This Vintage Cash Cow Blog Explains How To Clean Old Coins (Hint: Don't!)

Not only are antique coins enjoyable to collect, but they also have the potential to be quite valuable. If you collect coins or trade them, you will naturally want to keep them in the best condition possible. If you are like most people, you have probably pondered the question of whether or not you should clean old coins at some point. When it comes to maintaining the quality of your coin collection, there are certain things that you should and should not do.

The question is, what is the most effective method for cleaning old coins?

Surprisingly, not cleaning old coins at all is the most effective method for cleaning them. If you are a collector of old coins or are interested in selling them, your initial inclination may be to give them a shine and make them look as beautiful as possible. On the other hand, you shouldn't clean old coins because the tarnish and other signs of age that they have are actually a significant part of their allure.

Coin collectors assign grades to coins based on a variety of criteria, including the coin's degree of rarity, the year it was struck, the mint at which it was produced, and, of course, its current state of preservation. However, the condition of the coin is described as having wear and dents, rather than the superficial aesthetics of dirt and grime.

Patina, the green film that develops on old metals as a result of exposure over the years, is actually desired and appreciated by avid coin collectors. Patina was named after the Greek word for "patina," which means "green film." It is in everyone's best interest to avoid cleaning rare coins because stripping away the patina can significantly lower the value of the coins. Because of this, the vast majority of coin collectors almost never have their coins cleaned. In point of fact, the value of 99% of coins does not go up after they have been cleaned, and the value of many of them will go down significantly.

If you are absolutely adamant about attempting to clean your coin collection, the most you should do is give it a very light brushing, or perhaps a quick rinse with water. This should be the absolute extent of your efforts. Coins should not be rubbed; instead, they should be allowed to dry naturally in the air. Coins that have been polished to a shine using brass or silver polish will actually have lost a significant amount of their value.

How can I get the dirt off of old coins?

Coins made of copper, silver, nickel, and gold should under no circumstances ever be cleaned. However, if you are determined to get your hands dirty and try your hand at cleaning some coins, we suggest that you practice on some modern loose change rather than using antique coins. Something along the lines of a penny, for instance

When it comes to cleaning coins, there are a few different methods that are recommended, but cleaning coins with coke is the method that is recommended most frequently on the internet.

Simply place one coin in a container of some sort (a glass, a tub, etc.) and pour enough coca-cola over it to completely submerge it in the liquid. After allowing the coin to soak for approximately five minutes, examine it to determine its current state. You can let it soak for up to 15 minutes if you believe that it requires additional time.

When you have finished removing the coin from the bottle of coke, give it a careful washing in the water that is running cold. The next step is to gently pat it dry and then to allow it to fully dry naturally on a windowsill or another suitable surface.

Caution: When coins are soaking in the Coke, do not mix them together because doing so could cause some coins to take on the color of the Coke.

What other methods are there for me to clean my old coins?

In the event that you really need to clean a coin and are searching for alternative methods, then the following are some other options that you could try.

To begin, we suggest that you hold the coins by their edges rather than their centers, as this should hopefully reduce the amount of damage that you cause.

To clean a coin, you can try rinsing it in distilled water, which is one of the most gentle cleaning methods available. Fluoride, which is added to nearly all treated water these days, can trigger a chemical reaction in certain metals, including those that are used to make coins. Therefore, using water that has been through the distillation process reduces some of the risk that the coin will be damaged.

Another method that you can try is soaking the old coins in vinegar for a period of time. Simply keep the coin submerged in the vinegar for about a minute, after which you should remove any remaining vinegar and allow the coin to dry.

If you don't have any vinegar on hand, you can replace it with tomato paste or ketchup instead. Both of these condiments have a similar flavor. Ketchup has a mildly acidic flavor due to the tomatoes and vinegar that it contains. On the surface of the coin, any oxides that have formed will be attacked by the acid, which will then remove them.

Do you think it's a good idea for me to sell my old coins without first cleaning them?

Yes Numismatists, also known as coin collectors, are not overly concerned about the presence of a little bit of dirt and discoloration (referred to as "toning" in the industry). In point of fact, they strongly recommend that you do not clean your old coins prior to selling them.

You've come to the right place if you have some old coins that you'd like to sell and are looking for a new and simple way to get a great price for them. If this describes you, then keep reading. At Vintage Cash Cow, there is nothing that we enjoy more than the sight of a handful of dirty old coins. Their filthiness actually contributes to the allure of their past, and the knowledgeable members of our staff are able to easily look past a little bit of old dust and dirt to determine the coin's true value.

Because we handle hundreds of old coins every week, we are able to provide you with an accurate valuation of the coins in a timely manner and make you an offer based on the value that the market places on them.

How does the Vintage Cash Cow program function?

You should start by gathering all of your old coins and any other valuables that you no longer need but would like to sell. Put them in some mailable containers, and send them to us using one of the free postage labels we provide.

As soon as your items arrive at our location, we will immediately have our team of in-house specialists examine them and provide you with an offer based on the value of your items. Your total is likely to become more substantial in direct proportion to the number of items that you hand in. If you decide to take advantage of the offer, your payment will be processed on the same day.

It is speedy, uncomplicated, and risk-free. Simply give a member of our helpful staff a call to place an order for your complimentary information packet right away. They are always available to answer any questions that you may have and will ensure that you are kept up to date with everything that is going on at all times.

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