Should I clean it? Rare German coin!

This is my Germany 1930 J minted 10 reichspfennig. As you can see it has some black something on it. I’m not very experienced so I’m not sure if I should deal with this because you can also see the coin is in fairly decent condition despite it. I would love to see the whole beauty of this coin.

 

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Hi never clean a coin that the coin collector moto. It will loose value and collectors tend to avoid to buy them.

 

It could be grease and as it isn't an ancient coin and it is aluminium-bronze, I would wash it with warm water and a mild soap, and if the black something doesn't go away, I would use distilled water dips.

 

You can see the mintage numbers here -
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces849.html
Yours is not that rare.

 

It is often a misconception that old equates to rare. Often with coins that is not the case. You do have a collectible coin there. Most Numismatists would prefer to see your coin as it is. In its natural state. Once a coin is cleaned it becomes a pariah to most seasoned collectors.

 

https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide...40-1924-common-date-cuid-1130208-duid-1319546

 

2 x 2 holders are inexpensive. I would invest in various sizes or non-toxic 2 x 2 flips. The 2 x 2 your coin is in is a little too small. I agree. Cleaning coins is a no no.

 

No, you need to leave as is.

 

...only if you can tell that it was cleaned. In this case, cleaned would be "harshly cleaned" and not "conserved". "A rose is a rose is a rose..."

 

If the state of the coin bothers you, just follow some safe practices in improving its appearance. Avoid rubbing or scrubbing on the coin. Use only clean, pure solvents to remove surface contaminants. Here are a couple of suggestions: 1) wash your hands before dealing with the coin 2) rinse the coin under hot running water (be careful not to let it go down the drain...been there done that) 3) always pat or blot the coin dry, never rub 4) a rinse or soak in PURE acetone (not fingernail polish remover unless it says 100% pure acetone). These steps can be repeated if they seem to be helping.

 

You don’t need so much experience to see that a coin is cleaned even very pro cleaning leave hairlines, specific toning not natural.

A professional is not only liable for authenticity but always to des descriptions so it is illegal for a pro not to tell about cleaning, tooling...when selling a coin. Refuse it and ask for reimbursement. Fake can be missed it is human , tooled sometimes but a pro that don’t tell a coin is cleaned know what he do this is dishonest and put it in a black list and advise other collectors.

 

OK, I won't clean coins, I will instead conserve them!

 

With a low value coin, why not clean it??

 

Never mind to me with such low value coin indeed do some cleaning experience and it can be part of a kind of fun . But anyway at least know as a general principle that a cleaned coin is damaged in some way. Try if you really want it gentle cleaning as explain with water but avoid acid on cleaning.

I prefer you do that on such a coin rather that a scarce one...

 

So, do you collect only ancients that have never been cleaned?

 

I collect toned ones and nice patinas but surely as said Doug some were cleaned a long time ago but antic that have lost all patina I avoid. I know at origin 90 % of antics were in soil.

 

All I am trying to say is that some cleaning is acceptable, either for ancients or for modern coins. You just have to be careful and know what you are doing. Happy collecting!

 

by all means clean it. I find that a good stout brillo pad works best on German coins. Especially those bearing the swastika.

 

Please don't do this