Should I clean old coins before selling? (2024)

Should you clean a coin before selling it?

Generally, it is better to leave your antique metal currency alone than it is to try and erase all the grime and grit off of those coins. Cleaning or polishing rare coins devalues them. So, if you're planning on selling them, get an appraisal before attempting to clean your coins.

Is it a good idea to clean old coins?

This is never advised for the general public. There is no benefit to attempting to clean a collectible coin. Copper never re-tones to its original color and look anyway. Put down the polish before you destroy something historical and throw away a fortune.

Do old coins lost value when cleaned?

According to coin experts, cleaning any potentially collectible coins might cause them to lose value. Using chemical cleaners or scrubbing the coins could leave scratches and marks that will be easy for a skilled appraiser to pick up on.

How do you clean old coins without losing value?

With Soap and Water

Mix a few drops of mild dish soap and water in a small container. Drop your coin into the container and let it sit for a few minutes before using an old, soft toothbrush to gently scrub the dirt off of your coin. Rinse the coin and allow it to dry on a soft cloth.

What is the best way to sell old coins?

The obvious place to sell your old coins is your local coin shop. They will be your best bet for selling low- to mid-range old coins like Wheat cents, Buffalo nickels, junk silver, and scarce silver coins and silver dollars. Check online reviews and feedback for coin stores in your area, and choose a couple to visit.

Do professionals clean coins?

If a potentially valuable coin must be cleaned (for example if the coin is deformed) then professional work is recommended. Commonly found coins are mentioned as ideal candidates for any attempted cleaning experiments.

What is the fastest way to clean old coins?

Place coins in a bowl and pour 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 cup of lemon juice to cover the coins. Let the coins soak for at least 5 minutes but not more than 15 minutes. Remove the coins and gently scrub the residue with the toothbrush. Rinse the dirt off with water and dry with a cloth.

What year of coins are worth keeping?

All quarters minted before 1965 are worth their silver value. All Standing Liberty quarters have a premium above that value, except for well-worn coins. Among Washington quarters, only the 1932-D and 1932-S have a significant premium over the silver value. The 1955-D also carries a premium.

Should I keep my old coins?

Coin collections have a profound and rich history, and to preserve that history you need to store your coins so they will not get damaged. Properly stored coins will be worth more and will provide more money to your heirs when it comes time to sell them.

How much less are cleaned coins worth?

I would personally say that under $500, you can expect anywhere from 25%-50% of the coins value to be lost due to cleaning. Over $500, I think most professionals will take >=50% of the coins value.

How do I find out what my coins are worth?

Reputable coin dealers, Coin Auctions, eBay, and Price Guides are great places to start. If your coins are graded by one of the Top Tier grading services like PCGS or NGC, you can usually get a reasonable value estimate sight-unseen!

Does Coca Cola clean coins?

You can soak coins in Coca Cola to clean coins but it is not recommended. Many people claim doing this will make copper coins clean and shiny and restore the lustre.

How much does it cost to have a coin cleaned and graded?

Coin Grading Costs

Grading prices vary according to the maximum value per coin. For instance, modern coins that are worth a maximum of $300 will cost from $17 to $22, depending on the company of your choosing. Coins with a maximum value of $10,000 can be graded for $65 to $80 dollars.

How can you tell if a coin has been cleaned?

Judge the age and consistency of the color, its depth and evenness. The underlying luster should be undisturbed and in a perfect cartwheel pattern, this being especially visible about the obverse stars. Look for hairlines or other imperfections that may indicate the coin was cleaned at some time in its past.

What does vinegar do to coins?

The combination of vinegar (a weak solution of acetic acid), and table salt (sodium chloride) helps to dissolve the copper oxide, and also forms the blue copper(II) ion, which is soluble in water. The penny becomes shiny again!

Can WD 40 clean coins?

After some scratching at it with hard tools I decided to let it soak in some WD-40 oil for a few hours and then work at it with a cotton Q-tip. The combination of light scraping, soaking in oil and rubbing with fabric basically removed this sludgey coating.

Which coins should I save?

What year coin is the rarest?

1. 1849 Double Eagle Gold Coin. With just one coin currently in existence, the gold 1849 Double Eagle is considered the rarest and most valuable coin in US history.

Is there a free app to scan coins for value?

Coinoscope is a visual search engine for coins. Coinoscope makes coin recognition easy - just snap a picture of a coin with your phone camera and the app will show you a list of similar coins. Click on the coin to see additional information in the web browser of your phone.

Is it OK to store old coins in plastic bags?

For expensive coins that can be tarnished, collectors should avoid using cardboard folders, paper or plastic bags, certain plastic tubes, and any other storage container that is not chemically inert.

Can a cleaned coin be graded?

Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, a cleaned coin and coins certain types of detrimental surface conditions can't be described with a numerical grade. The grading scale used by NGC accords with the appearance and surface quality of a coin.

Does PCGS clean coins before grading?

PCGS Restoration will remove contaminants that are determined to have been deliberately and artificially applied, including putty, grease and other substances used by "coin doctors." Restoration also will remove contaminants on the coin's surface caused by improper care or storage, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or ...

Do coin machines take dirty coins?

Items like food, screws, dirty or sticky coins and other objects will jam the machine. Click here for a list of unacceptable items.

Is it OK to clean silver coins?

Never try to remove the natural oxidation from coins, such as the tarnish on silver coins. Tarnish on silver coins is called "toning," The coin is worth more with the toning intact. Removing it will damage the coin's surface and significantly reduce its value.

What do banks do with dirty coins?

Some stores and banks will take coins at face value if they're not too badly damaged, but it's totally at their discretion. Banks will then forward them to the Federal Reserve for deposit and replacement.

What substance cleans coins the best?

Copper oxide dissolves in a mixture of weak acid and table salt-and vinegar is an acid. You could also clean your pennies with salt and lemon juice or orange juice, because those juices are acids, too.

Do coins get detected in metal detectors?

The beauty of coin hunting is that virtually every professional metal detector will locate coins—whether it's an entry-level, mid-level or high-end model. There are metal detectors specifically designed for coin-hunting, but general-purpose models will all signal when they locate coin targets.