Safely Clean Silver Coins at Home: Easy Silver Cleaning Guide

The only time you should consider cleaning a coin is if it has sentimental significance over monetary value, or if the coin is not extremely uncommon. If you collect common currency such as Lincoln pennies, which are neither unusual nor ancient, you may want to consider cleaning your coins first.

Before attempting any of these techniques, consult with a coin specialist or fellow numismatist if you have any questions.

How Often Should You Clean Your Silver Coin Collection?

Solid silver rounds, bars, and coins may tarnish over time. The amount of tarnish on your silver item has no effect on the metal content, but it may have a small impact on its resale value. If the silver's original shine has faded, dealers and other customers may be willing to pay a little less for it. New US coins have a higher silver content, while older US coins are cheaper to buy.

Almost any tarnished silver can be revived with this easy-to-follow method of cleaning silver coin collections.

Why is it necessary to keep silver coins clean?

Since sulfur or hydrogen sulfide (H2S) interacts readily with silver, this dark-colored product is well-known as the tarnish on silver coins and other sterling silver artifacts when left exposed to open air.

Silver bullion and silver coin collectors are divided on the subject of cleaning common dates off silver coins. Nearly two-thirds of those in attendance are opposed to it, while the remaining third object to using tainted currency. We're here to help the second half of readers understand how to utilize common household objects to clean silver coins (common variants).

Unless you're dealing with rare or highly collectible silver coins, cleaning silver coins is simple.

There are a few easy techniques you can undertake at home to clean silver coins and other silver things like .925 cutlery or silver jewelry without having to go to a professional jeweler.

When it comes to silver coin cleaning, there are a few things to keep in mind. When it comes to cleaning rare coins, coin collectors and dealers will tell you without a doubt that you should never use harsh chemicals. Removing the silver coin's natural surface shading and patina in this manner results in small scratches being left on the coin's surface after it is processed.

If you've got any old silver coins lying around that you'd like to clean up, you have a few options for doing so. When it comes to bullion, clean silver coins are highly sought after.

While some coin collectors prefer the oxidized toning on their silver coins, others prefer to show off the coin's pure silver composition. We'll show you how to clean silver to eliminate tarnish and years of filth and grime accumulation.

Read more: Why the price of silver may be increasing this year

The use of baking soda

If you feel compelled to clean your coins, be sure to follow the instructions outlined below to avoid damage your collection. o not clean your coins with metal polish or acids! Abrasions or chemical reactions with the metal will occur if these chemicals are used on your coin. This damage will be permanent. There is no way to repair or restore the damage that has been done. These compounds can also be corrosive, resulting in severe injury or death.

To get started, gather the ingredients and tools listed below:

Items to be cleaned include dirty non-numismatic silver coins and sterling silver flatware or flatware made of other metals, as well as aluminum foil and baking soda. Other items to be cleaned include latex gloves, a disposable toothbrush or small brush, and towels to dry the newly cleaned silver coins or silverware.

Summary:

Grab an old toothbrush and some baking soda. Once you've done that, soak the silver coins in tap water. Then, use an old toothbrush to clean them vigorously after dipping them in baking soda and covering them well on all sides. Make sure the coin is not overly dry by adding some more water to it. After a quick brushing on both sides, the tarnish and sooty coating will be gone.

• 1. Line a container with Aluminum Foil (either the glossy or dull side works fine).
• 2. Scatter Baking Soda over the foil and let it sit for a few minutes.
• 3. Include the Silver Coins that have been tarnished.
• 4. Then add more Baking Soda to cover the silver coins, and then add hot water to cover the coins completely. Allow it to sit for two rounds of five-minute rotations, and you should be fine.
• 5. Using latex-coated gloves, remove the silverware and scrub away any tarnish or grime with a toothbrush or dry towel. This is where you can decide whether or not to make further baking soda applications or rounds of soaking aluminum foil in hot water.
• 6. After cleaning the silver coins, use cold water to thoroughly rinse them.
• 7. Inspect Your Coins After They Have Been Cleaned.

Considerations

Never attempt to remove coin oxidation, such as the tarnish on silver coins, as this will just make the oxidation worse. Silver coin tarnish is referred to as "toning," and a coin with undamaged toning is worth more. Removing it will result in surface damage and a significant loss of value. To put it another way, never clean your coins with dips, polishes, or chemical treatments.

There may be tape residue on the coin if it has a sticky appearance. Use a tiny amount of rubbing alcohol to dissolve the substance before attempting to remove it. Acetone should not be used due to its extreme flammability.

Related Links

• Proof vs. Uncirculated Coins: Comparison Analysis
• Investing in the Best Precious Metal: Which Is the Best Choice?
• So, will silver increase in price in the coming 12 months?

Disclaimer: Content on this website is not intended to be used as financial advice. It is not to be used as a recommendation to buy, sell, or trade an asset that requires a licensed broker. Consult a financial advisor.