Can't wait to see what you all think of this...

This is going to be a bit long winded, so I thank in advance anyone willing to get through it all and offer me their thoughts on the matter. I value your opinions.

After seeing this in another thread, I thought I would post something here that I have on my website. My site is still under construction, so I'll just quote it, and not link it. The link will be in my profile once the page is done and has a permanent domain. But that's beside the point... I'm fairly new to numismatics, and admit to having a helluva lot to learn. So don't tear me apart just yet... lol I just want some feedback. I'll warn you now so you can brace yourself... it's about cleaning.

It was proposed to me that while my suggestions are pretty harmless, being as "there are [idiots] out there who will do anything just because they read it somewhere" that I should not put anything about cleaning in my web site at all. The site I'm building is to display my collection, and is aimed at other budding numismatists. On the introduction page, I state that I would put as much as I could on the site about what I learn so others can learn with me. It seems to me that, as I have asked a lot about this lately, and have learned a great deal, that it wouldn't be true to my original statement to omit this part of it.

So, without further ado, (and now that my shields are up, and my justification has been made...) here it is... Fire away!

CLEANING COINS​

It should be said first and foremost, that as a rule you should NOT clean your coins; especially old ones. This will probably lessen their value and in many cases even seriously damage them. Sometimes removing an oxidized layer from a coin can cause it to oxidize even worse. In my opinion, a little grime on older circulated coins just adds to their character. They carry a bit of where they've been with them.


I have found, however, that from time to time a little "de-gooing" is necessary. For instance, I recently purchased a bag of foreign coins at a flea market in which many of them were covered in globs of greasy, sticky, brown gum that was really kind of gross and obviously had to be dealt with. (Hey! They were a good deal!) I find that often coins found in flea markets, garage sales and such places can have a history of being poorly cared for and sometimes dirt and grime completely covers the date or detail on a coin. If this is the case, some gentle cleaning may be needed. If you feel this is the case with your coins, keep these points in mind.


- DO NOT try to remove any tarnish, rust or discoloration on a coin. Marks like this are unfortunately permanent and any attempt at cleaning these will result in damage to your coins!


- DO NOT use any acid based or abrasive cleaners! (Including vinegar!) For the most part, if I come across dingy, musty, dusty, dirty coins I just bathe them gently in warm water and a little mild dish soap.


- DO NOT use any type of solvent or jewelry/metal cleaner. This will just give your coins a very fake looking shine, and you will be very disappointed in the result.

- DO NOT use any kind of grinding or polishing tool. Even the softest buffing heads will scratch and wear a coin's surface. If necessary, you could brush them gently under water with a soft bristled toothbrush, but be sure that you're not just rubbing grit all over the face of the coin. That will scratch it.

- DO NOT scratch at a coin with anything metal. For picking grime out of the numbers on a date, for instance, so that I can read them better, I use a pointed wooden toothpick. This usually does the trick.

- Basically, you should not try to remove anything that you couldn't just pick off with your fingernail.

- Be sure to dry your coins very well if you decide to wash them. Some coins are prone to rust and will do so very quickly if left wet. Patting dry with a soft absorbent cloth is the best idea, as rubbing or wiping will probably scratch the coins.

Remember, an old coin will never look new again, no matter what you do. If you clean it, it will look just that, cleaned; not new. Seasoned collectors can spot a cleaned coin a mile away and wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole.

My philosophy? Coins are forever, people are not. Even if you have no intention of selling your coin collection in your lifetime, you will eventually pass it down to someone who may. You may think that the coins you have aren't really valuable now, but they may be years from now. Think about that before you do anything to your coins that may damage them in any way.

*(This advise is based on my own experience as well as advice I have gotten from other collectors and is meant for coins of little value, such as those I collect, and not at all for valuable coins. Most collectors do not recommend cleaning your coins, and some are quite strongly against it. Do so at your own risk.) - Riot

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*hides under her desk and awaits the bombardment* Please be gentle... lol​

 

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You're right, cleaning coins is no good. They may look new, but I enjoy having older coins that may have a bit of "flavor" from over the years. Just think about it - you know where a proof coin has been: in a proof set in a box somewhere forever. But where has that 1942 cent that's brown and worn a little bit been? Roosevelt's pocket for a couple years, then through 84 grocery stores, twelve banks, and now, my collection! It's more fun that way.

Maybe I'm just weird! Lol....

~AJ

 

Exactly! I have some german coins from the late 30s, and whenever I touch them, I think of where they may have been... maybe carried through the trenches in the pockets of World War II soldeirs, or even in the possession of Hitler himself. British coins may have been handled by the royal family... there is no end to their possible history.

That's why I love coins so much, and stamps have never really done anything for me. A stamp is bought from a store, licked and send to another person. It just doesn't have the history that a coin has.

 

I know exactly what you mean. My mom has a big stamp collection - nothing valuable - but I've always loved my coins!

 

I agree and disagree...you shouldn't clean coins but what do you do when you have a coin with PVC all over it? you have to clean them to get off the PVC because you sure can't leave it on the coin...
Or any other harmful content.

Speedy

 

Speedy... I must say, I'm sort of grateful you didn't let me have it with both barrels there, but I'm also a little disappointed, as I thought you would be the one with the most to say on this subject.

 

Thank you G! This is the kind of thing I was after. I'll add your input to my page.

 

I might add that everyone's mentionned the problem of PVC and how you should definately clean if you get it.

The worst one of the all in my opinion far beyond PVC is verdigris. Verdigris will spread to corrode the whole coin and worse still can spread to other coins.

If you see even a tiny speck of verdigris get it off asap!

 

OK... I just want to clarify what PVC is... I think I may have a big problem...

Do you mean THIS????

 

Yep... that would be it... crap... ok... I'm on it... all my Canadian coins are in these books.

Is reholdering them going to be enough? They've been in these books for probably about a year, maybe less. I've heard that I should keep my coins away from plastic altogether... does that include the 2x2 cards with mylar windows? And if those are ok, are my coins safe in a book with 2x2 pockets made of that plastic shown above if they are in the cards?

 

And what about those teeny ziplocs? My world coins are currently each in their own zip baggie. I thought that would be a good thing, protecting them from the "elements"... now I'm scared! lol...

 

Sorry...I didn't have a lot of time when I was on so that is why my note was short...I agree with GDJMSP with what he said...so I won't type it again..

The 2x2 mylar flips should be ok...also some flips are called Saf-Flip (I think)...they are great...no PVC.

Speedy

 

I once lost a third of my collection to PVC (and yes it does eat into the coins), so i known the feeling all too well.

Luckily i didn't have expensive coins at the time.

 

I agree Air-Tites are nice....but will they fit non US coins?

I still use flips but not as much as I once did.

Now most of my collection is slabs...folders and yes...flips (but not too many...so far I haven't gone to many Air Tite....but they sure are nice

Speedy

 

Thanks a million guys I'll do that now G. Umm... so the teeny ziploc baggies... I'm guessing that's a no. Man... I'm looking at hundreds and hundreds of coins here... *sigh* This is gonna be expensive

 

I switched to a coin cabinet... i gave up on the adhesive mylar 2x2s. The house is too humid for them and they sweat.

I didn't like the idea of paper ones flips because coins in them might tone... so other than airtites which really won't take very thin hammered silver pennies i was a bit stuck. Thus to be honest i can't think of any method i could now use other than a coin cabinet.

 

Trust me best to spend a bomb on proper storage for them rather than spending a bomb on both proper storage and replacements for damaged ones. Been there, done it, bought a dozen of the t-shirts.