So why is cleaning coins a bad idea? Because an improper cleaning can damage the coin’s surface and lower its value. If you’ve inherited a coin, or find an old coin somewhere, do not clean it. And never attempt to clean the natural oxidation – such as tarnish on silver — that forms naturally on coins.
Q. How do you clean a penny without ruining it?
The use of vinegar and salt to clean pennies goes way back. It works on the same principle as using ketchup (Ketchup contains vinegar, salt and tomatoes), but there is less rubbing involved. Mix up a concoction of vinegar and salt. Stir it around to dissolve the salt and then dump in your dirty pennies.
Table of Contents
Q. Why does cleaning coins devalue them?
There’s a reason that a cleaned coin is often worth less than half its original, undamaged value – numismatists simply don’t want them. In fact, in most cases, anything more than a simple surface rinsing with water to dislocate loose debris will actually remove tiny bits of metal from the coin.
Q. How can you tell if a gold coin is clean?
Therefore, if an uncirculated coin has been cleaned, the best way to tell is to see if it has any cartwheel luster. If it doesn’t, then don’t buy the coin.
- Crud around design elements and lettering.
- Evidence of heavy, dark toning on some parts of the coin but not on others.
- Dull appearance in the fields.
Q. How much does cleaning devalue a coin?
If you try to clean it and end up introducing the slightest amount of wear, it will no longer be uncirculated. You’ve just lost at least 75% of the value, and possibly as much as 90% of the value. This of course depends on the price curve for condition of a particular coin.
Q. Why should you not clean silver coins?
Never try to remove the natural oxidation from coins, such as the tarnish on silver coins. Removing it will damage the coin’s surface and greatly reduce its value. In other words, you should never use dips, polish, or chemical solutions to clean your coins.
Q. Does tarnished silver lose value?
Tarnish does not affect the metal content of your silver product, but it can have a modest impact on the resale Value. Dealers and other buyers will often pay a bit less if the silver does not have its original luster. So older US coins for sale sell for less, but still give you the same amount of silver as new ones.
Q. Will vinegar hurt coins?
A common ingredient in DIY eco-friendly cleaners, the acetic acid in white vinegar can help wear away the contamination on your coins. Soak your coins in a glass or other non-corrosive container for at least 30 minutes, up to overnight, and then wipe with a clean cloth or scrub gently with an old toothbrush.
