how does one make their coins shinier? should this be done, or does it actually lower their value? if not then how do you make them shinier, other than with coin polish stuff. is there like a solution bath or something you can put them in and just wipe them clean? i remember in school our science teacher put a penny in some Lucas salt candy stuff (nasty stuff) and it ate all the dirt off D:
Avoid all chemicals... they will damage the coin! Pretty sure you are safe with a little soap and water as long as you get the coin completely dry afterward.
Most everybody is going to say, Please don't clean the coins. It will generally kill the value. Collectors like to see the original surfaces even if they are dirty or toned. Cleaning will impare or destroy the coins luster, if it still has any. Even cleaning with soap and water can hurt a coin if there is any rubbing of the coin. Drying a coin can scratch it and not drying the coin will leave residue on it. So basically, don't clean your coins.:whistle:
Of course there are times when cleaning coins is beneficial to the coin. Uncleaned ancients have to be cleaned. PVC damage is another example. However when this question is asked it is usually asked by newer collectors and they must know that cleaning and shining a coin can get them in trouble. Last year I was at a coinshop and looked at a 1916 ddo nickel. It was about a $4000 coin that someone turned into a $800 coin by harshly cleaning it. Last week there was a guy who posted on ebay's coin board. He spent a lot of money on 5 raw coins and sent them to NGC. They all came back bodybagged as cleaned. Ask him about cleaning coins.
