When you care about an investment, such as a home or an antique car, cleaning it almost becomes second nature. However, when it comes to your coin collection, this maintenance task is not always the best choice. Some coin collectors even warn against cleaning altogether. If you are hoping to get to the bottom of this matter, review the guide below.

Why Is Cleaning Coins Not Recommended?

The general consensus among coin collectors is that coins should never be cleaned. There is a high risk of damaging a coin in the process, thereby decreasing its value. The dirt and tarnish a coin gathers over the years is also a testament to its long and winding journey, and getting rid of this evidence would defeat the purpose of coin collecting.

Other collectors like to clean their coins, especially lower-value items that have accumulated residue at the bottom of a purse or pocket. Even if it depreciates the value, the cleaning process will get rid of that musty, metallic smell and make the coin more pleasant to handle.

How Does Cleaning Affect Coins?

When you clean a coin, you will remove its patina—the very quality that makes old coins so valuable. This thin layer of tarnish provides evidence for the coin’s age and may range in color from green to brown.

Abrasive methods may also remove some of the metal from the topmost layer, leaving detailed images and texts less defined and blurring the fine lines that make a coin look genuine. All cleaning methods will lower the value of the coin in question, but abrasive techniques will do so with much more intensity. 

What Are Some Common Cleaning Methods?

Abrasive cleaning methods include scrubbing coins with a wire brush or dipping them in an acidic solution. Both of these techniques will kickstart the oxidation process, which is when metal is exposed to oxygen in air and water. As a result, your coin may become dark or discolored.

If you want to clean your lower-value coins without doing major damage, simply rinse them in distilled water, which will be free of the hard minerals found in tap. Then soak the coins in vinegar for 60 seconds and rinse them in warm water. Allow them to air dry on a soft cloth, or use a microfiber rag to wipe them.

If you are worried about your collection, turn to the experts at Coins Plus for guidance. This Cincinnati, OH, shop has served coin collectors since 1972, and they are proud to be the city’s only "National Award Winning and PNG Dealer." Whether you want to buy rare coins or have your collection appraised, call them at (513) 621-1996. You can also visit the website to learn more about their services.