They may not be bright and shiny but that is what most collectors prefer.
2007-10-03 11:18:47
·
answer #1
·
answered by Anonymous
·
6⤊
0⤋
I'm a coin dealer in the Midwest, and here's the CORRECT answer. Never clean coins, especially with the idiotic ideas presented here. If you were to actually have something that has any value, you will reduce or ruin its value by cleaning it. I've seen so many previously nice items that were simply RUINED by someone who knew nothing about what they were doing who cleaned or polished them. Yes, there are "liquid coin cleaners" out there, but most of them are basically weak acids that strip away part of the coin's surface. (You've even acknowledged that the stuff has already ruined some of your pieces!) The freshly stripped surface is now a prime target for new corrosion, which could be worse than whatever was there to begin with, which more often than not was simply natural toning. I always ask people why they decided to clean their piece, and nearly all of them say " Because it was dark". Coins acquire a natural coloration with age, particularly silver coins. This is perfectly normal and stripping it away only leaves an unnatural looking surface that anyone who knows coins can spot a mile away. You are better off leaving it in its natural state. In short, shiny doesn't mean better...the only way a cleaned coin has any significant value is if it is some kind of rarity...and even then its value will have been greatly reduced by the cleaning. No amount of cleaning or polishing will make a used coin a new coin again. So "just say no" to cleaning coins, unless they are of no value. Hope this helped.
2016-05-20 01:40:06
·
answer #2
·
answered by francis 3
·
0⤊
0⤋
You don't clean coins, it reduces their value and may damage them. If the coins have just dirt or grease the go to a hardware store and get 100% acetone and dip them in it, if the grease and dirt fall off good, if not then that;s it. Put coins in distilled water and air dry. If the coins have any rust or raised green verdigris then you leave them alone, for if removed there will be a hole there for it has eaten into the coin. Circulation state quarters are made in the 100's of millions look for a better one.
2007-10-03 13:02:31
·
answer #3
·
answered by Taiping 7
·
1⤊
0⤋
Do not clean your coins.Leave your older coins as they are because if you were to clean them they would lose their value. You should be able to find better state quarters in circulation. I hope this helps answer your question.
2007-10-03 12:52:26
·
answer #4
·
answered by mirrorcoin 3
·
1⤊
0⤋
u should not clean a coin if it were to have value it would depreicate in value,
if you search or look at a coin that was graded it could have a improperly cleaned on the description , they really care if it has been clean or not.
2014-10-25 14:24:41
·
answer #5
·
answered by dylan 2
·
0⤊
0⤋
Cleaning coins with harsh materials is wrong. However, cleaning them with lemon juice is not a bad idea at all.
2014-10-28 22:33:36
·
answer #6
·
answered by Sara 1
·
0⤊
0⤋
Gator Girl is right. If you clean them you will downgrade their value. This relates to all coins not just the older ones.
2007-10-03 11:20:57
·
answer #7
·
answered by BD in NM 6
·
3⤊
0⤋
well i have a totaly different type to clean those coins,,,,just bring a big onninon and stick all the coins in it,,, the acid in the onion will take away the rusty stuff, beleive me
2007-10-03 12:51:52
·
answer #8
·
answered by zako 2
·
0⤊
1⤋
If you think they are valuable, don't clean them, it will detract from their value.
2007-10-03 11:02:01
·
answer #9
·
answered by gator girl 5
·
2⤊
0⤋