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Message:: [QUOTE="CamaroDMD, post: 483188, member: 5233"]Here's the thing...you can clean coins and it does raise their value.  The problem is when you improperly clean coins they get damaged. Look at the analogy used, automobile collectors clean their cars.  That's true, I have a classic car and I clean it.  But, does the cleaning process damage the surface of the car?  No.  The way I clean it is safe for the car.  When business executives clean and groom themselves are they injured?  No, they don't tear big chucks of their skin and hair off in the process...they do it properly. The problem is, most forms of cleaning damages coins.  It puts hairlines in the surface or removes the luster (by removing surface layers).  Proper cleaning a coin is just like the proper washing of a car...it's just a lot harder to do. As far as refurbishing a car, it actually does hurt the value.  If you have a classic car that has never been repainted or had any body work...and is 100% original, it's worth a lot more than the same car that has been restored.  An unrestored car is MUCH more valuable than a restored one.  The problem is, very few cars exist in nice unrestored condition. In the same way, original unaltered coins are worth substantially more.[/QUOTE]