Thank you Dan. I couldn't agree more. I can't stand when ppl say " never clean your coins" and just leave It at that. I believe in proper restoration of coins with out jeopardizing the orginal integrity of the coin.
Daniel, I learned a lot on watching your video, thanks Now I have a question. I found 2000 D Massachusette US quarter in a silver planchet. Silver planchet supposed to be on San Francisco mint only. Is this rare?
hi sir, can i ask, if i use water and a common household bar of soap, and wash the coin with my bare hands and soap for about 30 seconds, then rinse and pat dry with a towel, would this remove the patina or damage the coin??
Thank you so much. As a novice coin collector it's very nice having community that is so generous imparting their knowledge to the rest of us.....great videos.
I'm probably older than many of the coins in most people's collections. This being said, I have been advised by the so called experts, of my generation to never, never attempt to clean any coin no matter what the condition of the coin. I had acquired a somewhat extensive collection of coins over the years. Unfortunately, I gave up on collecting coins when it became too expensive to acquire some of the coins needed to complete my collection. Coin collecting was a fun and fascinating hobby enjoyed 😉 by many, usually started when young. Most of the coins could still be obtained from the change received in day to day transactions. As a young boy my grandfather often gave my sister, and my brothers and me pocket change whenever we visited. The coins he gave us included Indian head pennies, Buffalo nickles and Mercury dimes and occasionally even standing quarters and even walking half dollars. I would eagerly sort through the coins to add to my collection. I also traded coins with one of my best friends. However, when I eventually had to resort to purchasing coins, as the hobby grew and the ranks of collectors swelled, I gave up and sold my collection. Coin collecting was no longer enjoyable for me. Now I am only interested in purchasing certain key coins to be given as gifts 🎁 to my sons and daughters and my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. So cleaning some coins are worth the effort in order to return the coins to a legible condition in order to make out the dares.
This is the rule of thumb I use.. if it only sells for its weight in metal, do as you wish.. if it has more value than its weight in metal, then don’t clean it.
Daniel, my name is Steve I just got through watching your video on cleaning coins. I'm a somewhat of a coin freak. I also metal detect I don't even clean the coins I find. I've seen some very nice coins cleaned before and I knew that they had ruined a prize they thought they had. It's a waste to watch some people try to fool not only themselves but others. I enjoy your videos. I can tell a professional at what he does, and I can tell you have put the hours in your passion. Thanks for your time. Respectfully Steve
Thank you so much! I'm about a week into coins. Mostly pennies. Have watched enumerous videos from countless sites. Had a lot of questions. I have learned so so much from you that I just don't click on anybody else's anymore. Just wanted to tell you that. Thanks, Daniel!
Thanks Daniel, everything you spoke of makes perfect sense. I've been dealing with this issue for sometime now; however, I don't trust just anyone's answer to this delicate question. You I trust your judgment, you are a bright man and I sincerely thank you for your point of view. Blessings, Louis
Hey Daniel I just want to thank you for keeping a great attitude and reputation while maintaining the great standards of cion dealers. You are a phenominal teachers with an excellent standard of honesty. You have showed me a great deal of key factors in collecting and maitaining my coins. For tbis Id like to show some of my grattitude by asking you to help me sell my 1943 copper cent. I am a 57 year old teenager that has sustained a traumattic brain injury . Now this was due to a car accident that happenedde o back in 1987. I was left in a coma for 3 weeks and one day (22 days) . When I awoke I was paralized on the right side of my body. And have been recooperating since. This recooperation process has been so difficult in that my brain is so slow at processing my thoughts that in turn makes everything I do ten times harder for me to accoplish
Dude! I am glad that you addressed the copper issue at the end of the video 👍 I didn’t know that acetone will turn copper pink 👍 One thing to bare in mind when considering the cleaning of a coin is the reactivity of the metal that it’s made of. What if the coin has something on it that has protected it for fifty years and you remove it ? Well, you may get bright spots where the gunk was. THINK BEFORE YOU CLEAN 👍
100% acetone won't react with metallic compounds. It is an organic solvent. That's simple chemistry. However, acetone that isn't 100% pure may well have numerous other additives that are reactive.
I'm new to this area. However watching, and listening to your videos is amazing to hear about what to look for in coins as far as colors and errors. Also, I'm glad to hear about " How to clean up your coins" I'm guilty of using toothpaste baking soda, and vinegar( not all at once) I did it different times. It didn't come out clean!! Thanks Daniel! Luz
Thank you for the excellent advice. Stumbled across a video on coin collecting, watched a few more, then started looking at the coins in my old coffee can, aka piggy bank. Found 3 DDO quarters in the first half hour. Very exciting and I'm hooked. One was pretty dirty so I just used enough water to see it better. So much talk about color and patina. Want to have them professionally graded but didn't know if I should send as is or not.
I have been thinking about this for a while! Thanks for clearing this up. It makes sense to clean off the dirt without harming the strike layer, but if it is damaged, that’s what we don’t want. It never made sense to me to leave a bunch of dirt on a coin to where you couldn’t really see the details! Why would that be wrong to clean? I want to see my coin!!! Lol. I got some really slick shield nickels and completely doused them in Nickadate until some great details came out. I wouldn’t sell them as they are clearly damaged, but they’re mine and I like the details in them. They look cool to me! Again, thanks for clearing up a weird area in coin collecting for me.
As a metal detectorist I now leave my old copper coins alone. Not soon enough though found out trying to clean a1822 Large Cent I lost some detail on it. Thanks very informative 👍
I just found your video and subscribed. I'm glad you explained that, I'm fairly new to buying Silver and Silver and Gold vintage coins. I have a couple that are just filthy but when you look up close, there not scratched up at all it's almost like someone had a fairly new coin and dropped it in the dirt and it layed there for 40 or 50 years. So I've been trying to find a way to just get the dirt off without damaging it. Everywhere I've looked it says "DON'T EVER CLEAN YOUR COINS!" But like you said, someone is cleaning them and it's ok.. Thanks!
Thanks for the info. Somebody said to use olive oil. But that person was adamant about NOT cleaning any coin. I have tried to remove some crud from coins with soap and water and a q tip myself. But I was under the impression that you don't even touch the coins with your fingers. Thank you for your knowledge and showing it on UA-cam.
I am a metal detector guy and when coins come out of the ground you can't even read a date, I found Mothers Mag Wheel polish and a tooth brush you can bring them back from the grave.
Man, I used MS70 on an 1848 Prussian piece, it was so tarnished that it was hardly recognizable, I really hope I made the right move... The reverse looks fine, however, the obverse is the part that you can tell was modified. Either way, it was nice to know that the MS70 doesn't do any major damage, thanks for all the information given!
I would like to add that the decision to get your coin cleaned might also depend on what your piece is. If you want to clean some common date sliver dimes you find metal detecting, I say who gives a damn. Clean them using swamp water.
Under normal circumstances, no. If the coin isn't a high numismatic value coin and (or) crud needs to be removed, I personally feel it can be cleaned. Any of my lesser value coins in my albums, I've no problem with gentle cleaning. Higher grades and those I'd like to have slabbed, I wouldn't. Type 1 is as far as I'd go.
If it is a key date - I leave it alone. If it’s circulated Constitutional it is almost always scratched up a bit already. If it is a gem coin pulled out of circulation, it’s usually already pretty clean. My experience is if you had two identical Mercury dimes, say both were equally damaged, but one had been shined/cleaned with the baking soda and foil method, the cleaner coin looks better and will sell for more. If the internet tells me my coin is worth $4.50, I’m probably going to try and get $9.00 out of it, and being clean helps that. I’ve got a very old, beautiful Morgan that is in incredible physical shape, but it is tarnished damn near black. I will never even think of cleaning it.
Daniel, just wanted to let you know that I have a lot of respect for what you are trying to share with our community. God bless you my brother in Christ Jesus 🙏
If a coin goes through the wash by accident is that considered damaged? And if a coin was "washed" using baby shampoo and water, then patted dry, does this damage a coin? Thank you. I love your videos. I am learning a lot!
Daniel, Thank you for clearing this up, sometimes however I believe "restoration" , cleaning "Proper method", etc. is simply a play on words to justify what has been done to a coin, also a "Problem coin should be one that's only value is melt. Why would anyone say "problem coin" and then sell it. I mean who wants a problem anyway??? This is only an opinion, Again Daniel, Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've just began collecting, my dad left me his coin collection and I've become interested. I appreciate these vids, and have subbed for more. I also was wondering where I might find forums of collectors who can look at my coins and give me a better understanding of what is valuable and what isn't
Thank you for your always informative videos. As a relatively new collector I often use your videos as a reference as which coins are valuable which web sites I can use to verify my suspected valuable coins and any coin questions I may have . I find your video as wealth of information with out all the carnival antics . Just strait up with minimum theatrics . I thank you for information.
sometimes I clean my silver dollars with virgin olive iol- it should be in a glass container like a small bowl. it works best with coins that have dirt and crud on them.i soak it for a few months, changing the olive oil when it starts to change color- the idrt just soaks and falls off- I then rinse it in warm water, make a mild solution od dawn dishsoam and warm water,swish, not rub it around to get the oil off, then rinse it again in warm water and put it on a soft cleaning cloth,lightly pat it dry,rol the rim on the towel so the reeds dry, then leave it out for an hour to dry. I wear gloves- it just upgrades the coin.
Hi Daniel. Could use Blue Ribbon which is very very expensive or I saw a man use something that a dentist discovered called Conserve Safe Coin Solvant. Which doesnt ruin the lustre or destroy the integrity of the coin in anyway. But remove PVC marks grime dirt oils. And has his coins come back from the graders with top grades. I wish there was a solution for carbon spots on my 1954 New Zealand Pennies. Nice coins ruined.
Hi Daniel. I am learning quite a bit from your you tube pages. Recently I have been told by my doc to learn and do something that will keep me busy and I would get great enjoyment out of it. So, getting into coin collection seemed like a place to start. Today so far I am having great success. I am mainly collecting pennies and nickels. How did you start? Where do you get your coins from? The Bank? I happened to get a 2yr old Red Book of US coins. It was a great find. I liked the articles and info as a newbe..................lol Thanks for sharing info. Vickie C.
For hammered finds cleaning is in particular an absolute no no. Mud and dirt can easily removed by brief soaking in warm water and then running under the tap. Removal of the black oxidised layers that often accompanies the surfaces of all coins erases they're charm, key evidence of they're age and undoes the centuries long processes of exposure to the air and from being in people's hands. Unless the coin has a low value or its badly corroded they are better off being kept the way they are. Each coin is different and should be allowed to age in its own way.
Thanks for telling me! Im really new to coin collecting so luckily the only 2 coins that i think are rare are a South african 2002 world cup 50c and a South african 1c coin
What are your thoughts on using the baking soda method? Sitting coins on aluminum foil in basically warm water. Junk silver only and already damaged cull common date peace dollars. Some coins I have were previously buried by the prior owner and are otherwise filthy haha. Thanks!
What are your thoughts on using a dry Jewlery Cleaning and Polishing cloth? Not using any other rubbing or polishing compounds. White Vinegar and origional Tobasco Sauce...are they too abrasive? What are your thoughts of using a Jewlery Dip cleanser?
I'm more about stacking silver than I am about collecting coins but I do like and respect the collecting coin community I have some coins but I want them to be shiny and clean but I've decided that I'm not going to clean my coins I have some the Morgan's I've decided to trade those coins in and pay the premium for shinier ones instead of devaluing them because I plan to keep my silver and I want shiny silver but I don't want to step on anyone toes so I figured just spend the money on trading them for shiniy ones . So whenever I get the itch to buy some coins I'll just trade up and get my fix like that.
I'm not as respectful of the community as you are. I get the thing about preserving the natural striking layer, in order to have a historical token that is unaltered, and using that as a criterion to distinguish among the upper echelons of pristine coins. That part has some objectivity to it. But preserving patina on circulated coins that are clearly below the "about uncirculated" grade? That seems to me to be a subjective preference. What is patina? It's post-minting alteration of a coin by accidental means, and much of it is filth, including human sweat mixed with dirt and dust and whatever traces of kitchen substances, tree sap, solvents, and bodily effluents that people have on their hands when they handle money. Some of patina is toning, but this is somewhat determined by the crap that people have on their hands and which is found in the many low places where coins are dropped or lost. Masterpieces of art are cleaned and restored, as are historical buildings. The patina fetish only applies to some antique furniture, coins, and "restorations" of old cars that are called "rat rods." For me, patina belongs in a category of value with phlogiston and phrenology. I worked for years doing restoration work on old buildings, and I know first hand that too much adherence to purist standards leads to architectural elements being replaced with aluminum and glass or some other abominations. So for coins, once the natural striking layer is gone, clean the coins. When I was a kid, wheat pennies and 90% silver coins were all that were available, and many of them were new, shiny, and pretty. Part of the historical experience of those coins was seeing them shiny and pretty, not coated with filth. Think of it like watching videos of the color footage that was taken of WW II. The color makes the experience more vivid and accessible. This isn't to advocate for colorizing b&w films, because that was the medium by which most people got their news, and experiencing that is part of historical perspective, but the point is that preserving historical artifacts is a more complicated issue than can be adequately dealt with by purists' arcane fetishes. And by the way, I majored in English, history, and philosophy and almost got a PhD in philosophy. Which is likely why I spent so many decades in construction work in both new construction and restoration. At any rate, I'm old, but I have a lot of perspective on the importance of history and historical artifacts in getting a handle on human nature, so if my tirade seems over-the-top, it's because we live in an anti-historical time when we most need a sense of history, and I lose patience for the arcane superstitions that persist in specialized fields like numismatics.
@@lindaeasley5606 I buy them on eBay. There are so many of them. I also go to a coin shop that specializes in ancient coins called the monumental group located in the town of Sayville on longisland NY.
I have only used dawn to clean some benjamins and it worked awesome taking off a sticky substance. When i worked at a coin shop every Saturday a dipped a few silver rounds to keep them clean .never did we ever clean a coin.
I’ve noticed when I buy new BU silver coins from some of the big bullion dealers they sometimes come to me cleaned? Almost looks like they rubbed on a silver cleaning/polishing cloth? Anyone else ever run into this? Thanks for the video 👍🏽
I will have to try the ezest, I dip one in acetone and rinsed in water, and it looked normal, then a quick dip in Ms70 ,seems like the ms70 is slippery when you rinse it, because I've noticed that you have to rinse it until it's not slippery any longer. BUT, it seems to make coins brighter which in my view looks cleaned. I only try on AU, type coins that can't loose, I am determined to learn how to properly restore a coin as well as the professional graders can.Thanks for the informative video's. The old guy in Florida 😎
I have done a couple of bullion coin that had, gunky appearance. Just because I wanted to experiment with the baking soda and aluminum foil. Going to try E-zest today on a old round, just for experimental value. And for experience, the aluminum foil and baking soda did a great job. ☺️
This topic of cleaning coins is a good one. Define cleaning. Restoration, by the grading companies is actually cleaning the coin. They can do it and it's ok..But if you do it, it's cleaned. Do they also use EZest, or MS70?.I have used ms70, and it works well. Good video 👍
I've used Goddards Silver dip very successfully . But only with high grade coins AU58 or above. 20 second or so in the dip then rinse with water and pat dry with a soft clean cloth.
Damn...to think my mum found loads of coins from the 1800s and she uses em as curtain weights xD I had no idea coin collecting went this deep, really interesting, it'd be nice to clean a couple of em up too just to see how they come up, she's got a box of em
What coin are you talking about? A cull or heavily worn one that you found, buried for decades and covered in mud? Or, an AU Morgan? Apples vs oranges.
I would avoid toothpaste at all costs. Most of it is abrasive. As someone who regularly polishes silver (flatware and hollowware), toothpaste is highly likely to leave scratches and damage the surface, especially if it’s whitening.
Thank you for this info. I've tried to find good information but it seems the knee-jerk reaction by everyone is DON'T DO IT!!! But as you're referring to here there are different "levels" to cleaning and that word means something different to everyone. My main interest is removing the finger dirt/grime from handling coins to expose what's beneath it, and to help preserve the surface because you DON'T know what's in that grime. It could be slowly discoloring/eating away at the surface. I for one would never want to seal up a coin with some chemical/substance still on the surface. I don't know if I'd want to brighten or alter the natural luster/tarnish of a coin, but I do want to remove debris from the surface that shouldn't be there or isn't part of that coin. All without people yelling about it. lol
I probably wouldn't touch coins as I know messing with them does affect the value... I'm hamhanded with that kind of stuff, sure to leave scratches and stuff. However the question I'd have is on brass tokens. I have some from an old arcade... Is cleaning brass tokens as damaging as cleaning nickel/copper currency? I'm not sure if brass has a better surface that allows for some kind of chemical cleaning. They are very sturdy though. I might just leave them... but I really would love to see what a few of these look like cleaned up like they were newer.
Thanks for the information. Tape can be a problem. I tried Bestine for some coins that had wax. Yes wax. Actually worked OK. Bestine is something I used when I worked at a magazine and (I am dating myself) we did paste up boards with wax. Sadly, the older stock books for coins used acidic paper stock, which is what causes toning. I would tell anyone who is a serious collector to check to make sure they are using acid-free envelopes or other paper items.
I have a 1922-D Peace Dollar in pretty decent condition (releif wise), but the obverse seems to have had celophane tape across her face leaving it a shiny silver while the rest of the coin has taken on a black toning on the entire coin with some red-ish maroon toning on the reverse. My question is: What would be the best solution to restore it?
E-Zest has always worked fine for me. I removed some light blotchy toning on a 1917 type 1 SLQ a couple of years ago. It looked mint fresh afterward. It came back MS67+FH from NGC. Paid 300, sold for $3,500. So I'll never talk shit on E-Zest.
I have a silver coin that had a rubber band melt on it and left a black mark. I think it's about an AU58 if not an MS. What do you think would get the black mark off without disturbing the rest of the coin? I was thinking about sending it to PCGS, but wonder what they might do.
I found I had some toning developing on my 25th Anniversary Silver Eagle sets I have. I guess they wanted to tone, and are best left alone. They will be what they are and will not be touched by me. I think any kind of cleaning will just cause bigger, uglier problems down the road when the coin re-tones. Ever bought one of those plastic headlight polishing kits? I have. The polished headlight looks great....for a short while. Then it will go opaque again and be much uglier than it was before it was monkeyed with. Coins are the same. Leave 'em alone!
I bought an impaired 1998 ASE some time ago and cleaned it. When I got it, it wouldn't fetch more than melt value anyway, but it's bullion, so I'm not too worried about it being mint state. Plus, it's my first ounce of silver or any precious metal in general, so I don't plan on selling it unless I absolutely have to.
I kind of see it like when you dust your Collectable car, you don’t rub off the top coat. Or when you dust off the Rembrandt painting your not removing any layer. Just a thought.
In my experience, even if you sell a cleaned coin, someone out there will buy it as long as it still retains great details like a fine or higher and isn't damaged. I don't worry too much about cleaned coins myself. To be honest, cleaned coins are more affordable, but to each is own.
@Daniel Kim you can clean copper with tomato sauce or ketchup because it's acidic. Not talking on my coins, but copper bottom pan, learned that by mistake, with tomato sauce an my pan!
If you clean YOUR coins they are intended for you. If i receive or buy an older coin i expect just that (remember this is just my personal opinion and like other personal opinions here i also respect their decisions). Nothing is more depressing than obtaining a coin and it has a full fake shine and you know it never came from a mint set or uncirculation. Q-tip or wire brush cleaning, that coin is forever unoriginal. Whether its a car/toy/coin custom is the immediate market value.
I have 13, 1964 Kennedys. I cleaned two coins with a diluted weimans silver polishing wipe (mild detergent for silver) followed by water rinse and pat dry with soft cloth. That was before I heard not to clean them. I have no idea if any are rare or uncirculated. They were in my Kennedy half dollar bank for 60 years, a gift from grandfather for the year I was born.
I wish I could show this to my LCS. he is a good guy (THE good guy, TBH) but has a real problem with anything that remotely looks cleaned. I've even un-culled Morgans and Peace Dollars I could've paid $25 for from his cull pile because he called them cleaned when they had obvious cartwheel luster, no stripping, no wires etc. I once brought in a Peace to sell to him when I had need of quick cash to pay an unexpected bill, and because I'd slightly rubbed Eagle with my thumb while thinking at my computer (making him to appear slightly off-color with grime removal) he said it was cleaned, ruined, bullionized. I wish I could convert him with this video!! It would be nice if you could show several examples of the strike layer perhaps partially coming off due to cleaning, and also the difference between improper/harsh cleaning and just planed "Details" cleaned. Does the lack of a significant cartwheel on, say, one of the two 1884-O Morgan DMPL's I own unslabbed show that it must be cleaned, when the slabbed 1884-O DMPL I have from PCGS clearly only differs from it in a few grades and with an only slightly visible luster - in other words, are some dates themselves just kind of lackluster form the start? Does a distilled water bath on a fingerprinted proof constitute cleaning, or at worst just put it at a lower grade if any subsequent light towel-dabbing scratched it under the microscope? Or does a fingerprint ruin a proof and render it damaged cull, as one younger employee at my LCS said? If so, does distilled water bathing clean a Morgan DMPL even though that method DOES remove fingerprints right off the thing, and even though the copper content seems to protect it from a soft, non abrasive, gentle towel dab/dry? If almost all older coins have been cleaned in some way (e.g. the museum cleaning example) how long does it take for it to gain enough toning or enough luster-inducing everyday grime to drop the cleaned status, if the coin ever can? If it can't, how does nice toning factor in to selling a cleaned coin from long ago? I'd love to see a follow-up!
Well the copper coins I've dug up w/ a detector are so black & narly that I can't read the date & mint w/o light & magnifier. So although I've put off cleaning them due to Taboo , I've finally decided to clean them. I'll use vinegar & salt first. Depending how that turns out will decide what I do from there. I figure that , in their current condition , they are pretty worthless. I won't try to achieve an MS state but darn it, I want my G'Daughtet to be able to appreciate the completed wheat penny collection. I just don't see any logical alternative. She will love the collection even if it loses value I'm sure. It's alot better than the black overall look when you can't even read the date & mint
Ultrasonic Cleaning - I've been around for many decades, collected pocket change to fill my Whitman folders as a kid. I learned very young, not to clean coins. In my elder years I see new technology, can someone tell me what an Ultrasonic Cleaning would do to a coin?
Nice video - and I would like your thoughts on cleaning copper coins - I have bunches of pennies. The other denominations, too - and would like to know the proper method of at least cleaning the years of grime etc...if this information falls under your area of interest. Thank you.
I know a professional coin deal who claims he can clean coins and fool the top top professionals. There must be some electronic process you can use that doesn't leave a film.
Interesting. I have coins in Whitman coin folders that have sat in them since the 1960s. I very rarely look at them. Today I looked at the Roosevelt dime folder, in response to someone else's video, and I saw that some of the coins are not doing well. I thought I had more of them in rolls, but it turns out I have three tubes of Mercurys. No additional Roosevelts. I guess I wasn't impressed with the design. However, I digress. I won't be bothering to clean them. I have no plans to sell any of the coins. Likely, they're worth little.
THANK YOU x 1,000!!! I have been trying to find the answer to this!!!! So….to be clear: If I use CONNOISSEURS JEWELRY WIPES to wipe the junk and shine it up a bit….would I be deceptive not to disclose that in a sale listing? Should I post a before and after to be above board? I donated some money, I hope you can get that grading software up soon!
Don’t use that, it please, use acetone if the coin has something on it. Don’t use jewelry wipes, it’s not for coins. Yes, you must tell people. You would want to know if you were buying them.
In this era of COVID etc I most of the time dip an old soft toothbrush in rubbing alcohol and “sterilize” the coin, which does remove some dirt etc brightens a bit and pat dry.
Question. If you get a bank roll of coins, say nickels, and you how people put the nastiest things in their pockets. Gum, candy, other. It melts or somehow adheres to the pocket change. So then they peal off said coin to to pay for something and it ends up in that roll. Is it safe to take warm water and a soft cloth to just wash off the gunk?
Daniel I have a 1943 p copper cent that is very slightly getting some green on it. I am going to take it to PCGS on the 11th of Dec. And I believe that it will be resored professionally so Im not touching it as I put it into a mylar flip. Do you think that it will be alright? And thank you for pinning some of your videos up for me. I am going to find your facebook account and leave you some recent pics of this coin asking for your honest opinion . Thanks again for the help that you give to us ignorant folks . Thanks to you I am overcomming my ignorance.
Sorry if this is a stupid question, i understand you dont clean copper coins, but what are your thoughts on wiping pennies found in pocket change "circulation" gently with a baby wipe
@@CoinHELPu guess what im confused about is, if I decided to get a circulated penny graded, will they be able to tell I used a wipe on it and not give the higher grade because of the wipe being used, i hate to spend money to have one graded and get it back as genuine tag instead of the regular grade.
I personally would not do anything to alter a valuable coin. If selling it I'd leave that up to the buyer as I am a collector not a cleaning specialist.
ANOTHER FANTASTIC VIDEO YET AGAIN!!!.....Daniel YOU ARE TRULY AMAZING!!.....Now onto my question....I happen to be a Proof Trade $ Collector (For 30 Years now, As the PF Trades That I Put Together Are ALL PCGS DEEP CAMEO's!) Yeah, I know.....I must be NUTS SINCE my lowest grade is a PF63+ DCAM "CAC" Now the question.....The coin that I am thinking on having "Restored" just so happens to be the 1882 PR-63+ DCAM "CACed" Coin I just mentioned!!.....As this is the only Proof Trade that I have in my collection that has some "Not so nice" Brown Toning around the edges progressing into the Stars and Lettering on the Obverse...(BUT LIBERTY HERSELF LOOKS AS THOUGH SHE WAS CARVED OUT OF IVORY SOAP!!....Same with the Eagle on the reverse!.....Yes you are going to say "This guy is a spoiled fool" LOL! But ALL of my other DCAM's Are very Close to being perfect "Black-Stars" As they are True Full Back Mirrors with Blast white Devices!.....Who should I use for Conservation (If I do indeed pull the trigger?) I was Locked onto NCS (Even though ALL of my Proofs are in PCGS Slabs....I just got a bit turned off watching Don (From PCGS's Video) Explaining that THEIR Conservation Service "Just Won't Make Your Coin White Because You (THE CUSTOMER WANTS BLAST WHITE COINS!! "As we here at PCGS THINK TONING SHOULD REMAIN, AS IT IS PART OF THE COINS "HISTORY"!".. Well excuse me!!!.....If the Customer of theirs, thinks the Toning Detracts from his/her $6,000 Coins Looks???? Then WTH???....Sooo....After this "Book" That I wrote you! (Sorry Daniel, But YOUR OPINION IS FINAL IN MY BOOK!) Do you think that I should go ahead and give NCS a call, then a shot at making this Coin as Pretty as I know She Could Be??.....Now don't get me wrong, as it is a GORGEOUS COIN As it stands, Hence the CAC Sticker........Would it be possible to send you some Hi-Res Pics? (She is in an OLDER GOLD SHIELD HOLDER) So the PIC on The PCGS Certification Page is that "Fluoroscopic" (Metallurgic) Type Photo.....Cert # is 16207869 and you will see what I mean about having to send you GOOD pic of the coin.. ; - ) Again sorry for the BOOK!.....I hope all is well with you and yours!.......I would be very appreciative for you opinion! AGAIN, Thank You Daniel Sean Reilly
I think you should. NCS will not do anything to your coin if they don't think it will help it. So it's just money that will be lost. However, if it makes the coin look better than it will sell better. I hope that helps you! Thanks for commenting and watching my videos!
My problem is that I have super rusty and oxidised coins, so the image is no longer visible at all, and I fear it will just get ruined, but I haven't found a proper way to strip away that much rust. They're also really old coins. Can you help?
Please SHARE, SHARE AND SHARE! Sharing most certainly brings more views and will help more people on cleaned coins.
Thank you Dan. I couldn't agree more. I can't stand when ppl say " never clean your coins" and just leave It at that. I believe in proper restoration of coins with out jeopardizing the orginal integrity of the coin.
Daniel, I learned a lot on watching your video, thanks
Now I have a question. I found 2000 D Massachusette US quarter in a silver planchet. Silver planchet supposed to be on San Francisco mint only. Is this rare?
Helo mr Dan may you let me know how worth between prove set coins & coletor coins set?
id like to know if you buy coins your self to add to any collection
hi sir, can i ask, if i use water and a common household bar of soap, and wash the coin with my bare hands and soap for about 30 seconds, then rinse and pat dry with a towel, would this remove the patina or damage the coin??
Thank you so much. As a novice coin collector it's very nice having community that is so generous imparting their knowledge to the rest of us.....great videos.
I'm probably older than many of the coins in most people's collections. This being said, I have been advised by the so called experts, of my generation to never, never attempt to clean any coin no matter what the condition of the coin. I had acquired a somewhat extensive collection of coins over the years. Unfortunately, I gave up on collecting coins when it became too expensive to acquire some of the coins needed to complete my collection. Coin collecting was a fun and fascinating hobby enjoyed 😉 by many, usually started when young. Most of the coins could still be obtained from the change received in day to day transactions. As a young boy my grandfather often gave my sister, and my brothers and me pocket change whenever we visited. The coins he gave us included Indian head pennies, Buffalo nickles and Mercury dimes and occasionally even standing quarters and even walking half dollars. I would eagerly sort through the coins to add to my collection. I also traded coins with one of my best friends. However, when I eventually had to resort to purchasing coins, as the hobby grew and the ranks of collectors swelled, I gave up and sold my collection. Coin collecting was no longer enjoyable for me. Now I am only interested in purchasing certain key coins to be given as gifts 🎁 to my sons and daughters and my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. So cleaning some coins are worth the effort in order to return the coins to a legible condition in order to make out the dares.
@@stephenhendershot6180 Thank you for the story, Sir. It encourages me to keep collecting my coins!
What kind of coins do you have
@@coleburnett2803 .... everything ... in quantity .. inherited most of it...will take me years to go through it all....
This is the rule of thumb I use.. if it only sells for its weight in metal, do as you wish.. if it has more value than its weight in metal, then don’t clean it.
Darth Silver, agreed.. Good rule..
What should you do if you want to sell it list it but it has green stuff on it?
@@milwaukeeontuesday2347 like toning? Do not clean it if it is toned. It’s already more valuable
Thanks.
So can you clean copper coins with cheese cloth? JUST TO SEE IF ITS DOUBLED.
Daniel, my name is Steve I just got through watching your video on cleaning coins. I'm a somewhat of a coin freak. I also metal detect I don't even clean the coins I find. I've seen some very nice coins cleaned before and I knew that they had ruined a prize they thought they had. It's a waste to watch some people try to fool not only themselves but others. I enjoy your videos. I can tell a professional at what he does, and I can tell you have put the hours in your passion. Thanks for your time. Respectfully Steve
Thank you Daniel for clearing this up. It's best not to clean the coins in the first place, especially if you don't know what you are doing!
Thank you so much! I'm about a week into coins. Mostly pennies. Have watched enumerous videos from countless sites. Had a lot of questions. I have learned so so much from you that I just don't click on anybody else's anymore. Just wanted to tell you that. Thanks, Daniel!
Thanks Daniel, everything you spoke of makes perfect sense. I've been dealing with this issue for sometime now; however, I don't trust just anyone's answer to this delicate question. You I trust your judgment, you are a bright man and I sincerely thank you for your point of view.
Blessings,
Louis
Hey Daniel I just want to thank you for keeping a great attitude and reputation while maintaining the great standards of cion dealers. You are a phenominal teachers with an excellent standard of honesty. You have showed me a great deal of key factors in collecting and maitaining my coins. For tbis Id like to show some of my grattitude by asking you to help me sell my 1943 copper cent. I am a 57 year old teenager that has sustained a traumattic brain injury . Now this was due to a car accident that happenedde o back in 1987. I was left in a coma for 3 weeks and one day (22 days) . When I awoke I was paralized on the right side of my body. And have been recooperating since. This recooperation process has been so difficult in that my brain is so slow at processing my thoughts that in turn makes everything I do ten times harder for me to accoplish
You can send me images on a set of scales unless it is already graded to portsmouthcoinshop@gmail.com
Dude! I am glad that you addressed the copper issue at the end of the video 👍 I didn’t know that acetone will turn copper pink 👍
One thing to bare in mind when considering the cleaning of a coin is the reactivity of the metal that it’s made of. What if the coin has something on it that has protected it for fifty years and you remove it ?
Well, you may get bright spots where the gunk was.
THINK BEFORE YOU CLEAN 👍
EXCELLENT advice
100% acetone won't react with metallic compounds. It is an organic solvent. That's simple chemistry. However, acetone that isn't 100% pure may well have numerous other additives that are reactive.
Great video! Thank you! As a new collector, you are the only one who broke this down! Following you for sure!
Great information as usual. The clarity around preserving the striking layer is the key and you drove that home. Thanks!
I'm new to this area. However watching, and listening to your videos is amazing to hear about what to look for in coins as far as colors and errors. Also, I'm glad to hear about " How to clean up your coins" I'm guilty of using toothpaste baking soda, and vinegar( not all at once) I did it different times. It didn't come out clean!!
Thanks Daniel!
Luz
Thank you for the excellent advice. Stumbled across a video on coin collecting, watched a few more, then started looking at the coins in my old coffee can, aka piggy bank. Found 3 DDO quarters in the first half hour. Very exciting and I'm hooked. One was pretty dirty so I just used enough water to see it better. So much talk about color and patina. Want to have them professionally graded but didn't know if I should send as is or not.
Watch my video on what to do ua-cam.com/video/uPAvUteGu0Y/v-deo.html
I have been thinking about this for a while! Thanks for clearing this up. It makes sense to clean off the dirt without harming the strike layer, but if it is damaged, that’s what we don’t want. It never made sense to me to leave a bunch of dirt on a coin to where you couldn’t really see the details! Why would that be wrong to clean? I want to see my coin!!! Lol. I got some really slick shield nickels and completely doused them in Nickadate until some great details came out. I wouldn’t sell them as they are clearly damaged, but they’re mine and I like the details in them. They look cool to me! Again, thanks for clearing up a weird area in coin collecting for me.
Always a pleasure watching your channel! I've learned so much from you since you started!
Thank you, so glad to know that!
As a metal detectorist I now leave my old copper coins alone. Not soon enough though found out trying to clean a1822 Large Cent I lost some detail on it. Thanks very informative 👍
I'm a new coin hunter/collector and have to say this was quite informative, 3 years after originally posted. Thank you.
I just found your video and subscribed. I'm glad you explained that, I'm fairly new to buying Silver and Silver and Gold vintage coins. I have a couple that are just filthy but when you look up close, there not scratched up at all it's almost like someone had a fairly new coin and dropped it in the dirt and it layed there for 40 or 50 years. So I've been trying to find a way to just get the dirt off without damaging it. Everywhere I've looked it says "DON'T EVER CLEAN YOUR COINS!" But like you said, someone is cleaning them and it's ok.. Thanks!
Thanks for the info. Somebody said to use olive oil. But that person was adamant about NOT cleaning any coin. I have tried to remove some crud from coins with soap and water and a q tip myself. But I was under the impression that you don't even touch the coins with your fingers. Thank you for your knowledge and showing it on UA-cam.
I am a metal detector guy and when coins come out of the ground you can't even read a date,
I found Mothers Mag Wheel polish and a tooth brush you can bring them back from the grave.
Coins that come out of the ground are in most cases considered environmentally damaged. I myself metal detect.
Man, I used MS70 on an 1848 Prussian piece, it was so tarnished that it was hardly recognizable, I really hope I made the right move... The reverse looks fine, however, the obverse is the part that you can tell was modified. Either way, it was nice to know that the MS70 doesn't do any major damage, thanks for all the information given!
If you’re not selling it, and enjoy the coin more now, you made the right move.
This is one of the best informative youtube vides ever. You're very knowledgeable and extremely well spoken. thx man.
Thank you
I have learned so much from watching your videos in last couple of weeks! Thank you for always being so detailed.
I would like to add that the decision to get your coin cleaned might also depend on what your piece is. If you want to clean some common date sliver dimes you find metal detecting, I say who gives a damn. Clean them using swamp water.
Under normal circumstances, no. If the coin isn't a high numismatic value coin and (or) crud needs to be removed, I personally feel it can be cleaned. Any of my lesser value coins in my albums, I've no problem with gentle cleaning. Higher grades and those I'd like to have slabbed, I wouldn't. Type 1 is as far as I'd go.
If it is a key date - I leave it alone. If it’s circulated Constitutional it is almost always scratched up a bit already. If it is a gem coin pulled out of circulation, it’s usually already pretty clean.
My experience is if you had two identical Mercury dimes, say both were equally damaged, but one had been shined/cleaned with the baking soda and foil method, the cleaner coin looks better and will sell for more.
If the internet tells me my coin is worth $4.50, I’m probably going to try and get $9.00 out of it, and being clean helps that.
I’ve got a very old, beautiful Morgan that is in incredible physical shape, but it is tarnished damn near black. I will never even think of cleaning it.
Best coin vidioes on you tube done by this guy! Keep em coming brother!
Daniel, just wanted to let you know that I have a lot of respect for what you are trying to share with our community.
God bless you my brother in Christ Jesus 🙏
Thank you
If a coin goes through the wash by accident is that considered damaged? And if a coin was "washed" using baby shampoo and water, then patted dry, does this damage a coin? Thank you. I love your videos. I am learning a lot!
If the coin is circulated it will harm it and even if it's not it can.
Daniel, Thank you for clearing this up, sometimes however I believe "restoration" , cleaning "Proper method", etc. is simply a play on words to justify what has been done to a coin, also a "Problem coin should be one that's only value is melt. Why would anyone say "problem coin" and then sell it. I mean who wants a problem anyway???
This is only an opinion, Again Daniel, Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Very interesting video. Thank you for educating novice collectors around cleaning/not cleaning coins. Keep them coming
I've just began collecting, my dad left me his coin collection and I've become interested. I appreciate these vids, and have subbed for more. I also was wondering where I might find forums of collectors who can look at my coins and give me a better understanding of what is valuable and what isn't
Here's our community coinauctionshelp.com/forum/index.php Always check my other videos I have several that will help you.
Thank you for your always informative videos. As a relatively new collector I often use your videos as a reference as which coins are valuable which web sites I can use to verify my suspected valuable coins and any coin questions I may have . I find your video as wealth of information with out all the carnival antics . Just strait up with minimum theatrics . I thank you for information.
sometimes I clean my silver dollars with virgin olive iol- it should be in a glass container like a small bowl. it works best with coins that have dirt and crud on them.i soak it for a few months, changing the olive oil when it starts to change color- the idrt just soaks and falls off- I then rinse it in warm water, make a mild solution od dawn dishsoam and warm water,swish, not rub it around to get the oil off, then rinse it again in warm water and put it on a soft cleaning cloth,lightly pat it dry,rol the rim on the towel so the reeds dry, then leave it out for an hour to dry. I wear gloves- it just upgrades the coin.
Does this clean off pvc gunk?
@@shirleyarnolde6079 it=might-if-you-soak-it-long-enough-but-you-should-change-the-olive-oil-as-it-changs-color.
Hi Daniel. Could use Blue Ribbon which is very very expensive or I saw a man use something that a dentist discovered called Conserve Safe Coin Solvant. Which doesnt ruin the lustre or destroy the integrity of the coin in anyway. But remove PVC marks grime dirt oils. And has his coins come back from the graders with top grades. I wish there was a solution for carbon spots on my 1954 New Zealand Pennies. Nice coins ruined.
We use ezest it has stood the test of time for coin dealers.
Hi Daniel. I am learning quite a bit from your you tube pages.
Recently I have been told by my doc to learn and do something that will keep me busy and I would get great enjoyment out of it. So, getting into coin collection seemed like a place to start. Today so far I am having great success. I am mainly collecting pennies and nickels.
How did you start? Where do you get your coins from? The Bank?
I happened to get a 2yr old Red Book of US coins. It was a great find. I liked the articles and info as a newbe..................lol
Thanks for sharing info.
Vickie C.
For hammered finds cleaning is in particular an absolute no no. Mud and dirt can easily removed by brief soaking in warm water and then running under the tap. Removal of the black oxidised layers that often accompanies the surfaces of all coins erases they're charm, key evidence of they're age and undoes the centuries long processes of exposure to the air and from being in people's hands.
Unless the coin has a low value or its badly corroded they are better off being kept the way they are. Each coin is different and should be allowed to age in its own way.
Thanks for telling me! Im really new to coin collecting so luckily the only 2 coins that i think are rare are a South african 2002 world cup 50c and a South african 1c coin
What are your thoughts on using the baking soda method? Sitting coins on aluminum foil in basically warm water. Junk silver only and already damaged cull common date peace dollars. Some coins I have were previously buried by the prior owner and are otherwise filthy haha. Thanks!
I don't use it
I have old copper coins that are covered in sticky stuff and some have green corrosion. Is there any way to clean them?
You are much more relaxed now a days. Still a good and valuable video. Thanks!
What are your thoughts on using a dry Jewlery Cleaning and Polishing cloth? Not using any other rubbing or polishing compounds.
White Vinegar and origional Tobasco Sauce...are they too abrasive? What are your thoughts of using a Jewlery Dip cleanser?
I'm more about stacking silver than I am about collecting coins but I do like and respect the collecting coin community I have some coins but I want them to be shiny and clean but I've decided that I'm not going to clean my coins I have some the Morgan's I've decided to trade those coins in and pay the premium for shinier ones instead of devaluing them because I plan to keep my silver and I want shiny silver but I don't want to step on anyone toes so I figured just spend the money on trading them for shiniy ones . So whenever I get the itch to buy some coins I'll just trade up and get my fix like that.
I'm not as respectful of the community as you are. I get the thing about preserving the natural striking layer, in order to have a historical token that is unaltered, and using that as a criterion to distinguish among the upper echelons of pristine coins. That part has some objectivity to it. But preserving patina on circulated coins that are clearly below the "about uncirculated" grade? That seems to me to be a subjective preference. What is patina? It's post-minting alteration of a coin by accidental means, and much of it is filth, including human sweat mixed with dirt and dust and whatever traces of kitchen substances, tree sap, solvents, and bodily effluents that people have on their hands when they handle money. Some of patina is toning, but this is somewhat determined by the crap that people have on their hands and which is found in the many low places where coins are dropped or lost. Masterpieces of art are cleaned and restored, as are historical buildings. The patina fetish only applies to some antique furniture, coins, and "restorations" of old cars that are called "rat rods." For me, patina belongs in a category of value with phlogiston and phrenology. I worked for years doing restoration work on old buildings, and I know first hand that too much adherence to purist standards leads to architectural elements being replaced with aluminum and glass or some other abominations. So for coins, once the natural striking layer is gone, clean the coins. When I was a kid, wheat pennies and 90% silver coins were all that were available, and many of them were new, shiny, and pretty. Part of the historical experience of those coins was seeing them shiny and pretty, not coated with filth. Think of it like watching videos of the color footage that was taken of WW II. The color makes the experience more vivid and accessible. This isn't to advocate for colorizing b&w films, because that was the medium by which most people got their news, and experiencing that is part of historical perspective, but the point is that preserving historical artifacts is a more complicated issue than can be adequately dealt with by purists' arcane fetishes. And by the way, I majored in English, history, and philosophy and almost got a PhD in philosophy. Which is likely why I spent so many decades in construction work in both new construction and restoration. At any rate, I'm old, but I have a lot of perspective on the importance of history and historical artifacts in getting a handle on human nature, so if my tirade seems over-the-top, it's because we live in an anti-historical time when we most need a sense of history, and I lose patience for the arcane superstitions that persist in specialized fields like numismatics.
In my collection, all of my coins are over 2,000 years old. I love collecting Ancient coins.
That's so cool to be able to collect coins that old
@@lindaeasley5606 I buy them on eBay. There are so many of them. I also go to a coin shop that specializes in ancient coins called the monumental group located in the town of Sayville on longisland NY.
Me to
That was good educational advise if we want our coins to profit.
I have only used dawn to clean some benjamins and it worked awesome taking off a sticky substance. When i worked at a coin shop every Saturday a dipped a few silver rounds to keep them clean .never did we ever clean a coin.
I’ve noticed when I buy new BU silver coins from some of the big bullion dealers they sometimes come to me cleaned? Almost looks like they rubbed on a silver cleaning/polishing cloth? Anyone else ever run into this? Thanks for the video 👍🏽
I will have to try the ezest, I dip one in acetone and rinsed in water, and it looked normal, then a quick dip in Ms70 ,seems like the ms70 is slippery when you rinse it, because I've noticed that you have to rinse it until it's not slippery any longer. BUT, it seems to make coins brighter which in my view looks cleaned. I only try on AU, type coins that can't loose, I am determined to learn how to properly restore a coin as well as the professional graders can.Thanks for the informative video's. The old guy in Florida 😎
We love old guys
Obviously a young man you are,❤
Thank you SOOOO much for giving us this info 😉 very helpful!! To know. When in doubt just leave it alone 👍
I have done a couple of bullion coin that had, gunky appearance.
Just because I wanted to experiment with the baking soda and aluminum foil.
Going to try E-zest today on a old round, just for experimental value.
And for experience, the aluminum foil and baking soda did a great job. ☺️
This topic of cleaning coins is a good one. Define cleaning. Restoration, by the grading companies is actually cleaning the coin. They can do it and it's ok..But if you do it, it's cleaned. Do they also use EZest, or MS70?.I have used ms70, and it works well. Good video 👍
I don't know that answer
I've used Goddards Silver dip very successfully . But only with high grade coins AU58 or above. 20 second or so in the dip then rinse with water and pat dry with a soft clean cloth.
Damn...to think my mum found loads of coins from the 1800s and she uses em as curtain weights xD I had no idea coin collecting went this deep, really interesting, it'd be nice to clean a couple of em up too just to see how they come up, she's got a box of em
Can you use a silver Jewelry cloth cleaner?
Is hot water and a soft dry cloth ok on copper coins?
What coin are you talking about? A cull or heavily worn one that you found, buried for decades and covered in mud? Or, an AU Morgan? Apples vs oranges.
thank you, you really care when you teach people . and that matters alot. LonnieRay. p.s. i won't clean anything with out a ok from a pro.
I would avoid toothpaste at all costs. Most of it is abrasive. As someone who regularly polishes silver (flatware and hollowware), toothpaste is highly likely to leave scratches and damage the surface, especially if it’s whitening.
Thank you for this info. I've tried to find good information but it seems the knee-jerk reaction by everyone is DON'T DO IT!!! But as you're referring to here there are different "levels" to cleaning and that word means something different to everyone. My main interest is removing the finger dirt/grime from handling coins to expose what's beneath it, and to help preserve the surface because you DON'T know what's in that grime. It could be slowly discoloring/eating away at the surface. I for one would never want to seal up a coin with some chemical/substance still on the surface. I don't know if I'd want to brighten or alter the natural luster/tarnish of a coin, but I do want to remove debris from the surface that shouldn't be there or isn't part of that coin. All without people yelling about it. lol
I probably wouldn't touch coins as I know messing with them does affect the value... I'm hamhanded with that kind of stuff, sure to leave scratches and stuff.
However the question I'd have is on brass tokens. I have some from an old arcade... Is cleaning brass tokens as damaging as cleaning nickel/copper currency? I'm not sure if brass has a better surface that allows for some kind of chemical cleaning. They are very sturdy though. I might just leave them... but I really would love to see what a few of these look like cleaned up like they were newer.
Thanks for the information. Tape can be a problem. I tried Bestine for some coins that had wax. Yes wax. Actually worked OK.
Bestine is something I used when I worked at a magazine and (I am dating myself) we did paste up boards with wax. Sadly, the older
stock books for coins used acidic paper stock, which is what causes toning. I would tell anyone who is a serious collector to check
to make sure they are using acid-free envelopes or other paper items.
I have a 1922-D Peace Dollar in pretty decent condition (releif wise), but the obverse seems to have had celophane tape across her face leaving it a shiny silver while the rest of the coin has taken on a black toning on the entire coin with some red-ish maroon toning on the reverse.
My question is: What would be the best solution to restore it?
You can't but no one can really answer your unless it is examined in hand by a knowledgeable and experienced coin restorer.
E-Zest has always worked fine for me. I removed some light blotchy toning on a 1917 type 1 SLQ a couple of years ago. It looked mint fresh afterward. It came back MS67+FH from NGC. Paid 300, sold for $3,500. So I'll never talk shit on E-Zest.
Experience trumps opinions. Nice!!
@CoinHELPu Thanks! Great channel, btw! I'm a new sub, but I've really enjoyed everything I've watched! 👍🏻
@@-BigMike- thank you
I have a silver coin that had a rubber band melt on it and left a black mark. I think it's about an AU58 if not an MS. What do you think would get the black mark off without disturbing the rest of the coin? I was thinking about sending it to PCGS, but wonder what they might do.
I don't know. Never could remove them
I use a sandblaster, clean as a whistle. Lol ...kidding. thanks for the video Dan.
I found I had some toning developing on my 25th Anniversary Silver Eagle sets I have. I guess they wanted to tone, and are best left alone. They will be what they are and will not be touched by me. I think any kind of cleaning will just cause bigger, uglier problems down the road when the coin re-tones. Ever bought one of those plastic headlight polishing kits? I have. The polished headlight looks great....for a short while. Then it will go opaque again and be much uglier than it was before it was monkeyed with. Coins are the same. Leave 'em alone!
I bought an impaired 1998 ASE some time ago and cleaned it. When I got it, it wouldn't fetch more than melt value anyway, but it's bullion, so I'm not too worried about it being mint state. Plus, it's my first ounce of silver or any precious metal in general, so I don't plan on selling it unless I absolutely have to.
I kind of see it like when you dust your Collectable car, you don’t rub off the top coat. Or when you dust off the Rembrandt painting your not removing any layer. Just a thought.
The only coins I hardcore clean are my cheap coins with historical value to me but are otherwise worthless,like my Soviet coins
THANK YOU DANIELE, GREAT VIDEO TO THE END!!!!!
In my experience, even if you sell a cleaned coin, someone out there will buy it as long as it still retains great details like a fine or higher and isn't damaged. I don't worry too much about cleaned coins myself. To be honest, cleaned coins are more affordable, but to each is own.
So...I gather that ketchup is out of the question for cleaning pennies? 'Cause it makes 'em real pink and pretty!
Your not eating these coins I hope.. ketchup does make everything taste better though .
@Daniel Kim you can clean copper with tomato sauce or ketchup because it's acidic. Not talking on my coins, but copper bottom pan, learned that by mistake, with tomato sauce an my pan!
If you clean YOUR coins they are intended for you. If i receive or buy an older coin i expect just that (remember this is just my personal opinion and like other personal opinions here i also respect their decisions). Nothing is more depressing than obtaining a coin and it has a full fake shine and you know it never came from a mint set or uncirculation. Q-tip or wire brush cleaning, that coin is forever unoriginal. Whether its a car/toy/coin custom is the immediate market value.
Thank u! Yr advice is always so helpful & is very appropriated.
O boy you awnser all my questions I ever had in the video. You have proven again you are the go to guy and channel for any thing to do with coins.
Thanks for Sharing my friend
Thanks. I had a disaster. I released the video last night and realized this morning the soundtrack was off. I had to re-upload.
I have 13, 1964 Kennedys. I cleaned two coins with a diluted weimans silver polishing wipe (mild detergent for silver) followed by water rinse and pat dry with soft cloth. That was before I heard not to clean them. I have no idea if any are rare or uncirculated. They were in my Kennedy half dollar bank for 60 years, a gift from grandfather for the year I was born.
They're not rare or particularly valuable, except sentimental to you.
I wish I could show this to my LCS. he is a good guy (THE good guy, TBH) but has a real problem with anything that remotely looks cleaned. I've even un-culled Morgans and Peace Dollars I could've paid $25 for from his cull pile because he called them cleaned when they had obvious cartwheel luster, no stripping, no wires etc. I once brought in a Peace to sell to him when I had need of quick cash to pay an unexpected bill, and because I'd slightly rubbed Eagle with my thumb while thinking at my computer (making him to appear slightly off-color with grime removal) he said it was cleaned, ruined, bullionized. I wish I could convert him with this video!!
It would be nice if you could show several examples of the strike layer perhaps partially coming off due to cleaning, and also the difference between improper/harsh cleaning and just planed "Details" cleaned. Does the lack of a significant cartwheel on, say, one of the two 1884-O Morgan DMPL's I own unslabbed show that it must be cleaned, when the slabbed 1884-O DMPL I have from PCGS clearly only differs from it in a few grades and with an only slightly visible luster - in other words, are some dates themselves just kind of lackluster form the start?
Does a distilled water bath on a fingerprinted proof constitute cleaning, or at worst just put it at a lower grade if any subsequent light towel-dabbing scratched it under the microscope? Or does a fingerprint ruin a proof and render it damaged cull, as one younger employee at my LCS said? If so, does distilled water bathing clean a Morgan DMPL even though that method DOES remove fingerprints right off the thing, and even though the copper content seems to protect it from a soft, non abrasive, gentle towel dab/dry?
If almost all older coins have been cleaned in some way (e.g. the museum cleaning example) how long does it take for it to gain enough toning or enough luster-inducing everyday grime to drop the cleaned status, if the coin ever can? If it can't, how does nice toning factor in to selling a cleaned coin from long ago?
I'd love to see a follow-up!
Thanks. I have an entire playlist in cleaned coins videos.
Daniel Thanks for sharing this Information, I myself have never cleaned a coin, just incase to be safe...
Great photo examples!
Daniel, thank you. Watched the whole video, VERY informative. Thanks again. I've been watching ALL your vudeos.
Thank you
Well the copper coins I've dug up w/ a detector are so black & narly that I can't read the date & mint w/o light & magnifier. So although I've put off cleaning them due to Taboo , I've finally decided to clean them. I'll use vinegar & salt first. Depending how that turns out will decide what I do from there. I figure that , in their current condition , they are pretty worthless. I won't try to achieve an MS state but darn it, I want my G'Daughtet to be able to appreciate the completed wheat penny collection. I just don't see any logical alternative. She will love the collection even if it loses value I'm sure. It's alot better than the black overall look when you can't even read the date & mint
Ultrasonic Cleaning - I've been around for many decades, collected pocket change to fill my Whitman folders as a kid. I learned very young, not to clean coins. In my elder years I see new technology, can someone tell me what an Ultrasonic Cleaning would do to a coin?
It’s a coin by coin basis.
Okay now I have a way better understanding , what is cleaning and not cleaned coins. Thanks
Nice video - and I would like your thoughts on cleaning copper coins - I have bunches of pennies. The other denominations, too - and would like to know the proper method of at least cleaning the years of grime etc...if this information falls under your area of interest. Thank you.
I don't clean copper coins but some say mineral spirits or acetone but I can't recommend.
@@CoinHELPu Thank you.
I know a professional coin deal who claims he can clean coins and fool the top top professionals. There must be some electronic process you can use that doesn't leave a film.
No he's just dipped and it's not fooling anyone it's just proper cleaning. Almost all dealers do this with ezest.
Interesting. I have coins in Whitman coin folders that have sat in them since the 1960s. I very rarely look at them. Today I looked at the Roosevelt dime folder, in response to someone else's video, and I saw that some of the coins are not doing well. I thought I had more of them in rolls, but it turns out I have three tubes of Mercurys. No additional Roosevelts. I guess I wasn't impressed with the design. However, I digress. I won't be bothering to clean them. I have no plans to sell any of the coins. Likely, they're worth little.
Love to see some of your coins!, I'm sure they are very interesting, let me know....!
Hello Daniel. When I clean my coins I just wipe my clean as I can with a paper towel and leave it alone. Thank You.
THANK YOU x 1,000!!!
I have been trying to find the answer to this!!!!
So….to be clear: If I use CONNOISSEURS JEWELRY WIPES to wipe the junk and shine it up a bit….would I be deceptive not to disclose that in a sale listing? Should I post a before and after to be above board?
I donated some money, I hope you can get that grading software up soon!
Don’t use that, it please, use acetone if the coin has something on it. Don’t use jewelry wipes, it’s not for coins. Yes, you must tell people. You would want to know if you were buying them.
Great video! I like your presentation and narration style. Easy to follow and understand.
Always great info. I will only practice on junk silver gor to get some experience some how.
How about sand blasting? Sorry, I couldn't help mentioning that ! I use Tarn-X on brass keys, works instantly, but wouldn't use it on coins.
In this era of COVID etc I most of the time dip an old soft toothbrush in rubbing alcohol and “sterilize” the coin, which does remove some dirt etc brightens a bit and pat dry.
Question. If you get a bank roll of coins, say nickels, and you how people put the nastiest things in their pockets. Gum, candy, other. It melts or somehow adheres to the pocket change. So then they peal off said coin to to pay for something and it ends up in that roll. Is it safe to take warm water and a soft cloth to just wash off the gunk?
Yes, pocket change is safe to clean.
Daniel I have a 1943 p copper cent that is very slightly getting some green on it. I am going to take it to PCGS on the 11th of Dec. And I believe that it will be resored professionally so Im not touching it as I put it into a mylar flip. Do you think that it will be alright? And thank you for pinning some of your videos up for me. I am going to find your facebook account and leave you some recent pics of this coin asking for your honest opinion . Thanks again for the help that you give to us ignorant folks . Thanks to you I am overcomming my ignorance.
Thank you for sharing. Very educational.
Sorry if this is a stupid question, i understand you dont clean copper coins, but what are your thoughts on wiping pennies found in pocket change "circulation" gently with a baby wipe
Can't hurt common coins
@@CoinHELPu guess what im confused about is, if I decided to get a circulated penny graded, will they be able to tell I used a wipe on it and not give the higher grade because of the wipe being used, i hate to spend money to have one graded and get it back as genuine tag instead of the regular grade.
I personally would not do anything to alter a valuable coin. If selling it I'd leave that up to the buyer as I am a collector not a cleaning specialist.
ANOTHER FANTASTIC VIDEO YET AGAIN!!!.....Daniel YOU ARE TRULY AMAZING!!.....Now onto my question....I happen to be a Proof Trade $ Collector (For 30 Years now, As the PF Trades That I Put Together Are ALL PCGS DEEP CAMEO's!) Yeah, I know.....I must be NUTS SINCE my lowest grade is a PF63+ DCAM "CAC" Now the question.....The coin that I am thinking on having "Restored" just so happens to be the 1882 PR-63+ DCAM "CACed" Coin I just mentioned!!.....As this is the only Proof Trade that I have in my collection that has some "Not so nice" Brown Toning around the edges progressing into the Stars and Lettering on the Obverse...(BUT LIBERTY HERSELF LOOKS AS THOUGH SHE WAS CARVED OUT OF IVORY SOAP!!....Same with the Eagle on the reverse!.....Yes you are going to say "This guy is a spoiled fool" LOL! But ALL of my other DCAM's Are very Close to being perfect "Black-Stars" As they are True Full Back Mirrors with Blast white Devices!.....Who should I use for Conservation (If I do indeed pull the trigger?) I was Locked onto NCS (Even though ALL of my Proofs are in PCGS Slabs....I just got a bit turned off watching Don (From PCGS's Video) Explaining that THEIR Conservation Service "Just Won't Make Your Coin White Because You (THE CUSTOMER WANTS BLAST WHITE COINS!! "As we here at PCGS THINK TONING SHOULD REMAIN, AS IT IS PART OF THE COINS "HISTORY"!"..
Well excuse me!!!.....If the Customer of theirs, thinks the Toning Detracts from his/her $6,000 Coins Looks???? Then WTH???....Sooo....After this "Book" That I wrote you! (Sorry Daniel, But YOUR OPINION IS FINAL IN MY BOOK!) Do you think that I should go ahead and give NCS a call, then a shot at making this Coin as Pretty as I know She Could Be??.....Now don't get me wrong, as it is a GORGEOUS COIN As it stands, Hence the CAC Sticker........Would it be possible to send you some Hi-Res Pics? (She is in an OLDER GOLD SHIELD HOLDER) So the PIC on The PCGS Certification Page is that "Fluoroscopic" (Metallurgic) Type Photo.....Cert # is 16207869 and you will see what I mean about having to send you GOOD pic of the coin.. ; - ) Again sorry for the BOOK!.....I hope all is well with you and yours!.......I would be very appreciative for you opinion!
AGAIN, Thank You Daniel
Sean Reilly
I think you should. NCS will not do anything to your coin if they don't think it will help it. So it's just money that will be lost. However, if it makes the coin look better than it will sell better.
I hope that helps you! Thanks for commenting and watching my videos!
I learn so much from your informational vids, thx D👍
Will a dirty coin be bought as high a clean coin. Thanks.
My problem is that I have super rusty and oxidised coins, so the image is no longer visible at all, and I fear it will just get ruined, but I haven't found a proper way to strip away that much rust. They're also really old coins. Can you help?
If you need help with a coin or have questions you must use our coinhelpu community here coinauctionshelp.com/forum/index.php
Hi Thank you for sharing this message concerning coins very helpful