coins - should I clean them?

Hi

I've some nice pre-decimal coins, but they are fairly discoloured.
should I clean them? or would it decrease whatever value they have?
If I do clean them, what do I use?

thanks

SpitfireIV

I'd leave 'em as they are. Unless there is some sort of special cleaning agent availible, any other like brasso or silver polish will make them look good for a little while but they'll discolor again quick and just wont look right.

Blade

Never ever clean coins, in most cases you will not only devalue them a little, you will actually make them completely worthless. The only coins that can be cleaned are ones that have been dug up from the ground and the process can be slow and tedious and left to an expert. They only remove dirt and not polish away the natural patina of the coin. The patina is what shows a coin or antiques true age so dealers and collectors can tell they aren't modern reproductions or forgeries. So never ever remove the patina!

celtictiger32

would that also apply to that limescale type stuff that builds up on old coins?
i have a few coins that wouldnt be worth a great deal but some are kind of hard to make out, would i do a lot of damage trying to clean these if not whats the best method ive tried a few recomendations i.e. soaking in nail varnish remover or coca cola but this hasnt worked at all must be just myths.

Blade

celtictiger32 wrote: »

ive tried a few recomendations i.e. soaking in nail varnish remover or coca cola but this hasnt worked at all must be just myths.

Well you've already destroyed them, so it doesn't really matter what you do to them after that. For future reference though, just leave coins as they are.

DMcL1971

I collect 2 Euro commemoratives. When I get them they are uncirculated but have often been handled, you can see fingerprints on them. I usually give them a quick wash with water and washing up liquid to remove these greasy marks before storing them.

I presume this isn't doing their value any harm as they do not have a proof finish to damage or a patina to remove and its only soapy water as opposed to some acidic coin cleaning product that I am using?

Thinkingaboutit

Cleaning coins is a very hard thing to do well. The patina has to be kept. Only clean is there is some form of corrosion, I think.

Blade

DMcL1971 wrote: »

I collect 2 Euro commemoratives. When I get them they are uncirculated but have often been handled, you can see fingerprints on them. I usually give them a quick wash with water and washing up liquid to remove these greasy marks before storing them.

I presume this isn't doing their value any harm as they do not have a proof finish to damage or a patina to remove and its only soapy water as opposed to some acidic coin cleaning product that I am using?

To be fair I would do the same with modern Euros that have fingerprints because they're worse than any damage you would do by cleaning them carefully. I suppose the important thing is, can you see a difference between your cleaned ones and a normal UNC? if not then I wouldn't worry about it.

The other thing I think I mentioned to you by mail is how much I hate the fact that some dealers handle their UNC coins. If you're getting them like that from one dealer, then I'd move to someone else!

DMcL1971

Yes, if I buy an uncirculated commemorative coin I expect it might have minor bag marks if it came from a bag but the least someone can do is put on some gloves when transferring the coin from the roll or bag. It just gives the impression that the dealer doesn't really care about the coins condition. Do they think, if it hasn't been through a few tills or vending machines then it's uncirculated. As far as I am concerned uncircualted means from a bag or roll straight to me without being touched.

Blade

DMcL1971 wrote: »

Yes, if I buy an uncirculated commemorative coin I expect it might have minor bag marks if it came from a bag but the least someone can do is put on some gloves when transferring the coin from the roll or bag. It just gives the impression that the dealer doesn't really care about the coins condition. Do they think, if it hasn't been through a few tills or vending machines then it's uncirculated. As far as I am concerned uncircualted means from a bag or roll straight to me without being touched.

Exactly. BTW you'll get 'bag' marks on circulation coins whether they came from a bag or rolls. Though you can expect more of them from bagged coins of course. On a normal fast run, the coins are spat out rapidly landing on top of each other which of course causes marks. It's interesting to note that the Irish Euro loose sets & coin fair sets from around 2004 on were minted using a slow run, so they have less 'bag' marks. You can officially call these 'slow run UNC'. Before that they were just supplying you the normal mint bags to make up your own sets.