Hello. Writing from California, USA. Some years ago I was given a beautiful coin as a gift. It is a silver Greek coin commemorating the centennial of the royal Greek dynasty, 1963 issue. It has been inside a brown paper envelope for about 20 years and now appears badly tarnished. Is it OK to use silver polish on it or will that devalue the coin? It looks pretty bad in its present state, especially the back side. Many thanks for any help you can offer. I am not a collector per se.
I agree with the others, don't clean. If you can post a picture we might be able to evaluate the coin and make some suggestions. Welcome to CT pam. Bruce
Pictures Thanks for the responses. I am trying to send pix but Coin Talk says the files are too large. Sorry.
Put them on Photobucket (or Imageshack, or anything similar) and copy/paste the IMG code in to the reply box
OK. Installed resizer and resized pix. Can't get the smaller versions to coinTalk. I'm too tired to continue this tonight. Good night all. P.
So your coin will be this one http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/img4/77-86.jpg as far as the design is concerned, but in worse shape, right? Basically I agree with what the others have written - "polishing" a coin will make it less valuable. In this particular case, however ... we are talking about a coin of which 3 million pieces were made. Catalog value according to the Schön is €10 in vz/EF, and I guess the PM value (Ag 835, 18 g) could be higher. So if you sell it to a place that simply looks at the silver content and value, they won't care. If you plan to sell it to a collector, do not clean the piece. Christian
Welcome to CT! Polishing a coin is the WORST thing you could do to it. Collectors like their coins "tranished". Go to a coin shop and buy an airtite brand holder to protect the coin and stop the process from going any further. Store the airtite in a heavy ziplock bag in a safe place away from wide temperature swings and humidity.
The 'discoloration' may be over the top and far too dark or it may be an actual damaging corrosion. In that case the value would only be melt and you would not likely further degrade the surface no matter what you do. On the other hand it may be beautifully 'toned' with rainbow colors. A common effect from the sulfur content in old brown paper envelopes. If it has a pleasant colorful tone it may be worth more than a coin with perfect original surface. Many of us enjoy 'discolored' coins for the esthetics regardless of the numismatic value. Excuse me if I am guessing low when I say the value is likely no more than 30 or so regardless and at that you may as well not hide it away, rather leave it out on the mantel or whatever where you and family and friends can pick it up and marvel at the beauty and craftsmanship that is found in any coin.
I know you said this as a joke, but some ancient coins are cleaned this way, with soft plastic pellets. I dislike it, but it goes on.
Thanks. The process is buying uncleaned coins, place them in the tumbler with plastic balls, and run the machine for a couple hours. Its a cheap way to clean cheap coins, but the problem is that it wears off the highlights of the coins, so you end up with soft details coins, they kind of look like they are "soapy". If you ever see those looking coins on Ebay you know where they come from. Don't buy them, that type of cleaning removes most of whatever worth the coins used to have. Chris
