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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;RiotGrrrrl, post: 56375, member: 3367&quot;]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. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie7" alt=":p" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> I value your opinions. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>After seeing this in <a href="http://www.cointalk.org/thread7274-1856-seated-liberty-quarter.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.cointalk.org/thread7274-1856-seated-liberty-quarter.html" rel="nofollow">another thread</a>, I thought I would post something here that I have on my website. My site is still under construction, so I&#039;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&#039;s beside the point... I&#039;m fairly new to numismatics, and admit to having a helluva lot to learn. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> So don&#039;t tear me apart just yet... lol <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> I just want some feedback. I&#039;ll warn you now so you can brace yourself... it&#039;s about cleaning. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It was proposed to me that while my suggestions are pretty harmless, being as &quot;there are [idiots] out there who will do anything just because they read it somewhere&quot; that I should not put anything about cleaning in my web site at all. The site I&#039;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&#039;t be true to my original statement to omit this part of it.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>So, without further ado, (and now that my shields are up, and my justification has been made...) here it is... <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> Fire away! <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: center"><b><u>CLEANING COINS</u></b></p><p>It should be said first and foremost, that as a rule you should NOT clean your coins; <i>especially</i> 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&#039;ve been with them. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I have found, however, that from time to time a little &quot;de-gooing&quot; 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. <i>If </i>you feel this is the case with your coins, keep these points in mind. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><b>- DO NOT</b> 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!</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><b>- DO NOT </b>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.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><b>- DO NOT</b> 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.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><b>- DO NOT</b> use any kind of grinding or polishing tool. Even the softest buffing heads will scratch and wear a coin&#039;s surface. If necessary, you could brush them gently under water with a soft bristled toothbrush, but be sure that you&#039;re not just rubbing grit all over the face of the coin. That <b>will</b> scratch it.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><b>- DO NOT</b> 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.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>- Basically, you should not try to remove anything that you couldn&#039;t just pick off with your fingernail.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>- Be sure to <b>dry your coins</b> 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.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>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&#039;t touch it with a ten-foot pole.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>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&#039;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. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><i>*(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 <b>not</b> at all for valuable coins. Most collectors do not recommend cleaning your coins, and some are <b>quite</b> strongly against it. Do so at your own risk.) - Riot</i></p><p><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: center"><b><i><b>---------------------------------------------------</b></i></p><p></b></p><p style="text-align: left"><b><i>*hides under her desk and awaits the bombardment* <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie9" alt=":eek:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> Please be gentle... <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> lol</i></p><p></b>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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