Cleaning silver coins requires careful, non-abrasive techniques to avoid damaging them or reducing their value. Common household items like baking soda, dish soap, and white vinegar can be used to clean silver coins safely. Never use abrasive cleaners or harsh methods when cleaning your silver coins.
For lower end coins (read Junk Silver), cleaning really doesn't effect the price at all, as most of the value in the coin is due to its metal content. However, as a coins value becomes more and more dependent on rarity, the effect of cleaning on the market value increases exponentially.
The only kind of cleaning I do to a coin is a simple bath in warm water with some dish detergent mixed in. Agitate with a soft brush and that should get rid of any loose dirt and grime on the coin's surface, but preserve the patina.
Distilled water: Distilled water is best for cleaning silver coins and bars because it does not contain minerals that can leave marks on the surface. Baking soda: Baking soda is a natural cleaner used to clean tarnished silver coins and bars.
Yes, vinegar is another safe and natural way to clean tarnished silver. It is acidic, so it easily buffs out those spots. If you want to use vinegar, completely soak your silver in undiluted vinegar first. (For bigger pieces this may be impractical.)
Yes, you can use hydrogen peroxide to clean coins. It can remove stains and tarnish and won't damage your coins' surface. However, it's best to use a diluted form of hydrogen peroxide instead of concentrated.
The theory behind this cleaning method is that the phosphoric acid in the coke, will remove tarnish that has built up on the coin's surface over the years. The method is simple. Submerge the coins in Coke for 1 hour, then clean off with water and a toothbrush.
Ultrasonic Cleaners
These coins are cleaned by using distilled water with a small amount of detergent in a special vibrating container. Acid based cleaners will eat away at a coin's surface diminishing its value.
Don't use toothpaste – Toothpaste is extremely abrasive. It can make your coins appear shiny, but cause significant damage to the surface.
A: Generally, cleaning tarnished silver coins using gentle methods like the baking soda method should not significantly reduce their value. However, harsh cleaning methods or excessive polishing can potentially damage the coins and lower their value.
Is silver magnetic? Silver, in its pure form, is not magnetic. If a piece of silver attracts a magnet strongly, it's likely that the item is not pure silver but rather a silver-plated material with a magnetic core.
Tip 1 – Find a low humidity environment
Silver coins however, often have a collectable value above the spot price. So it is best to avoid high humidity environments. Air conditioned, underground vaulting facilites such as Guardian Vaults can help keep your silver from tarnishing.
Cleaning old coins might seem like a good way to revitalise the appearance of a treasured item, but could in fact reduce a coin's value significantly, and should be avoided. Particularly in the case of old precious metal coins, cleaning them is most definitely not recommended!
It's a real asset that you can hold. It has intrinsic value. Take that Jerome Powell. Silver is relatively cheap (compared to gold) – With the current gold to silver ratio at roughly 88 (right around the historic average), silver has a much lower barrier to entry for acquisition.
Use distilled water, and rinse with distilled water. Acetone is another commonly used solvent, but there is a fire hazard that you should be aware of when using it as a coin cleaning material. Fingernail polish remover contains acetone, but it has other chemicals that may cause damage to upper grade coins.
While you may be tempted to polish your coins to make them look shiny and new, proceed with caution. Polishing and/or cleaning coins can reduce their value. Older coins that show deep age coloration are more desirable than coins whose surfaces have been stripped away by improper polishing or cleaning.
In the 1960s, the U.S. stopped minting silver coins because they'd become too expensive, he said. So coins from 1964 and before are more valuable. Some are worth a decent amount of money. If they're not rare, they can still bring in 12 times the face value because of the silver.
In addition to silver polish you may try corn-starch (mixed with a little water), hand sanitiser, or window cleaner. Another method is to try gently brushing with ketchup or toothpaste. After polishing, wash and thoroughly dry your silver.
Dirty silver goes into a foil-lined pot with baking soda, salt, and water, and as the water boils, the silver gets clean and the aluminum foil gets tarnished – right before your eyes. You can do this same procedure at home to clean your silver before a dinner party or special occasion.
Another great way on how to clean coins without damaging them is by soaking them in isopropyl alcohol and salt. These two ingredients are coarse and acidic, which is an effective way to target built-up dirt.
Place the silver pieces that you want to clean in a bowl or container and pour over the coke or soft drink of choice. Allow the items to soak for between one and three hours depending on their condition. Then remove them and rinse thoroughly in clean water.
What should you not clean silver jewelry with? Ingredients that contain sulfur can damage sterling silver, including mayonnaise, mustard, and onions. Chlorine damages silver, so don't wear it in a chlorinated pool. Most skin and hair products can be harmful to sterling silver as well.
Dust your silver every so often using a soft cloth—it will help keep the tarnish away. And whenever you start to see it slightly tarnish (which will vary depending on the piece and how pure the silver is—less sterling tarnishes more quickly), simply give it a light cleaning using a gentle dish soap (like Dawn).