What to clean them with

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by hockeytime1, Feb 1, 2008.

  1. hockeytime1

    hockeytime1 New Member

    Hi, Because i'm a newb at collecting coins. I was wondering What are good products to clean different coins with? Such as the penny, Nickle, dime, Quarter, half dollars, and Whole dollars? Thank you.
     
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  3. jon67

    jon67 Loves Lincoln's

    steel wool no just kidding
    dont clean coins.
    if they have just dirt a soak and rinse with water is ok. pat it dry dont rub it. you dont want to strip the patina.
     
  4. TC2007

    TC2007 Senior Member

    Get ready for the onslaught hockeytime. The consensus is, don't clean them. If the coins have any numismatic value, it will be lost if they are cleaned. Besides, I like my coins to have the natural look you would expect from a coin that's 50,100, or 200 years old.
     
  5. mr merc

    mr merc Senior Member

    Don't clean them. Many new collectors think shiny is better. As stated above you will only decrease the value of your coins.
     
  6. Coinman1974

    Coinman1974 Research, Research, Research

    Clean Coins.....AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH:eek::eek::eek: Did I read that right?

    Never clean coins, seen reasons already stated. Oh and if you do, see reasons already stated as to why to never ever do that again:mad:

    Just wanted to get my two cents in, as I hate cleaned coins, but glad you asked as now you know.

    Regards,
    S
     
  7. taurus876

    taurus876 Senior Member

    Why do you hate cleaned coins? If done right, they can make some coins look attractive.
     
  8. Coinman1974

    Coinman1974 Research, Research, Research

    IMHO, even if done right they loose value and damage the coin in the long run. I have been burnt with cleaned coins that I didn't know where clean (when i first started collecting)

    Regards,
    S
     
  9. clembo

    clembo A closed mind is no mind

    You did ask before you cleaned (I hope).

    Cleaning can kill the value of a nice coin in a heartbeat.

    I'm getting older but I don't dye my beard because it's supposed to change with age.
     
  10. SmokeMonkey

    SmokeMonkey i brake for peace dollars

    i cleaned a regular 2 pence a few days ago. mistake. it doesnt look as good now. oh well. it wasnt worth any more before i cleaned it so no harm but now its all shiny and just not the same.

    cleaning = bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    DONT DO IT.
     
  11. Indianhead65

    Indianhead65 Well-Known Member

    My AG3 1916-D Mercury Dime cost me $395 dollars. Would you like to guess why? It was cleaned by someone that obviously didnt know any better. This coin would be worth almost twice that amount if it wasnt cleaned. Do you see how the value can be quickly taken away?
     

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  12. Phoenix21

    Phoenix21 Well-Known Member

    There is a difference between cleaning a coin, and properly cleaning. Sometimes it can help, most of the time it can't. Do a search on "cleaning" on the search function, and you'll find a lot of answers in many past threads.

    Phoenix :cool:
     
  13. Just Carl

    Just Carl Numismatist

    WELCOME TO THE FORUM.
    Now here is why you could get erroneous answers. For one thing the grit of the steel wool was not mentioned and it does come in many grits. Use only the finist grit. And note the usage of water for rinse. Only use water that has gone through a water softener. :D:D Obviously joking.
    AS ALREADY NOTED. AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
    DO NOT EVER CLEAN COINS.
     
  14. Coinlover

    Coinlover The Coin Collector

    welcome to the forum!! :kewl: when i first started collecting a few years ago i cleaned all of my coins with brasso. big mistake! :headbang:
     
  15. hockeytime1

    hockeytime1 New Member

    Thanks everybody for the info and yes i did ask before i started cleaning.
     
  16. hontonai

    hontonai Registered Contrarian

    Hydrochloric acid gets right down to the pure metal quite quickly.
     
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