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Cleaning Silver Coins

TNTRASH

New member
Found my first Barber Half today. The coin has good detail but is dull gray maybe from oxidation should I clean it or not, I ussually just rinse silver. The date is 1899 this is the ninth silver half I have found since I got the Etrac 3 and a half years ago. 1 kennedy, 3 Franklins, 3 Walkers, 1 Barber and 1 1807 capped bust.
 
I am a strong believer of not over cleaning coins. All I do is use warm water and just pat the coin with my thumb. Maybe use some detergent. But never anything else.
 
It's true that any cleaning coin beyond gentle cleaning can negatively affect the value of the coin if you ever plan on selling it. Key date coins should be professionally cleaned in order to preserve their value. I don't sell my finds, so most of the time I gently clean them with moist baking soda (if they are common dates and not valuable). For really rust stained or blackened coins, I use the electrolysis method using a stainless spoon, old phone adapter and baking soda/water solution - works really well.
 
I think it depends on what you want to do with the coin. I have some that are really not worth anything and I have no intention of selling that I will clean just because I like the look of the coin cleaned. I think that coin you have is about a $25-35 coin. Its hard to say without seeing it. If you just want it to keep and are not to worried about decreasing the value of it than you can clean it. If you decide to clean it I suggest using Wrights silver polish. It is non abrasive and will make it like a mirror and bring out the detail. I know that is not the ideal and not the traditional thing to do but again it depends on what you want to do with it.
 
Here is a good link on cleaning your coins.

http://goes4ever.mymdforum.com/clean-finds/
 
Normally silver I just rinse, but if it is not a key date, and is dull like you desribe......I never sell my stuff anyhow and I want the common stuff to look good. Here is a tip, you can use a normal pencil eraser to SPOT erase the gray stuff away, just hit the high areas, amd leave the background patina alone and it gives it a very natural look. Try it on a common merc or rosie first to see how you like it.
 
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