Good morning. I just bought a BUNCH (around 200) old world coins from a collection that ended around 1948. Many are 1700's 1800's, some are ancient. Many appear uncirculated. I believe this collection, as such, had only one owner-- I have good reason to believe this. I don't know how these coins were handled by the original owner, but I know they had at least some handling recently with bare fingers to get them in and out of the manila coin packets, photograph them for auction, etc. I would like to clean these coins, to at least eliminate the possible fingerprints of the auction house employees. What do y'all suggest? Just mild soap and water? Thanks.
Hello, I would not attempt to monkey with them any further. At this point whatever damage that was done is done and all you could do is more damage. For ancients, many have been cleaned already and there's a little more foregiveness for them but it doesn't mean people want them cleaned further if not really necesssary. Collectors value original surfaces and once something that has never been cleaned is cleaned, there's no going back. Some things had to be cleaned, some do not. It used to be an acceptable practice within the hobby ages ago, but is not anymore. Anyone who deals with coins at a reputable auction house would know enough to handle them by the edges only. If someone didn't, it is what it is now. Sometimes fingerprints will show up decades later.
Unfortunately, not much can be done. A rinse in acetone is harmless to nearly all coin metals, and it would remove possible (new) fingerprints. Won't remove toning. But it will remove the light original skin on the coin that most collectors look for when buying. Some pics would be helpful.
Hadn't thought about pics. Here are the ones I bought specifically. There are hundreds where I bought the remainders in a case.
