Why does cleaning coins devalue them?

They can remove some of the original finish or tone and even cause scratching, so they are viewed as a major negative in the world of numismatics. Polishing or rubbing coins can cause unnatural shine or other damage, also reducing the value of your coins. Cleaning is a factor in coins not qualifying for grading.

Does cleaning a coin reduce its value?

According to coin experts, cleaning any potentially collectible coins might cause them to lose value. Using chemical cleaners or scrubbing the coins could leave scratches and marks that will be easy for a skilled appraiser to pick up on.

How do you clean old coins without devaluing them?

Take the coins out and sprinkle some baking soda over them; then use a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush them clean. Rinse them out thoroughly with hot water; using tongs or gloves to hold them to avoid burning your fingers. Place them on a soft, cotton towel and leave to air dry.

How much does cleaning devalue a coin?

Since oil and dirt cannot be removed without cleaning, a small touch can cut a coin's value in half or even more because, again, numismatists would rather have an oxidized but untouched coin than a shiny but damaged one. The bottom line for anyone looking to sell coins from a coin collection: don't clean your coins.

Why shouldn't you clean coins?

Most coin cleaning products are abrasive, and could damage the coin. Non-abrasive chemicals can still react with the other metals found in some old coins. The physical act of scrubbing or polishing can also wear down the design, destroying one of the most important factors in deciding a coin's grade.

Should You Clean Your Coins? Coin Restoration Versus Coin Cleaning Facts

Do professionals clean coins?

If a potentially valuable coin must be cleaned (for example if the coin is deformed) then professional work is recommended. Commonly found coins are mentioned as ideal candidates for any attempted cleaning experiments.

How do you tell if a coin has been cleaned?

Judge the age and consistency of the color, its depth and evenness. The underlying luster should be undisturbed and in a perfect cartwheel pattern, this being especially visible about the obverse stars. Look for hairlines or other imperfections that may indicate the coin was cleaned at some time in its past.

Are dirty coins worth more?

Doing so will remove luster and patina from the coin's surface and will reduce the value. Just because a coin looks dirty doesn't make it any less valuable.

Does boiling coins clean them?

Now most people (including me) do not like to clean rare or valuable coins. Here it is: Boil 1 1-/4 cups of water, add 2 teaspoons cream of tarter, 2 tablespoons vinegar, and 2 tablespoons salt. Add coins and boil for about 3 minutes or until tarnish is removed.

Can you safely clean old coins?

Place your coins in a bowl and pour enough white vinegar to cover the coins. Let the coins soak for at least 30 minutes but no longer than overnight. Remove the coins and gently scrub the residue with the toothbrush. Rinse the dirt off with water and dry with a cloth.

Can vinegar damage coins?

First, if you think your coins might be of any value, do not clean them at all, since you can possibly damage them by soaking in cleaners like vinegar. If you want to clean the coin for some other reason, vinegar should work fine.

What does PCGS use to clean coins?

Our experts use a non-abrasive cleaning method and cleaners, designed specifically for PCGS, which will not diminish the coin's aesthetic value. More importantly, each coin is treated separately. The conservation required for one coin may differ from that which is needed on the next.

Is it OK to clean silver coins?

Soak the coins in warm distilled water and soap.

Add a few drops of mild soap (not detergent) to a glass of warm distilled water. Put the coins in gently and leave them to soak, turning them over every few hours. This is the only guaranteed safe way to clean silver-plated coins (though pure silver is a little hardier).

How do professionals clean ancient coins?

Let your coins sit in distilled water for 24 hours. Note: distilled water is not the same as tap water. You can purchase distilled water at your local grocery store. After letting them soak, rub them gently with a soft bristle toothbrush.

Can salt clean coins?

Copper oxide dissolves in a mixture of weak acid and table salt-and vinegar is an acid. You could also clean your pennies with salt and lemon juice or orange juice, because those juices are acids, too.

Is it worth it to melt coins?

Conclusion. We've seen that a penny melter can get 2.3860¢ for each investment of 1.00056¢ (the cost of a penny and natural gas to melt the penny). Therefore, it is technically profitable to melt pennies. Again, melting pennies for a profit is currently illegal under US law.

What do banks do with dirty coins?

Some stores and banks will take coins at face value if they're not too badly damaged, but it's totally at their discretion. Banks will then forward them to the Federal Reserve for deposit and replacement.

Does toning hurt coin value?

It is considered perfectly normal, but extreme cases of toning can either help or hurt a coin's value. Vibrant and color toning is considered tremendously desirable, but unattractive toning will almost always diminish a coin's value.

Does baking soda ruin coins?

One of these is to clean certain valuable items in a safe, effective way. As for whether or not baking soda damages silver coins, the short answer is typically no.

Does Coca Cola clean coins?

You can soak coins in Coca Cola to clean coins but it is not recommended. Many people claim doing this will make copper coins clean and shiny and restore the lustre.

Can wd40 clean coins?

The combination of light scraping, soaking in oil and rubbing with fabric basically removed this sludgey coating. Since WD-40 is volatile (and not cheap) I sprayed just enough to cover the coin in a porcelain screw-cap container. The final result is shown. The little brownish spots are what is left of the coating.

How long do you leave coins in Coke?

Simply place one coin in a glass or tub and pour coke over the top, enough so that it is fully submerged in the liquid. Leave the coin to soak for about 5 minutes or so and then check on its condition. If you feel that it needs longer, you can soak it for up to 15 minutes.

What are the rarest coins?

Can old coins be toxic?

Re: Toxicity of Ancients

All coins contain quite a range of metals and chemicals, including lead and arsenic. Depending on time and place, both bronze and silver coins can contain quite a bit of lead - up to 10%. Silver and lead are often found together in nature, so cross-contamination is quite likely.