To clean or not to clean?

[cuttybce]

Hello fellow CRH'ers-

Just curious how many of you leave your CRH finds dirty versus cleaning them. I much prefer leaving them exactly as I found them...I like the worn, vintage look a lot (not that everything I find looks worn...some are in much better shape than others). I have also heard that cleaning can make matters worse especially if done incorrectly.

Just thought I'd go around and get your opinions.

Happy Hunting!

 

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[dave5710]

I haven't cleaned any coins that I have found coin roll hunting. I don't see where it would help much. I have tried cleaning some of my metal detecting finds, and I can't see much improvement in those. But to tell the truth those were LC's and IH's, not silver.
Most of the CRH silver coins are considered junk silver, because we are finding mostly common dates, that are well worn, and they wouldn't have any value over melt value. Every silver coin I get is compared to the one already in my collection, (if I have it) and the better coin stays and the weaker coin goes into a pile to be traded for Morgans or Seateds that I don't have and won't likely find. The person I deal with does pay a premium for Barbers and older though. I wouldn't let a rare date go as junk silver.

 

[Emperor Findus Cladius]

It depends on the coin. I found about 20 40% one time in a box that were real crusty like they had been in a fire. Many were hard to tell the date. I put them thru the tumbler and they cleaned up real nice. Since they were only for bullion anyway, cleaning them was not an issue. 90%, generally leave as is, unless like the 40% I found, then they would need to be cleaned.

 

[obediah]

I've gotten to the point now where I just clean them all unless of course they do not need it; the grime off of them makes them look better all the way around.

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[jim4silver]

Any "junk" silver coin can be cleaned, since it is only worth its silver content.

Any numismatic coin should NEVER be cleaned. Most people use the word "clean" differently.

Bad "Clean" means using abrasive or polishing wipes or liquid, dips, other types of jewelry cleaner.

What this type of cleaning does is remove the original mint luster. When it is gone it is gone forever.

I have seen old US gold coins with great looking (probably MS 63-65) details not be worth more than the gold value because somebody improperly cleaned/polished it. With practice you can tell when a coin has been cleaned. I have learned to do this myself and it has helped me immensely. Silver is easier to spot than gold when it comes to cleaning if a dip is used. People try to remove the toning and the coin color is completely screwed for good. Abrasive and wipe/polish past use is easier to spot in both gold and silver.

Sometimes a skilled coin enthusiast can get away with a very mild quick dip if they know what they are doing with a gold coin. I know a person that has done this before he has sent coins in to be graded and they were graded (the top tier coin companies will "body bag" a coin they find to be cleaned and not grade it).

If a person wants to soak their coins in warm soapy water to remove dirt or grime and this is done carefully it is probably safe. Also, soaking in rubbing alcohol for a short time is OK too. But I would not do either with a rare or valuable coin

Jim

 

[jrf30]

I use soap and water and pat them dry if there is encrusted dirt. But for stains or toning or silver darkening? I leave them be. I have always heard that cleaning is a BAD thing. So I don't clean, except for dirt, and then only with soap and water. And I don't rub, I let them sit in it for a few hours, then remove them, rinse and pat gently. No rubbing, to not make scratches on the coins.

My thougths. :-)

 

[jim4silver]

And I don't rub, I let them sit in it for a few hours, then remove them, rinse and pat gently. No rubbing, to not make scratches on the coins.

My thougths. :-)

Exactly right. On the old US gold coins, rubbing them even with your fingers can cause rub marks that can be detected on the high points of the coin's details. Now I am only talking about MS quality coins with respect to this, but it can mean the difference between an MS grade and an AU grade, which can mean several hundred dollars in value depending on the coin.

Jim

 

[rileyboy]

I agree with everyone here. NEVER clean any coin that has "numismatic" value.
rileyboy

 

[fistfulladirt]

It's all a matter of personal preference. I've dipped lots of coins. I've cleaned $100 indian heads that have come out of the ground. Who cares? I've cleaned lots of dug coins, copper, silver, I've put 100 year old wheaties into the tumbler for an hour. I will not touch gold though. I'm specifying DUG coins here, some may or may not agree. Some may prefer a coin with natural toning or patina. Some may prefer cleaned. I don't plan on selling anything I have, it will be passed down, so, I really don't care. ffd

 

[Hi Ho Silver!]

Leave the coins alone. Silver is Silver! You will ruin a valuable coin if you clean it.

 

[fistfulladirt]

Leave the coins alone. Silver is Silver! You will ruin a valuable coin if you clean it.

I respect your opinion.

 

[jim4silver]

Leave the coins alone. Silver is Silver! You will ruin a valuable coin if you clean it.

I respect your opinion.

An exception to all this "cleaning" debate is bullion silver bars and rounds. I clean them all the time. I hate it when they show toning. Since they are not real "coins" and have no numismatic value, I dip them and they look brand new. However, I would not do this with American Silver Eagles or Canadian Maples because when I have done that in the past they wind up looking worse for some reason.

Some of the gov minted silver rounds get those "milk spots" that cannot be removed. I have seen this in ASEs, Maples and Philharmonics. I don't know what causes them.

Jim

 

[mts]

As others have said I don't clean coins with numismatic value. But most CRH silver has no numismatic value. If a coin is in decent shape then I don't touch it. But if a coin that is worth no more than melt value is really crusty and it bothers me then I go ahead and clean it up with whatever makes it look nicer. It doesn't ruin the "value" of the coin anyway so it is all a personal preference.

However, after cleaning a dozen or so silver coins over the years I'm finally starting to develop a distaste for super shiny looking coins. When I first got into collecting silver and other coins I liked them to look all shiny and new. Now I'm disappointed with some of the coins that I've "ruined" by shining them up with silver polish. They just don't look "right". Their value hasn't changed at all. But they don't look as good to me now.

So take it slowly when it comes to cleaning your silver. Do a few coins, let them set for a couple of months, and then go back and reevaluate how they look. You may find that you have changed your mind about whether or not you like them to look all shiny and new.