How to Care for a Coin Collection
Protect your coins and you may not have to clean them at all. The question of whether of not to clean a coin collection is one that is hotly debated among collectors.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Plastic Coin Pockets
- Books On Coin Collecting
- Tarnex
- Soft Cloth
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Coins
- Coin Album/folders
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1
Store your coins in plastic pockets made especially for this purpose. They are available individually and in sheets made to place in albums.
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2
Protect your coins from exposure to the elements and try not to scratch or mar them through mishandling.
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3
Know that any cleaning of your coins will potentially affect their value. When in doubt, leave your coins as is and consult a professional coin dealer for advice.
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4
Clean your coins, if you feel you must, with products such as ammonia, vinegar, rubbing alcohol or lemon juice. Allow coins to soak in a container of the liquid until any dirt or encrustation has been dislodged.
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5
Allow coins to air-dry or pat them dry with a soft, clean cloth. Do not rub or polish. This may scratch the surface of the coin and will remove metal from the coin's surface. Any wear will decrease the value of your coin.
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6
Use chemical cleaners like Tarnex as a last resort or if you are less concerned with the potential value of your coin. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when you use such products.
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7
Clean pennies and other coins not meant for a collection in a solution of vinegar and salt. Place the coins in a small bottle filled with the solution and shake. You may have to let the coins sit for a while to make sure all the dirt is removed.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Never use household soap or cleanser to clean coins. Their chemicals can corrode or tarnish the coins.
Experiment with cleaning methods on coins you can afford to lose. Once you are confident that your chosen method will work, move on to more valuable coins.
Stay away from cleaning products that contain sulfuric acid. This is especially important for copper coins.
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Comments
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coinguy94
Jul 25, 2009
You NEVER NEVER EVER clean coins unless you want to DESTROY ALL VALUE that the coin has!!!!! -
Godlymom
Jun 09, 2007
HELP! My husband has a coin collection that dates back to the 1700's maybe earlier. We were badly flooded last year and many of his coins were water damaged. Is there a safe way to clean them?
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Aug 08, 2006
After extensive research, I have come to the conclusion that this method is the most respected choice of mine personally to clean Indian Head Cents. Small amount of salt (less than a spoonful) with about 1/8 of a cup of vinegar (thoroughly mix solution before dipping). You may use a softened toothbrush for extra dirty pennies. Rinse in cold water very well, then dry. After use a pink school eraser (the big ones), with the penny resting on a soft cloth for an excellent shine. Then Monster Toning, and Rainbow toning can be created naturally by setting the coins outside in the sun during the summer months. I lay mine in Ziploc bags on a shoe box top with tin foil under them. Sometimes small, ripped, paper pieces will also deliver a greater effect.
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Aug 08, 2006
Use a cleaning agent called DCI612 used by sanitation at big food processing companies. Soak them in it for a couple of days. Careful this will harm your skin, use rubber gloves. Remove them and rinse with water, dry, and store in some type of oil in a jar, vegetable oil is very affordable. When getting rady to put the coins in a holder only wipe excess oil off not all, leave a small film(do not rinse it, gently wipe with a dry cloth) Then make sure the container is air tight to avoid future rusting or corrosion.
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Aug 08, 2006
After extensive research, I have come to the conclusion that this method is the most respected choice of mine personally to clean Indian Head Cents. Small amount of salt (less than a spoonful) with about 1/8 of a cup of vinegar (thoroughly mix solution before dipping). You may use a softened toothbrush for extra dirty pennies. Rinse in cold water very well, then dry. After use a pink school eraser (the big ones), with the penny resting on a soft cloth for an excellent shine. Then Monster Toning, and Rainbow toning can be created naturally by setting the coins outside in the sun during the summer months. I lay mine in Ziploc bags on a shoe box top with tin foil under them. Sometimes small, ripped, paper pieces will also deliver a greater effect.
