Dirt and grit on coins in coin rolls.

How do you handle the dirt, oil, and grit on coin roll finds you plan on keeping. Do you do something to them to remove the dirt and grit or just leave them alone? I am not talking about coins you have no intention of keeping which you are best to leave them alone but coins you plan on keeping.

 

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It's long and often said, "Don't clean your coins" you will lower the value. If you are talking a cake of bubble gum so you can't see the coin, gently rub it off but... Don't clean your coins. Cleaning will almost always cause some damage to the surface. and The "patina" is half the charm.

 

I am not talking about tone or tarnish.

I am talking about the grit and dirt you get on your hands while searching coins, not the patina. What confuses me is that I found a penny from 1910 in circulation. This penny has been handed person to person, dropped, and clanged together with other coins in someone's pocket. It may have possibly went through laundry or was in someone's pocket while they were swimming in a chlorinated pool or the ocean which would constitute "cleaning". After all this I am going to damage it by dipping it in some alcohol and distilled water? The choice to wash dirty coins is not an easy one but sometimes necessary. I can feel the dirt and grit on wheat cents I have found while coin roll hunting.

 

eh - if it really as you describe, cleaning it with some mild soap and water is fine.

 

I soak them in alcohol and distilled water

That usually does the trick. It doesn't seem to change the appearance of them but have accidently washed a penny in soap and water and that did change the appearance. It gave it a shiny appearance which I am trying to avoid. My purpose isn't to alter the appearance if it, just get rid of the dirt and grit.

 

There are threads that discuss the possibility of using acetone. Search for those.

 

yes I heard this too

Isn't acetone though a chemical though? I should look into this though. I am not looking to remove any toning though. Will acetone do this?

 

I don't believe that it will remove toning. Search for the acetone threads. There will be answers.

 

I have an electric toothbrush with a pulsating water pick. When I have a coin with dirt and/or muck on it I first hit it with that, usually does a pretty good job.

Edit: I'm talking about using the water pick, not the toothbrush