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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;marid3, post: 1570889, member: 35968&quot;]OP, here&#039;s what I sent to a young friend who was coin-roll hunting.&nbsp; I hope you find this helpful. </p><p><br /></p><p>Clean your coins:</p><ol> <li>If you collect <u>pocket change</u> for the joy of amassing different circulation coins because you just like to collect pocket change.&nbsp; They’re yours – make ‘em prettier.&nbsp; </li> <li>If you’re a germaphobe (technically, mysophobia is a pathological fear of contamination and germs) and you want the <u>pocket change</u> you carry around to be clean – go ahead. The Centers for Disease Control will thank you.&nbsp; </li> <li>If you intend to destroy the coins.&nbsp; Shine up that penny before using it for .22 practice – it’s easier to see, and still a challenge to hit.&nbsp; </li> <li>If you’re experimenting with <u>pocket change</u> to learn about chemistry – have fun.&nbsp; Remember to wear safety gear, have proper ventilation, and request (and read) a MDS (Materials Data Sheet) from the manufacturer of the chemical.&nbsp; Take notes, and share your scientific experiments.</li> <li>If there are contaminants on the coins which are dangerous to people.&nbsp; Immediately rinse off infected blood (darn vampires), accidentally spilled acid, or other dangerous contaminants (e.g. you work in a bio-weapons lab).&nbsp; Again, the CDC (and I) will thank you. </li> <li>If you need to gently remove enough dirt to identify the coin.&nbsp; Metal detector hunters routinely rinse off dug-up coins.&nbsp; Beyond soak and rinse – stop:&nbsp; If just pocket change, see above, of not, see below.&nbsp; </li> <li>If you’re sending them to NCS, or Numismatic Conservation Services <a href="http://www.ncscoin.com/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.ncscoin.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.ncscoin.com/</a>.&nbsp; </li> </ol><p>Don’t clean your coins:</p><ol> <li>If you think there’s any <u>chance</u> it has <u>any</u> numismatic or investment value.&nbsp; <i>It’s likely true and the reason you’re on this forum, and the assumption everyone is making when they shout “NO!”</i>&nbsp; </li> <li>If you intend to sell or bequeath the coins.&nbsp; Even if you disclose that you’ve cleaned your coins, the person you’re selling or leaving the coins to may not, and that’s a problem.&nbsp; </li> <li>Why?<ol> <li>Personal reasons:&nbsp; It will ruin the value &amp; will reduce the liquidity (how easily you can sell) of the coin.</li> <li>Community reasons: It is or likely will be deceptive to future owners, and damages a piece of history (they don’t make those old coins any more).&nbsp; </li> </ol></li> </ol><p>Maybe clean your coins:</p><ol> <li>While semantics to some, preserving is different.&nbsp; After you’ve done a <u>lot</u> of research, and after you’ve experimented with pocket change and junk coins, you may then tackle PVC damage and other chemical contaminant removal.&nbsp; Beyond that, send them to NCS, or don’t clean.&nbsp; </li> <li>Preservation does NOT include:&nbsp; erasers, rock-tumblers, brushes, catsup, potatoes, etc. </li> </ol><p>Before you clean your coins:</p><ol> <li>If you’re asking, you probably should read this – no matter your budget, it’s worth the cost:<ol> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Coin-Collectors-Survival-Manual-6th/dp/0375723056/ref=la_B001IOFCTG_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1352406560&amp;sr=1-1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.amazon.com/Coin-Collectors-Survival-Manual-6th/dp/0375723056/ref=la_B001IOFCTG_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1352406560&amp;sr=1-1" rel="nofollow">The Coin Collector&#039;s Survival Manual, 6th Edition</a> by Scott A. Travers</li> </ol></li> <li>If you’re digging deeper, then these aren’t bad choices:<ol> <li><a href="http://www.wizardcoinsupply.com/product/coin-chemistry.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.wizardcoinsupply.com/product/coin-chemistry.html" rel="nofollow">Coin Chemistry</a> by Weimar W. White</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Little-Secrets-About-Cleaned/dp/1438912218/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1352406324&amp;sr=8-3-fkmr0&amp;keywords=weiman+coin+chemistry" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Little-Secrets-About-Cleaned/dp/1438912218/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1352406324&amp;sr=8-3-fkmr0&amp;keywords=weiman+coin+chemistry" rel="nofollow">The Dirty Little Secrets About ?Cleaned? Coins: A Common Sense Handbook on Coin Cleaning</a> by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/John-William-Swank/e/B006J7YTFA/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3?qid=1352406324&amp;sr=8-3-fkmr0" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.amazon.com/John-William-Swank/e/B006J7YTFA/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3?qid=1352406324&amp;sr=8-3-fkmr0" rel="nofollow">John William Swank</a> (Oct 20, 2008) </li> </ol></li> </ol><p>I hope that helps. . . .[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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