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Re: cleaning coins

Posted by Bill N-T on March 02, 2005 at 15:20:12:

In Reply to: Re: cleaning coins posted by JeffK on February 26, 2005 at 22:02:03:

: Does cleaning coins devalue them? Almost invariably yes. For ordinary circulation coins, nearly anything you could do at home except maybe dusting them would reduce their value.

: If the coins are very valuable but heavily corroded - say just for giggles that you had something from the S.S. Central America with 150 years of ocean crud on it - there are professional restorers who can clean them. However you will pay an amount commensurate with the coins' values to have that work done.

Unless you're a professional in the restoration field, cleaning with anything stronger than distilled water is not recommended. Cleaning liquids or soaps can contain chemicals which can interact with the metal alloys of the coin and cause all sorts of undesirable results. ANY polishing agent or compound will remove some of the metal to attain that "like new" shine - not a good idea.

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: : Does cleaning coins devalue them? Almost invariably yes.  For ordinary circulation coins, nearly anything you could do at home except maybe dusting them would reduce their value. 

: : If the coins are very valuable but heavily corroded - say just for giggles that you had something from the S.S. Central America with 150 years of ocean crud on it - there are professional restorers who can clean them.  However you will pay an amount commensurate with the coins' values to have that work done.

: Unless you're a professional in the restoration field, cleaning with anything stronger than distilled water is not recommended.  Cleaning liquids or soaps can contain chemicals which can interact with the metal alloys of the coin and cause all sorts of undesirable results.  ANY polishing agent or compound will remove some of the metal to attain that "like new" shine - not a good idea.  



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