How to Clean a Coin

Contrary to popular opinion, coins should never be cleaned. 

According to a leading numismatist or coin collector, to do so would inevitably devalue a coin as much as 90%.

Despite the fact that most coin collectors are strongly opposed to cleaning coins, here are several tips in case you decide to ignore their advice.

1.         If you have a coin that you have determined is valuable, do not clean it.  Place it in a container and take it to a coin dealer.

2.         Never use tarnish designed only to clean jewelry to clean coins.  The tarnish has a negative impact on all coins.

3.         If the coin is quite corroded, there are professional coin cleaners available to take care of the job.

4.         The proper way to clean a coin is use a plastic container filled with warm water and a capful of very mild dishwashing liquid.  Use a very soft brush to remove the dirt and grime.

5.         Another method is to apply Vaseline to the coin and rub off the dirt with a cotton ball.

6.         Never use olive oil or baking soda (as some have recommended) to clean coins.

7.         After cleaning the coin, do not use regular tap water to rinse it but use distilled water instead.  First pat the coins with a soft cloth and then place them on another soft cloth to dry.

Keeping coins from corroding and/or oxidizing is important to their value.  If you have coins on hand, the best recommendation is to store them in an air-tight container. 

Moreover, if you have checked the coins value online but have heeded the advice of coin collectors, take the coins to a licensed professional who can ascertain their worth and/or recommend a professional cleaner for you.

If you have pennies that you believe are valuable, maintaining their original condition is preferred in order to yield their highest value should you ever decide to sell them.  

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