How to Clean Old Coins The RIGHT Way!

Over time, old coins can accumulate dust and dirt, and eventually tarnish. Since you think your collection looks better if the pieces are shiny and look brand-new, it’s time to pull up your sleeves and so some cleaning. This isn’t as difficult as you think.

Before You Start Cleaning Your Old Coins

If you know that your coin is old, unique, and has a very high value, it’s better not to clean it, otherwise you’ll reduce the coin’s monetary value. Collectors and dealers use a grading to determine a coin’s value and if cleaned, the value can drop to as much as 90%. if you aren’t sure, check the mint mark and date. Use a magnifying glass if you can’t see them. If these indicate that coin isn’t very valuable then, you can proceed to cleaning it.

Another sure way of ruining your old coins is by using silver dip cleaner or other polishing creams or solutions to clean any old silver coins. Avoid these cleaners, and just try this simple technique.

What You’ll Need:

• Running tap water
• Mild dish detergent
• Hand soap
• White vinegar
• Malt vinegar
• Old toothbrush
• Container
• Clean and soft cloth

Procedure:

1. Wash your hands with a hand soap. You may accidentally transfer oils and grit from your hands and fingers on the coin.
2. Put a sink stopper in the sink drain. Many valuable coins have gone done the drain accidentally because owners forget this step.
3. Turn on the cold water and wash the coin under it. Hold your old coin by the edges. If you touch the surface, you might accidentally scratch it. If you want the coin’s surface to be protected don’t rub it; just let it stand under the running water for a minute or two. The higher the water pressure, the better.
4. After the thorough rinse, put the coin in a container with vinegar. This will remove rust deposits, tarnish, dirt and other contaminants that remain. Leave the coin soaked in the vinegar for a few minutes.
5. Coins made from different metal types also require certain cleaning procedures. Bronze coins for example, can be soaked in distilled water, while silver coins can do with lemon juice. Gold coins need a hot and soapy water soak. For nickel-clad or copper, you should stick to the white vinegar method.
6. Rinse the coin once more, this time under warm water.
7. Pour Malt vinegar over the coin, then wash it off after 10 minutes using a toothbrush. This gives it a more finished look. If the coin looks clean enough, you can skip this step.
8. If you see any remaining dirt, use a soft, old toothbrush and mild dish detergent to scrub the coin. Don’t apply too much pressure, and only brushed the soiled area. Rinse the soap away afterwards.
9. Dry the coin. Use a soft and lint-free cloth and pat it all over the coin. Afterwards, lay down the coin on another dry cloth to finish drying. Avoid rubbing on it.

Some Tips:

• Avoid using abrasives when cleaning old coins.
• Don’t mix different types of old coins together when you’re cleaning them. Some coins, such as copper, can discolor other coins.
• Soda such as Pepsi or Coke can be used to shine a coin.

While most professional collectors opt for dirty coins, others clean theirs every now and then. Follow these steps and do this the right way.

Information about American Coin Collectibles Sets

There are many different coins which come in sets which are considered American coin collectibles. If you are looking to collect American coins sets for reasons of personal enjoyment to making a financial investment for the future there are several coin sets from which to choose from. Below is some information about four of the most popular sets of coins which are American coin collectibles.

Modern Coin Set Collectibles

One of the more recent American coin collectibles sets is the limited edition Life and Times of Barack Obama 24K gold plated coin set. These coins are legal U. S. tender and coin in sets of five. Each of the five coins in the set feature a different period in the life of Barack Obama. The first coin is a 1965-1969 Washington quarter to represent his childhood years. The second coin in the collection is a 1976 Bicentennial quarter representing his years in high school. The third coin in the collection represents President Obama’s college years in the form of a New York statehood quarter. The fourth and fifth coins are Illinois statehood quarters which represent his professional life and his years in the Senate respectively.

Popular American Coin Sets

The United States mint began reissuing proof sets of coins in 1992. One of the most popular American coin collectables of these proof sets is the statehood quarter series. These coins are easy to collect and appeal to those who are collecting for the true spirit of coin collecting for enjoyment to those who are collecting for investment returns. This is because many of the coin sets of the new U.S. statehood quarter sets can be cheaply obtained. The sets of these coins which contain the first minting of these coins from specific mints can be a little harder to fins and can contain coins which are already valued at over $12,000 each.

Up and Coming Coin Sets

One of the up and coming coin collection sets which many coin collectors have been anticipating is American collectibles of the coins honoring the national parks. Although these coins have just begun to be released many have already stated collecting these coins and are anticipating building there collection sets as each of the new coins are released. Proof sets of these coins have already stated being released for purchase by the public.

Older Collectable Coin Sets

May people enjoy collecting older coin sets for both enjoyment and for the potential of increased value. One of the older American coin collectibles is the five coin sets which include the Benjamin Franklin U.S. Half Dollars made of silver. Proof sets of these coins include a dime and a quarter which are made out of silver also. Proof sets of these coins have a shiny finish which is mirror like when the coins are viewed front the obverse and the reverse. Coin sets of these proofs which have been properly preserved are one of the many of its kind which have increased in value and are seeing a recent increase in demand and value amongst collectors.

3 Steps to Safely Clean and Preserve Your Rare Silver Coins

The value of a coin is something which is affected by the appearance of the coin itself. There are a few different times when you might not want to clean a silver coin. When the coin is extremely old, you might actually cause the silver to weaken and deteriorate by cleaning old coins. In other cases, the silver has been combined with a different kind of metal and cleaning solutions can actually cause the metal to darken rather than to give you the brilliant shine you are looking for.

It is also important to note that the vast majority of collectors will not want a coin after it has been cleaned. They feel that it is not in keeping with the nature of coin collecting if it has been cleaned. The problem is that it wipes away the historical significance of the coin. If you are still ready to clean your rare silver coins, it is important to remember that any kinds of acids will wear away the obverse and reverse reliefs too quickly. This is why it is important to pay attention to the materials used and the way that you handle the coin while you are cleaning it.

Getting Started

The first thing that you can do to clean your coins is to simply soak them in distilled water. Rare silver coins can have mineral deposits which will dissolve into the distilled water. Some will recommend you brush the coins every day while changing the water. This is dangerous as you can actually scratch the coin through using a toothbrush. You are better off using a cotton cloth to rub the coins after they have been soaking. Better still, anything which does not come off after a few days of soaking should be left alone.

Making a Compound

The next thing you can do is to use baking soda to clean your rare silver coins. This is done by simply mixing in enough baking soda to make a paste. Gently rub this paste over the entire coin. The base material will aerate and dissolve anything which might be on the surface of the coin. Allow the compound to rest on the coin for at least 3 hours. You will then use water to rinse the compound off of the coin. You may want to soak the coin in distilled water again for 24 hours.

Drying Completely

It is very important that you dry your rare silver coins completely. You do not want for the coins to rust when you put them into a coin container for storage. Use a clean white cotton cloth to dry the coins completely and use cotton gloves to handle the coins at this point. Once the coins are clean and dry, you should store them in an inert flip so that they will be protected from getting dirty again. You may even want to have them put in a slab at this point to protect them further.

How Coins are Valued

A coin collection can be a fascinating hobby or an investment the can increase in value over time. If you have a sizable collection or want to become a serious collector, it may be wise to get a professional assessment of the value of your collection. Here is how coins are valued:

1. Scarcity or rarity – If a coin if very rare the value will generally be higher. For example, 1913 Liberty Head nickels may demand a price of $1 million or more because there are only five in existence. Antique coins are limited so when they are found, they tend to have a high value. An exception could be old coins that are in great supply. A one thousand year old Chinese coin may only be worth a few dollars because there are a great number of them in existence.

2. Condition or grade – Coins can range from newly minted, never circulated to very low quality, damaged coins that are hardly recognizable. Until recently, coin grading was done on a subjective basis. Ratings depended on the opinion and expertise of the grader. Recently a number of scales have emerged in the U.S. and Europe grading attributes like rarity and coin quality.

3. Bullion value – Coins made of gold, silver or platinum precious metals may be valued not only on appearance but on the value of the metal they contain. When the price of gold is high, the value of gold coins will rise accordingly.

4. Demand – The price of coins is subject to the laws of supply and demand. When a coin is in great supply, its price will be relatively low. Some coins are in high demand because they are attractive or because they were issued at some significant period in history like the moon landing or the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy. High demand for a coin will cause an increase in the price of some coins even though they may not be in mint condition.

History of Coin Grading

Prior to the development of the worldwide market for coins, coins were described as “uncirculated” — the highest grade, “fine” or “good” — the lowest quality. By the mid 20th century, the American Numismatic Association and most professional coin dealers in America adopted a numerical system called the Sheldon scale. This system uses a scale of 1 – 70 with 70 representing the perfect specimen and 1 the lowest quality coin.

Factors in Evaluating a Coin

1. Eye appeal or aesthetic interest
2. Dents on the rim
3. Scratches or blemishes on the coin surface
4. Luster
5. Tone
6. Detail
7. Damage

Coin Grading Services

Two of the most popular coin grading services are the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation and the Professional Coin Grading Service. Coin grading services certify that coins are authentic and give a rating to each coin. After coin is graded it is sealed in an air-tight case to prevent deterioration.

Even though coin grading is used to establish the value of a coin, the process of coin grading still involves a degree of subjectivity. For example two coins may have the same rating but one coin may be more aesthetically pleasing to the public commanding a higher price. In general the higher the quality, the greater the value of any particular coin.

Apart from professional grading or market prices, the greatest value of coin collecting may be the joy that collectors get from this popular and fascinating hobby.

How to Value a Coin

Visiting coin collector websites can be a good start to your research, but the best way to value a coin is to physically meet someone who can help you out. Someone with a practiced eye should be able to physically see and value the coin in front of you. Coin collector clubs, a curator in a museum and even coin shops can all help you in understanding the process of valuing your old coin. If you’re interested in reading this article, you’ll surely be delighted to learn how to clean old coins.

How to Safely Store Your Coin Collection

Storing a coin collection properly is important to maintaining its value. The typical coin jar with coins mixed together in a container will not suffice for a serious collector. Coins in this situation will rub against each other, causing damage, and will tarnish more readily.

Small paper envelopes that are designed for coins can be a good economical choice. Paper envelopes are easy to label and store and prevent the coin jar issue of coins rubbing together. When looking for coin envelopes, be sure to find ones that are labeled as “acid free” and that are specifically made for coins. Cheaper envelopes, such as those made for office use, may cause discoloring of the coins over time.

Albums or folders that hold multiple coins are another choice. Cheaper and more widely available folders and albums may not be ideal for long term coin since the chemicals in them, such as sulfur, can cause discoloration over time.

Plastic “flips” are an option which house a single coin in a piece of plastic that flips open. These allow the coin to be visible without removing it from its case. Plastic coverings may contain PVC that can deteriorate and cause damage to coins, including leaving streaks or blobs on the coins. Mylar coverings are harder, but will not cause the same damage. Mylar lined cardboard cases are also available to take advantage of this stable material.

Slabs are more permanent, sealed plastic coverings that are professionally applied. Due to the cost involved, slabs are best applied to individual coins with high value. At the time coin is slabbed, it may also be graded and certified by a third party with the certification included in the slab.

However you house your coins, you should also consider the environment they are stored in. Although slight oxidation will not always effect the value of your coin, it is best to avoid extremes in temperature. For example, storing coins in an attic may not be advisable. High humidity can also be a problem for your coins. Silica gel is an option for absorbing excessive moisture if you are storing your coin collection in a box or cabinet. In addition to the possibility of direct damage to your coins, humidity and temperature variations may also do damage to your choice of coin storage which could cause indirect damage to your coins.

Security is another issue when deciding where to store your coins. If you have coins that are high in value, a safe deposit box at a bank may be the safest option. In general, it is best to keep collections out of site and to utilize common sense techniques to avoid becoming a target for theft. Insuring your collection and keeping an inventory of your coins can also help preserve your investment.

Storing a coin collection properly is worth the upfront effort and cost. Maintaining your coins in the best condition and avoiding future damage for years to come should be a priority for a serious collector. Some storage solutions, such as a slab, may even add value to your coin. You can determine which storage solution to use based on the value and size of your collection.