How do you clean coins that you’ve found while treasure hunting? You don’t!

Cleaning coins often damages them, especially if done improperly. Tarnish and wear can actually add to the value of a coin, while cleaning could take away from it. Grit and dirt on gold coins can scratch the surface as you attempt to clean it. If you must wash a gold coin, soak it in warm soapy water and gently polish with a soft cloth.

Silver coins actually take on a tone through tarnishing that coin collectors find quite appealing. Removing the tarnish could take away from the value of your treasure. Never clean a silver coin that has indigo, green, blue, or violet markings on it. Cleaning a silver coin can make it look bright and shiny, which is actually not a desirable quality in an old coin! If you have any doubt in your mind about whether or not you should clean your silver coins, don’t do it until you have consulted an expert coin collector!

Copper and bronze coins should never be cleaned. They can be ruined quite easily. It is best to leave them in the condition you have found them and store them in a way that prevents further damage. Many experts use ultrasonic cleaners to clean the coins that they decide should be cleaned. These collectors know which coins to leave as they are, so it’s good to ask their advice before you proceed. An ultrasonic cleaner uses a vibrating action to clean the coins, and is not as abrasive as even a soft cloth.

The most important thing to remember about coin cleaning is that it could have taken centuries for the tone that you see on the coin to develop. Don’t wash it away in a few minutes! It adds to the character and uniqueness of the coin.

Storing your coins properly, regardless of the material they are made of, will protect them and help them to retain their value. Worthless coins may be kept together in jars, boxes or bags. This is not recommended for valuable treasures.

Each coin should be wrapped individually in a clear plastic bag. This way, you can see the coin without having to touch it with your hands or remove it from its cover.You can also buy special acid-free paper sleeves designed to store coins in a collecting supplies store. This is a cheap way to store your coins. Coin albums are a great way to store and show off your collection. Just be sure to store the album in an area that will not get wet or damp, such as a basement.

Cardboard sleeves lined with Mylay can be used to ship valuable coins. This offers a good deal of protection from dents and scratches during shipping. To store and protect very valuable coins that you don’t wish to handle with your hands, consider having them encased in a hard plastic cover. This is sometimes referred to as ‘slabbing’ and offers the most protection. 

If the area you live in is very humid or damp, toss a bag of silica gel in with your coins to help absorb the excess moisture and prevent damage to your coins.