Should you ever clean a coin?

Everywhere I look says no. But many of the coins I have have gunk on them. I certainly don't want to use anything harsh that would change the tone, but is there anyway to remove the gunk without decreasing the value of the coin or changing it's tone? Take the coin below. It has crud embedded around all of the letters and the wreath. Perhaps its just an anal thing with me, but I can't stand it and am so tempted to try to clean it out with a soft plastic pick or wooden tooth pick. Would this actually work or is it a bad idea? If it wouldn't work is there anything that would, or should I just leave it untouched and go crazy every time I look at it?

 

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Yes, but.... and there is always a but, practice on pocket change first.

 

Is that the real color of that coin? Well - I would not clean it. Then again if that is the real color something else has already been done to it so carefully cleaning the devices may not hurt it any more. Lots of nice large cents will have dirt in the devices and I would not recommend it on any of them. The color of your picture bothers me more than the dirt in the devices.

 

The color in the photo is way to dark and brown. The actual color of the coin is much more of a dark copper and not the brown you see in the photo.It must have been the incandescent lighting.

I have two of these cent pieces. The one in the picture in from 1847 and the other one is 1838. Even though the 1838 is older and shows more ware in most areas, it is a lighter color than the 1947 with less ware. I'm sure there are lots of factors that contribute to toning, but is that the way it usually goes? Is there a good way to tell if a coin has been cleaned or altered by the color? A guide somewhere or does it just take a trained eye?

Thanks.

 

IMO No unless it is something that is going to damage the coin. IE: verdigre, pvc damage,etc, If its just dirt when you clean it out depending on how long the dirt in the devices has been there the color under the dirt may be lighter then the color of the rest of the coin and it may look worse

 

Yes, you should clean the coin if the following conditions apply:

If you are tired of the coin, but can't be bothered to sell it or give it away, or want to be certain that you are the last person who will ever possess the coin while it had value, or are missing a couple of chips from your poker set and need replacements, or don't want your golf buddies to think you can't afford a clean ball marker, then by all means scrub those puppies until they shine to your satisfaction.

...or you could just sell the coin back to a dealer, buy one that meets your cleanliness criteria, and vow to only collect modern commemoratives in the future.

Only [partly] kidding. Welcome to Coin Talk.

 

Clean it if you are going to keep it for a long time for example for sentimental. Cleaning with a toothpick can leave hairline scratches that can and probably devalue the coin. I have done the toothpick way but only on a couple of letters. I completely agree with FreezerBurn that you should first try your method on pocket change.

 

That's a good point about removing the dirt. I do have some coins with some verdigris on them. So it would be best to clean those to prevent the verdigris from doing more damage? Would warm water and mild soap do the trick, or something stronger?

 

We need an amature cleaning VS professional preservation thread

flame away

 

Why don't you sell the coins you don't like and buy coins you like instead of ruining the coins you have because of a cleaning compulsion? This makes no sense.

[I know you have a laser-like focus and will clean the coins regardless of what anybody says, but I feel compelled to warn you not to before you turn your collection into scrap so that my own conscience is clear. Good luck.]

 

You might try a method I use on circulated coins first to get the technique down first. I use mineral oil and a extra soft worn our toothbrush. I put a few drops on the coin and brush in different directions rotating the coin to remove debrie from the devices. If it need a second time around I do that. On crusted areas a green thorn will help loosen unwanted material. If you have pieces of sand you might like to soak the coin first, before the bathing with the oil and brush treatment. Sand will scratch the coin so be careful when it comes loose so as not to scratch the fields on your coin. They results are very nice on a one coin at a time basis. Do not try on BU or Proof coins as they will scratch. But on circulated coins with circulation crud on them, I give them a bath with a brush treatment. Here are a few results I've achieved.

 

The best I can tell you about color is to look at examples on heritage. Then just keep looking at large cents and you will get a feel for when they are re-colored.Check out mikes large cents - bunch of nice ones. I am not an expert on re-coloring on large cents - some times the color in the picture just looks wrong. It could very well be your picture. Just keep looking at large cents - it will help you learn in the long run.


LOL - Jack. Who are the amatures and who are the professionals? I do not even have acetone in the house or pure water. I do have a couple of Lincoln memorials I would like to test with - I just can't seem to do it even on a coin worth a 1 cent.

 

Believe it or not coop, but I think that indian looks the worst of the bunch. It looks oily and recolored. Just my opinion - not saying what you did was wrong or did not help the coin, but the IHC just looks wrong.

 

I'll have to take another image of the coin with my scanner to see if the lighting affected the color of the coin. It's been a couple of years ago now, so let's re-check to see it's progress. I will get on that soon. Just not right now. Got to karaoke!

 

I agree. I wonder if any TPG would grade the coin or if it would just come back with an "altered surfaces" designation.

 

I don't really want to sell the coins because most of them have sentimental value. They were my fathers. Some I remember us buying them together when I was just a kid and have long since forgot about them until I started going though his old things. Let your conscience be clear though. If even trying to gently clean a coin will diminish its value, I'm not going to try it. As compulsive as I am about cleaning things I am even more of a cheapskate!

 

I guess this would answer this thread's question.
Could somebody please offer up a recipe so I can find out what year this thing is?

 

If you want to make some practice coins, take some common pocket change, put a few drops of cooking oil on and rub into the crevice very well, add some graphite ( either lock lubricant or grind some pencil leads) to the oil. Put into a zip lock with some lint from the dryer and rub through the plastic and let set for a week or so. This should give you some "novice" level coins to try cleaning with a toothpick, dental pick, green thorn, or other mentioned device. If you have access to a mortar and pestle you can grind the lint and graphite before adding to the oil. You have to wait a while until the oil "sets" the "pocket grime" into the letters and numbers crevices ( the longer, the more challenging). If you leave more than a couple of new light scratches, you are not successful.

Jim

 

Jim,
Thank you very much. I really appreciate your advice. Thirty years of collecting coins, and I've never cleaned nor dipped a coin. I picked up this hobby from my grandparents almost to 35 years ago, and they made it clear to never clean a coin. I think in this case where the coin is completely undefinable, a person would have no other choice.
I'll give it a whirl and hope for the best. Thanks again, Chuck

 

There are many things that can be done but not on Coin Talk

There are many things that can be done but not on Coin Talk.
Use search on topics or send me PM and I will try to help - but this crowed is anti-cleaning to the max. I will say no more here.