Coin Cleaning
If you have been collecting coins for some time now, I am sure that many of you have come across coins that looked like they needed some cleaning. Although you might think that this is a good idea, I want you to read the following article carefully.
Coin collecting beginners often make this crucial mistake. It is a known fact that, cleaning coins can actually damage the surface of the coin that will degrade the coin value. In fact, coin cleaning can damage the coin surface so much, that it becomes almost invaluable!
Always try to preserve the coins more or less in the condition that you have found them. For beginner coin collectors, finding a reputed coin dealer with enough coin cleaning experience is very important. A coin dealer should be able to inform you of your coin collection value. Once your coin appraisals were carried out, you can ask the coin expert about cleaning coins without causing any damage.
These coin experts have the knowledge and the experience in handling coins for various collection purposes and should be able to tell you exactly how to go about cleaning coins, without losing the various characterizing marks.
Once your coins are clean, you should store them in a protective cover or folder as quickly as possible. Keeping your coins inside this protective folder, will ensure that the coins stay in good condition and will prevent further coin cleaning.
Since it cost money to take our coin collection to the coin shop for cleaning, especially if you are new to collecting coins, you should find out from the coin shops what the various items are, that you can use to keep your coins in mint condition.
Important things about coin cleaning:
· Cleaning coins with regular household solutions is NOT a good idea.
· There is no real need for you to regularly clean your coins, as this most probably reduce the value.
· You don’t need to clean every coin you come across, except if it is covered in dirt (after treasure hunting J)
· If you don’t know how to clean coins, don’t try to; rather let your coin collection be cleaned by an expert until you have gained enough coin cleaning knowledge and experience
· If you want to clean some of your coins, start with coins that has no significant value, so if you damage the coin, it wont cost you a fortune.
· If you can afford it, it is always the best practice to leave your coin cleaning to a trusted professional service.
Since we all cherish our coin collections, it is not worth taking any chance cleaning coins if you are a new coin collector.