How NOT To Clean Coins + Tips For Cleaning Coins Properly

by

Joshua

Coin Collecting 101, Hobbies & Crafts

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OK, as I start every post I write about how to clean coins… I’m going to put this blanket statement out there:

I strongly urge anybody who wants to clean their coins to reconsider!

Why?

Because a improper coin cleaning can:

  • Ruin a coin’s value
  • Damage its surface
  • Deny future generations the chance to enjoy your coin in its wholly original form

That being said, some people will still engage in cleaning coins anyway — in an attempt to make it look brand new again.

While most posts usually tell you HOW to clean coins, I’d like to try something different: tell you how NOT to go about cleaning your coins.

After all, there really is only one way to clean your coins safely. (Details below.)

Unfortunately, many of the popular methods seen online are actually detrimental to coins and could leave yours with only a fraction of their original collector value!

So, what ways shouldn’t you clean your coins?

What NOT To Do When Cleaning Coins

See how to do proper coin cleaning that will not reduce your coin's value.

Here’s a debunking of some popular coin cleaning methods:

You Shouldn’t Clean Coins With Toothpaste – It Certainly Won’t Whiten Abraham Lincoln’s Teeth

You’ve probably seen a few websites that suggest your coin’s pearls need to be a little whiter. However, you’d be better if you skip making your coins minty fresh. Toothpaste is a highly abrasive agent that will strip away more than just plaque – it could literally remove metal right from your coin. I used to experiment with rubbing toothpaste on some of my coins years ago, but I ended up ruining every coin I cleaned with it. Each victimized coin looked unusually shiny, and 5X magnification revealed countless tiny striations in the surface, rendering the coins almost worthless.

Ketchup Isn’t How I Clean Coins Unless I Want To Eat Them Fried

Who doesn’t love a little ketchup with their French fries? Some people love ketchup so much they even put it on their coins… well, maybe not because ketchup makes coins taste any better, but because the shiny, red condiment can help remove grime, grease, and other surface adherents from coins. The highly acidic nature of ketchup helps lift away dirt and debris when gently rubbed onto coins. However, the acid can also wash away a coin’s patina, significantly lowering the value of the coin.

Baking Soda And Vinegar Is Great For Science Fair Volcanoes But Not For Enhancing Your Coins’ Value

When I first began collecting coins and wanted to learn how to clean them, I learned that mixing baking soda and vinegar in a glass creates a highly potent solution that can strip away dirt and grime from coins. All that has to be done is to mix the baking soda and vinegar together (about 1 part baking soda and 4 parts vinegar is the ratio I always followed) in a bowl or glass then immerse the coins you want to clean; this mixture seems to work especially well on pennies. In fact, it works so well that, like the other coin cleaning brews mentioned here, it can completely strip away the original patina and obliterate the value of the coin.

Here’s how that is done:

Cleaning Coins With Baking Soda & Vinegar — See How Well This Method Works

Metal Polish Will Tarnish A Coin’s Value

You can’t watch daytime TV without seeing at least one or two ads touting the latest and greatest silver or copper polish. Maybe you’ve even thought of buying some for yourself so you can shine your old coins right up! Well, perhaps you’ll want to save your $9.95 bottle of Shiny-O for your jewelry, pots, and pans, because all of the metal cleaners, dips, and polishes you’ve seen advertised on TV or on the shelves at your neighborhood big box store will ruin your coins’ surface patina. In some cases, these metal cleaners contain caustic chemicals that will permanently damage the coin.

How DO You Safely Clean Coins, Then?

There are only two methods I recommend to anyone who wishes to clean coins at home:

#1 – Water Bath

  • Hold your coin under gently running tepid water for a few moments — not too hot, and not too cold.
  • Use very light pressure from your finger to remove any debris from the coin while it’s being held under the stream of water.
  • Remove the coin from the stream of water.
  • Pat the coin dry with a soft cloth. Do NOT rub the cloth on the coin. Simply pat dry, without rubbing.
Proper coin cleaning only involves water -- nothing abrasive to scratch the coin's surface.

What this method of coin cleaning does is wash away loose surface particles without damaging the coin’s delicate surfaces.

And, the beauty of cleaning a coin this way is that it really isn’t even considered “cleaning” at all, by most standards. That’s because a coin is usually only considered “cleaned” if it shows hairlines or other signs of damage consistent with an abrasive cleaning — as would be caused by the methods explained earlier in this post.

#2 – Acetone Bath

  • Place your coin into an aluminum tin pan.
  • Pour a little bit of 100% pure acetone nail polish remover over the coin — just enough to ensure that the coin is completely submerged. 
  • Let it set for a few moments, soaking in the acetone.
  • Flip the coin over, and let it soak for a few more moments.
  • Remove the coin from the acetone bath.
  • Pat the coin dry with a soft cloth. Do NOT rub the cloth on the coin. Simply pat dry, without rubbing.

In this video, I’m showing you how to safely clean coins yourself. First, the water bath method, followed by the acetone bath method:

How To Clean A Coin Without Damaging It

These two methods are the ONLY safe ways to clean your coins at home yourself without damaging your coins and lowering their value!

Keep in mind, the goal is never to make the coin look brand new and shiny.

The goal of cleaning coins is simply to prevent future damage by removing whatever contamination is already on the coin’s surface that could further discolor or devalue the coin itself.

So, that’s what you need to know about proper coin cleaning!

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150 thoughts on “How NOT To Clean Coins + Tips For Cleaning Coins Properly”

  1. You mean to tell me you wouldn’t clean a 1903-0(New Orleans minted silver dollar) if it had a thick coating of black silver sulphide on its surface having being in the ground for over a hundred years then

    Reply

    • dont worry about it too much, friend. The author is one of those types who considers themself a “numismatic” without even having much clue about it.

      Reply

    • I would go for it. The purpose of cleaning is to improve the coin’s numismatic value. So then of course we don’t want to lessen its value through the cleaning process, but in this case it sounds like there’s upward potential.

      Reply

      • you would go for it because you know what you are doing, this guy hasn’t a clue. I am sure you took advantage of the post in hopes of picking up some business, can’t blame you for ambulance chasing, got to make a buck before someone else beats you to it.

        Reply

    • A professional service does have the tools and techniques to clean a coin properly but anything in a typical home arsenal carries FAR more risk than reward. 1903-O is a semi-key date that can retail for around $250 in G8 condition and go up from there. You absolutely should NOT try anything without professional help.

      Reply

    • Better uncleaned than cleaned. The story adds to the value of the coin. If you have an OCD about dirt and want things perfect, then quit digging up coins and flipping them for money and start blowing all your money on mint coins.

      Reply

  2. Hey Josh.
    My coin has suffered a tragic fate. It looks like the previous owner has painted my 1865 Indian Head Penny with some sort of green paint or something similar. It is extremely unfortunate because this coin is in the best shape I have ever seen a coin this old in! Almost immaculate, you can read everything clearly, hardly worn, every detail in tact including the feather details. Only thing is….the coin is now green. Is there hope?

    Reply

    • Hello Brinny —

      Hmm… It’s very possible your coin was painted green, but I suspect that, perhaps, it may have a form of oxidation on it. Copper, being sensitive as it is to environmental effects, has a tendency to turn green. A plastic agent called PVC, which is found in some older coin holders, can also cause the green stuff to form.

      Here’s a post that talks a bit about cleaning PVC from coins: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/cleaning_coins/

      As the article above states, you may want to seek a professional. So, here’s some info on finding a good coin dealer: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/coin_dealer/

      I hope this helps, Brinny!

      All the best!
      Josh

      Reply

  4. Hello Joshua, im new to selling coins and i have a bunch of old coins but i have no idea where to start, dont know what coins I have neither i know what are they valued but they seem pretty old and many in good conditions

    Reply

    • Hello, Himo —

      Thanks for your question. Let’s start by trying to figure out what types of old coins you have. Are they U.S. coins? From other nations? What types of denominations are they or what years were they made?

      Let’s pick, say, 4 or 5 coins to start and see if we can begin attributing them and help determine their values.

      In the meantime, I suggest you read up on the following piece; it discusses coin dealers, who are they type of people who buy and sell coins: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/coin_dealer/

      I look forward to hearing more about your coins soon!

      Best,
      Josh

      Reply

  5. Hi, I have a 1946 and the outer rim is thick as well as a spot lifting up the edge. This rare or common and value if so, please?

    Reply

  6. Hi, I have a 1946 and the outer rim is thick as well as a spot lifting up the edge. This rare or common and value if so, please?

    Reply

  7. The oldest coin I ever found in circulation was a 1920 Lincoln penny. This was back in the late 70s and I still have it. I did, though, way back then, clean it with Brass-O, it looked real pretty and shiney. It was actually in pretty good condition back then. Anyhow, I still like it and have it in a penny book. But just curious, because I cleaned it over 35 years ago, will its value always be diminished, or will the cleaning eventually rub off?

    Reply

    • Hi, Ryan —

      Nice find, even in the late 1970s. Yes, a 1920 Lincoln cent, even uncleaned, is worth about 10 to 15 cents in worn condition.

      A coin will eventually begin to recover its patina, though this can take many years. The coin will probably always have slight evidence of the cleaning (hairlines, streaky coloration, etc.) but may look attractive enough again in time.

      Best,
      Josh

      Reply

      • And, so long as the evidence of the cleaning is there then, yes, the value will be less than that of a similar uncleaned coin.

        Reply

  8. Hey Jashua I was wondering if you could hwlp me out with a penny I recently found. I know its a wheat penny because the tail in good condition but the only part of the head side that is readable in the middle of the coin. It shows the 19 part of the date. Any help with this is appreciated. Rosie

    Reply

    • Hi, Rosie —

      This coin was severely altered, which is why the outside section of the obverse (head’s side) is missing and grooved out altogether. While this is an eye-catching oddity has little if any monetary value.

      However, I would probably keep it anyway as it probably has quite a story to tell!

      Best,
      Josh

      Reply

  9. hi i just cleaned a load of pennys with vinager ant salt ,no rubbing then water then after drying i used a eraser as shown on my computer, but i also am collecting 2007 pennys , i have 9 but only one looks very cleat, shiny, no scratches after blowing it up to about 6 inches your thoughts,thanks jack

    Reply

    • Hi, Jack —

      I would definitely avoid using such an abrasive cleaning process in the future, since vinegar, salt, erasers, etc. remove metal and thus almost completely obliterate your coin’s value. Actually, the only way to clean coins (simply to remove loose debris, not make the change the color of the coin) is to remove dirt under gently running, tepid water; this method is explained in the last paragraphs of my article above.

      Best,
      Josh

      Reply

  10. Josh, thank you for posting this article! It’s very tempting to make an old coin “nice and shiny” even though it’s probably the last thing anyone should do.

    (Confession – when I was about 8 or 9 I did the same to several Peace dollars. As I found out later, it was NOT a good move.)

    Reply

    • I did the same thing Hammond but I was 15 and cleaned about 22 silver dollars which were probably beautifully toned but I thought they were dirty, I used Comet and a tooth brush! Live and learn, the hard way unfortunately. Most of them have now regained a lot of toning but nothing like the originals my grandfather left me.

      Reply

      • We all have cleaned coins early in the collecting game, including yours truly here. We all live and learn indeed!

        All the best,
        Josh

        Reply

  12. I can’t see any year stamp on this dime. What’s your take, Joshua? Thanks for your expertise. I didn’t clean it, as just ran across your advice on how not to clean coins!

    Reply

    • Hi, Colleen —

      I *think* it may be a 2004-D, but I’m not positive without being able to tilt the coin at different angles under magnification. This piece, however, is worth face value.

      Best,
      Josh

      Reply

  13. Hi, Great —

    I’m having a hard time with these photos for some reason, but based on the date they’re worth the following in average circulated condition:

    *1911 – 50 cents to $1
    *1923 – 50 cents to $1
    *1925 – 25 cents

    Great coins!
    Josh

    Reply

    • As a rough estimate of this coins value you can assume this coin in average condition will be valued at somewhere around $1122, while one in certified mint state (MS+) condition could bring as much as $112,174 at auction.

      Reply

    • Hi, Dominic —

      This is what appears to be a gorgeous 1795 Draped Bust silver coin, but you’ll need to please tell me what the denomination is (found on the edge of the coin) so I can provide you with more details. Many of these coins are forged, and I’m a little concerned about a few details on the coin and the fact I can’t see the entire piece (obverse, reverse, and edge) to help you check for diagnostics. Assuming this piece is authentic, it could easily sell for thousands of dollars, but many buyers will be suspect about buying a piece like this if it isn’t certified. Authentic, original specimens are great, rare coins.

      Best,
      Josh

      Reply

        • And I’m not sure to send them to a US authentication because I live in the UK and I don’t know if it would be safe to ship it over to America as I cannot find a UK based authentication company that does US coins

          Reply

          • Hi, Dominic —

            It generally is safe to send such coins to reputable firms. However, I understand your concern. I suggest locating a good coin dealer in the UK to inspect the coin in-hand. This link should help: https://www.numis.co.uk/

            Good luck,
            Josh

          • The diameter checks out as a silver dollar; what is its weight? If it is a genuine Draped Bust dollar, it would be worth thousands of dollars in lightly circulated condition, which this coin appears to be in; however, this coin will need to be authenticated, certified, and encapsulated by a reputable third-party coin grading firm to fetch its full value. This isn’t the type of coin one just walks into a coin shop with and five minutes later walks away folding up thousands of dollars in cash (ha ha!). I look forward to finding out how much the coin weighs!

    • Hi Dominic,

      A friend of mine had exactly the same Drapper $ like yours and turned it is fake, unfortunately. Like Joshua said, take the exact measurement – 40.0mm, and exact weight – 27 grms. This might be OFF-CENTERED BUSTdollar. I collect coins for almoust 30 years and I would like to find one like you have even if it is not genuine.
      This year is very rare.
      CAn you tell me what happened with your coin.
      If you ever look to sell please reply me on this e-mail

      Reply

      • This was a long time ago lol I still have the coin but I did the magnet test with it and the magnet is attracted to it so I assumed it was a counterfeit

        Reply

        • Dominic,
          Thanks for the reply
          Yes, unfortunately, would be nice to find one genuine
          I have Peace dollar 1964D, Morgan dollar 1888CC and others – not genuine but still not easy to find and I do not care. I like to collect and I have a lot of not-genuine coins, I just like to collect them.
          I have some geniune and non-genuine Drapper dollar, the mint year 1795 I do not have.
          Olease let me know if you want to sell for some decent dollars.

          Best regards
          VAlter

          Reply

  16. Got this in some change the other day. Would water take the oxidation off leaving the patina? Whats the value of something like this?

    Reply

    • Hi, Jesse –

      It appears the coin may have suffered damage from a PVC holder. The best way to remove PVC is with by placing the coin in an acetone bath for about 30 seconds on each side. Please follow all acetone safety instructions, wear protective clothing, and conduct this work in a well-ventilated area. One caveat — the acetone process only works if the PVC hasn’t actually eaten away at the coin itself. Unfortunately, there may be some irreparable damage done to the surface.

      Good luck,
      Josh

      Reply

  17. I have a coin and it looks as if someone put a layer of paint over it. What can I do?
    If you need more pics I can provide them.

    Reply

    • Hello, Theresa —

      Hmm… This appears to be a well-worn Walking Liberty half dollar with some type of epoxy residue on it, or possibly the remains of old glue or another type of adhesive. I recommend you first try dipping the coin in acetone nail polish remover for 30 seconds and then try to rub away the agent; hopefully that helps. Of course, is you choose to go that route, please follow all safety precautions concerning the acetone and only try that procedure in a well-ventilated area.

      If it’s any consolation, your Walking Liberty half dollar is worth only its metal value (about $5 to $7) with or without the damage.

      Good luck!
      Josh

      Reply

        • Hi, Theresa!

          Awesome! you’re welcome, Theresa! Now we can see the date and everything. It’s a nice circulated specimen and I’d leave it just as it is now. It’s worth about $7 given current silver values. I’d say you should hang onto it and keep it as a memento. Did you know the Walking Liberty half dollar was designed by noted sculptor Adolph A. Weinman and is considered by many the most beautiful silver coin the United States ever struck?

          Best,
          Josh

          Reply

  18. Hi – There are images of 14 coins uploaded here (front & back) – however, if this places too much of a demand on your time, I will well understand. If it’s okay, I’d appreciate your comments about anything of interest or of possible value. One coin that may be of some possible historical interest is the “The Flag of the Union” coin – c. 1863. My regards!! / John Harris NY

    Reply

    • Hello, John!

      What a nice and varied collection of 19th- and 20th-century coinage you have. Below are approximate values for each of the coins in your collection assuming all are authentic:

      *1861 Indian Head Cent – $7 to $10
      *1863 Indian Head Cent – $$4 to $7
      *1864 Indian Head Cent – $3 + (Possibly much more if a “With ‘L'” variety, which I can’t tell in the photo due to the coin’s porosity
      *Shield Nickel (date undetermined in photo due to wear and porosity) – $2 or more
      *1856 Liberty Seated Half Dime – $5 to $7
      *1912-S Barber Dime – $2.50 to $3
      *1920 Walking Liberty Half Dollar – $10 to $12
      *1937 Walking Liberty Half Dollar – $5 to $7
      *1945 Walking Liberty Half Dollar – $5 to $7
      *1906 Liberty $5 Gold – $250 to $300 (Varies widely due to daily gold bullion price fluctuations)
      *1911 Indian $5 Gold – $285 to $325 (Varies widely due to gold bullion price fluctuations; possibly much more if tiny “D” mintmark is on reverse, which I can’t tell in the photo)
      *1863 Flag of the Union Civil War Token – $15 to $30 in that grade (market varies somewhat with the token niche)
      *1944 Philippines Ten Centavos – $1
      *1974 Canada Dime – 10 to 20 cents
      *1891 British Penny – 25 to 50 cents

      Bear in mind, some of these coins have evidence of post mint damage, which is why some prices are lower than what you might see on other sites. Also, the prices I quote aren’t the retail values, but rather more realistic dealer buy prices, though even those could vary somewhat. John, these are some great coins and a nice collection, and I appreciate your sharing these photos and checking with us here.

      Good luck!
      Josh

      Reply

  19. Dear Josh, …

    Many thanks for the speedy and informative reply. I inherited the coins from my Uncle Eddie when he passed on in 1998, and have had no desire to sell any but recently renewed curiosity as to what this small collection might entail decided me to ask. In addition to those coins, I received 14 silver dollars, with the two oldest dating to the 1870s. I would like to share those with you for your comments but will do so later this week. My best. / John

    Reply

    • Hello, John —

      It is my pleasure to assist. This looks like a very nice coin collection and one that you might consider insuring. As for the silver dollars, I would need to please see photos or at least have a list with both dates and mintmarks (and, in the case of silver dollars dated 1878-1883, know whether they are the Liberty Head/Morgan type or Seated Liberty).

      All my best,
      Josh

      Reply

  20. Dear Josh, …

    Attached are jpg-formatted scans of the silver dollars. This is a better visual result overall than what I had first obtained on my discarded attempt of last Sunday. Please let me know if the results are of a sufficient quality and clarity for your examination. If not, I will redo them. My best!! / John

    Reply

    • Hello, John!

      Nice silver dollars! Here’s a rundown on approximate values…

      *1878-S Morgan dollar – $30
      *1879 Morgan dollar – $25
      *1883 Morgan dollar – $25
      *1890-O Morgan dollar – $25
      *1891-O Morgan dollar – $25
      *1921 Peace dollar (left obverse photo) – $100
      *1921 Morgan dollar – $20

      Best,
      Josh

      asdf

      Reply

      • Dear Josh, …

        My many thanks!! Q – in respect that none of the individual coins are especially valuable, would it be a “mistake” on my part to have the silver dollar coins each cleaned and polished so that in appearance they will approximate the shiny condition of the coin holder key ring 1923 Peace dollar?

        Please kindly let me know what you might suggest. Cheers!! / John

        Reply

        • Hi, John —

          I still wouldn’t advise cleaning the coin because it would spoil its originality, but if cleaning the coin is your preference you’re certainly free to do as you wish.

          Best,
          Josh

          Reply

    • Try “Scrubbing Bubbles” (May not be available in Europe “Not sure”) and spray it onto the dirty coin. Then, rub or scrub with pressure and continuous back and forth motion onto the dirty coin with a cotton ball. It worked for me, the blackish color went away.

      Reply

      • It is not advisable to clean coins, as this both physically and can permanently ruin the coin as well as lower its value. The best coins are those that are uncleaned and in completely original condition.

        Reply

    • Hi, Marina —

      I think just about every collector has put their coins in vinegar at some point in time, including me more than once several years ago. There really isn’t a quick, natural fix. Your best friend for something like this is time. Some folks find the involvement of heat, such as placing cleaned coins on an outdoor window sill in direct sun for a period of several months can help.

      Wishing you all the best,
      Josh

      Reply

  22. I put 8 United States Lincoln Pennies (1958, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1977 ,and 1978)

    I also put 1 Canadian Penny (1988)

    I put them all in a solution, containing: (Half a bowl of “White Distilled Vinegar”, 1 or 2 Tsp of “Pure Baking Soda”, and 1 or 2 Tsp of “Container Salt”.)

    The result of it was decent (cleaner than before). The “1972” Lincoln Penny was excellent, it shined more than the others. (I pat dried all of the pennies with a cotton ball before I continued, I added a little more vinegar and salt. Then, I rinsed the remaining salt and other substances of the pennies with water and liquid soap. Then I pat dried them with a towel or cloth. (I recommend scrubbing or wiping any remaining dirt particles with a cotton ball and/or with a non-used or slightly-used large bristle toothbrush. (Do this before you rinse off the pennies.) -I didn’t, maybe you will get better results?

    Reply

    • Hi, Nic —

      Thank you for your question. Please find approximate value estimations for your coins below:

      •1958 Lincoln cent – 3 to 5 cents
      •All Lincoln cents listed above from 1967-1978 – 2 cents
      •1988 Canadian cent – collector value of 5 cents

      Best,
      Josh

      Reply

  23. Since I was 7 I have always been collecting coins that people thought were useless and not valuable, I have almost all of the U.S. State Quarters, most people accidentally drop their coins and then they roll under machines or under cars in a parking lot. I try to value these forgotten coins and collect them, each one I find will make me happy and deliver good luck. I hope I can improve my collection and invite people to donate. I always don’t waste no penny that isn’t valuable.

    Reply

  24. Good day! Very informational page, thank you very much! I would like to ask two questions. First; back in 1995 I went to the bank and bought about four rolls each of pennies through quarters which are in plastic see through rolls. I opened one roll of nickels and they are 1995 D which look to me as though they are mint and not circulated (to my untrained eye anyway, they have no nicks or scratches). I am curious if they are worth more in those plastic rolls or if it wouldn’t matter if I open. Second; I have a huge number of Denver coins in my collection and assume this is because I live on the West coast. Are there clubs I could join to trade my Denver dups with some Pennsylvanian owners?

    Reply

    • Hello, Iamtig —

      Firstly, thank you for your wonderful feedback and kind words!

      There may be a little more value for those coins if they’re kept in their original wrappers, only because many collectors will pay a premium for originality. As long as the coins remain uncirculated, as it sounds like they are, you could always use gloved hands to check each coin for errors or varieties and then repackage the rolls in plastic coin tubes, which will still be worth more than face value to collectors.

      As for coin clubs, there are many along the West Coast. I urge you to check out the American Numismatic Association (ANA) site for a list of local clubs; here’s the link: https://www.money.org/clubs

      Good luck!
      Josh

      Reply

  25. Josh I am not into coin collecting as I was as a kid however I am now in my 60’s and found a strong box full of wheat pennies from my Grandmother. It took me 2 days to sort thru them and mostly are from 20’s 30s and ton load from 40’s . They are really dirty from numerous years in the box. After reading your post not to clean them I was wondering what would be the best course for me to do. I do not want to really delve into ebay or the like. Would I be better off just to take it to a coin collector or something else. Have no idea if there is a market for these coins or not. Any help would be appreciated.

    Reply

    • Hi, Andy —

      I appreciate your question and am glad that you didn’t clean those coins. Yes, there really is no proper DIY way to clean coins without them losing their value. As for the market, common-date wheat cents are popular but don’t always sell for much money.

      I’ve included a link here that lays out the higher-value Lincoln wheat pennies: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/valuable-pennies/

      Those not on this list are generally worth between 3 and 10 cents. You might do well to sell them as singles to coin collectors who need certain dates or sell them by the roll — or as a lot — to a local coin dealer or collector.

      I hope this info is helpful. Please check back if you have any additional questions, and good luck!

      Thank you,
      Josh

      Reply

  26. Joshua Thanks for the reply. However after spending last 3 days going over coins I have more questions than answers. I have alot of worn out indian nickels , what can I do with them. Are they still worth 5 cents and can i use them at stores? I found alot of old foreign coins. Where would be the best place to take them. And Last but least What is best information to look for when trying to find a reputable coin dealer. Seems like there are alot out there but which ones are legit and qualified to give an honest evaluation. Thanks again

    Reply

    • Hello, Andy –

      These are great questions. Here are some answers that may help…

      Q. I have a lot of worn out indian nickels , what can I do with them. Are they still worth 5 cents and can i use them at stores?
      A. If you can see the dates on your Buffalo nickels, they’re worth at least 50 cents to $1 and are better off being collected or sold. Dateless Buffalo nickels are worth 25 to 50 cents each. Still more than face value, but perhaps not worth the time or effort to go and sell them. Here’s more info on dateless Buffalo nickels: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/no_date_buffalo_nickel/

      Q. I found a lot of old foreign coins. Where would be the best place to take them?
      A. It depends on the foreign coins in question. Some might be made from silver or other precious metals and could be worth a significant sum. Others are probably worth very little. You could try selling them to a coin dealer — and this takes us to our next question…

      Q. And Last but least What is best information to look for when trying to find a reputable coin dealer. Seems like there are a lot out there but which ones are legit and qualified to give an honest evaluation?
      A. Here are a few articles to assist you…
      5 Tips For Finding A Good Coin Dealer: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/coin_dealer/
      Nationwide Searchable List of Coin Dealers: https://png.memberclicks.net/find-a-png-dealer

      Here’s more info on the most coins worth more than face value: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/us-coins/

      Good luck!
      Josh

      Reply

  27. Hi Joshua, I found your site to read about cleaning a bunch of coins I found. Thank you so much – I will not clean them at all- Here is our situation, my husband and I are retiring and our first project together is downsizing – While going through stuff I found an old tin I bought at a yard sale years ago – full of old coins. I know nothing about old coins. On top was a bunch of Marti Gras tokens from 1979 – So I think I probably thought they were all just junk and stuck it in a drawer. I actually bought it for the tin- it’s a really cool tin. Today we looked closer and among the junk are some 1894 Belgian Congo coins, 1894 French coins that look like they have Napoleon on them. There are 30 coins all different – all really old , mostly the 1800’s. From ebay and other searches – it looks like some are pretty valuable – Finally my question – How should we sell them?. We live in northern CA and the closest PNG dealer is in NV. I’m OK with a road trip if it’s best to sell in person to a dealer. Thanks so much for any suggestions. – Bev Dittberner

    Reply

    • Hi, Bev —

      I am so glad you decided not to clean your coins! From what you describe it sounds like you may have a rather valuable collection there, though it’s hard to say for sure… I suggest you take them to a coin dealer nearby you, but before you just go to any, call and describe a few pieces and find a dealer that works with older foreign coins. Not all do, and those that don’t may not pay you as much as one who does.

      Here are tips on how to find a good coin dealer: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/coin_dealer/
      And here’s a searchable list of coin dealers nationwide: https://png.memberclicks.net/find-a-png-dealer

      Thank you for dropping a line, and the best of luck to you and your husband!
      -Josh

      Reply

      • Hi Joshua! I just received 40 1964 half dollar Kennedy coins today from a family friend who said they were uncirculated and trying to do my research to see if they have any value above the 90% silver. Little less than half have the D mint mark on them. Is there anything else I should be looking for to see if they are more valuable? We are new to coins and want to taken the to a dealer however don’t want to seem completely clueless and naive. Glad a saw this post because I almost started to clean up our batch of coins!!

        Reply

        • Hello, Adrianne —

          Generally speaking, uncirculated 1964 Kennedy half dollars are worth a nominal amount over silver value unless they show a virtual absence of any contact marks on the surface. Such pieces are worth potentially hundreds of dollars, though it’s very, very hard to find larger, older silver coins like Kennedy half dollars with only very few surface marks.

          It’s not unusual for a dealer to pay only spot value for typical uncirculated 90% silver Kennedy half dollars because there are so many available and usually are in plentiful supply at many coin shops. There are generally no major varieties with business-strike 1964 Kennedy half dollars (including the “D” Denver coins).

          If you’d like to find out about other coins of value, you might want to check out this post: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/us-coins/

          Here are tips for finding a good coin dealer: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/coin_dealer/

          And a searchable list of coin dealers nationwide: https://png.memberclicks.net/find-a-png-dealer

          Good luck!
          Josh

          Reply

          • Hi, Matt —

            An uncirculated coin is one without any signs of wear from circulation. Another term for uncirculated is “mint condition,” though that phrase, perhaps ironically enough, is not considered common coin collecting parlance.

            Best wishes,
            Josh

  28. Hello, Shells —

    Oh geez, I think many of us have done that at one time or another, including me early on. The coins are still worth at least their copper value, which is two cents each and maybe a little bit more if they haven’t lost too much of their original color.

    Forgive yourself and don’t worry about it! It’s just a lesson now learned for the future!

    You might be glad to know that wheat cents struck between 1934 and 1958 are worth no more than 10 cents if they’re worn, so any value loss isn’t financially very much.

    Best wishes,
    Josh

    Reply

  30. HI Joshua, I was visiting my nephews in an area that was hit hard by the Storm, Sandy. It got flooded to say the least. As i was getting ready to board on the passenger side of my hephew’s car, and getting ready to shut the door, I noticed a couple of old looking coins aside the curb. My first impression was that it was a nickel, but with the head of a statesman, I realized it had to be a quarter…but it looked the size of a nickel..that was what it confused me. I cannot make out the year, or even if it was shown. I flipped it and the back was in worse condition than the front. From what i could gather with my aged eyesight, it was G. Washington and the rear of the coin, it seem to look like a house. I have no comparisons to make of today’s quarters cause i rarely handle coins anymore with credit cards my usual monetary purchases. I like to clean it but hesitate cause of
    what u described about the perils of cleaning. I hate to bring it directly to a coin expert as of yet. I know of a rare, expensive Quarter that had the year “1941” etched over the line that said dollars. Any suggestions?

    Reply

    • Hi, Anthony —

      Hmm…. would you mind posting a photo of this coin here in the forum? It’s hard to say if this is a token/medal of some sort or a regular U.S. coin with possible alterations.

      Interesting find! I’d love to assist further.
      -Josh

      Reply

  31. I completely ruined an antique necklace with gorgeous silver pendants and middle eastern coins by putting it in boiling water, baking soda, and aluminum foil. Then in a desperate attempt at trying to fix it I placed them in white vinegar and now they are turning orange. I have no idea what to do, kinda freaking out because I was cleaning it for my mom. Is there any way to reverse some of this damage?!

    Reply

  32. My dad has recently passed away and I am going through his coin collection. He was an avid user of a metal detector. Most of his old coins were ‘collected’ in another way, but he has 15 or so Buffalo nickels that he kept that had been found underground. He never did anything to them. I’d like to discover their value–you can tell on some of them that the actual wearing is not bad–but they are so cruddy I can’t read dates at all, or even determine grade. Is there something I can do? Also, there’s a video on YouTube that says to use frozen vinegar ‘gel’ and peroxide. Sounds iffy, at least.

    Reply

    • Hi, Brenda —

      I’m really sorry to hear about your dad’s passing… We at TheFunTimesGuide pass our condolences to you and yours…

      As for the Buffalo nickels, it’s possible some might have been worn smooth to the point of completely wearing away the dates — this is a very common situation with Buffalo nickels because of the way the date was placed on the coin, high above the surrounding surface. I’ll need to see what dates we can identify to find the value of these coins. However, if no date is legible at all, then each is worth 25 to 50 cents.

      As for the crud, etc., there are very few safe methods for removing the grime without permanently damaging the surface of the coin and thus lowering its value. Gently running water is usually sufficient for removing most surface debris. Acetone is ideal for removing gunk, old glue, etc. without altering the surface patina.

      Here’s a guide on Buffalo nickel values you might find interesting: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/buffalo_nickels_value/

      Please post photos here of your Buffalo nickels, and I’d be glad to help further.

      Good luck,
      Josh

      Reply

  33. Joshua,
    1) when you say you can use acetone to clean gunk off coins, the any kind used to remove nail polish ok? I know some have a scent added to the acetone to make it the odor less unpleasant, not sure if the scent additive would cause a problem.
    2) Is there any type of mild soap that can be used to clean the coins at all or just stick with plain water? I like things to be clean 🙂

    Reply

    • Hi, s246 —

      To answer your questions…

      1 – You really want to stick with acetone-based, unscented nail polish remover. The additional chemical used to scent the acetone or spruce it up otherwise can damage your coins.
      2 – Always best to stick with plain water. Soap can cause your coins to discolor and thus making their appearance less attractive and lowering their value.

      Best of luck,
      Josh

      Reply

  34. Hi Josh. I have a bunch of old wheat pennies and was trying to grade some of them but couldn’t see the lines on the wheat stalks or even the date on some because they were so dirty. I used my shirt and two fingers to rub off some of the dirt. They looked a lot better, but did I mess them up? I only did it to the worst ones.

    Reply

    • Hi, Alexander —

      I don’t seem to see a photo if you’re referring to one here. Would you please repost the image?

      Thank you!
      Josh

      Reply

  37. Hi, Joshua,
    Do you know of a safe way to remove oily substances from rare coins? I was using paint thinner but I have been told that paint thinner itself will leave an oil on the coin even when the coin is rinsed off and the paint thinner can contain impurities in it as well. I don’t like using MS70 because the coin can sometimes tarnish a lot after using the MS70 and I don’t know what else has been used on the coin and I am afraid whatever was used on the coin before might react with the paint thinner. A coin dealer whom I know told me that if a coin has previously been dipped the coin will tarnish or turn color if MS70 is used on the coin. I have also been told that acetone does not work well on oily substances. Someone else suggested using xyline but the xyline when I tried using it smelled horrible and seemed almost impossible to rinse off with water so I had to use the MS70 to rinse off the xyline. Someone told me that xyline is a petroleum product like paint thinner so it seems the xyline wouldn’t be that much better. Do you have any suggestions? I could leave the oil on the coin but I am afraid over a period of time there might be something in the oil that would react with the coin or lint or dust could stick to the coin and react with the coin and cause problems later on.

    Reply

    • Hi,

      The only two methods I ever use before submitting coins to a professional conservation service (such as offered by the major third-party grading companies) is holding them under tepid running water or soaking them in acetone. It’s best to avoid using other methods “at home” because things can go wrong very quickly and cause further irreversible surface issues. I wish I had another proven at-home answer for you that I felt was safe to suggest.

      Best wishes,
      Josh

      Reply

      • When you say “tepid running water” do you mean warm water from the faucet? What is the reason for using warm water to rinse off the coin? Isn’t there the possibility the heat from the water could make the coin tone or cause some other chemical reaction the coin? Would you suggest using distilled water as a second rinse to rinse off the coin after using the warm water? I have been using distilled water to rinse off my coins because someone told me that plain tap water can contain minerals in it that may be bad for the coin. When I dry off the coin I hold it in front of a blowing fan. I was using either a clean cloth or paper towel to dab on the coin to remove the moisture from the coin but I don’t do that anymore because I am afraid there could be something from the cloth that could contaminate the coin and someone told me that paper towel contains glue.

        Reply

        • Hi,

          Tepid water is lukewarm… it’s not really hot enough to cause damage. Distilled water is probably ok for rinsing off a coin though I haven’t myself used distilled water for that purpose nor have heard that specifically recommend for coin care. A blowing fan could throw whatever contaminants are in the air onto your coin so I wouldn’t really suggest that. As long as your towel is clean it should be safe for patting your coins dry, though I agree paper towels are unsafe because they can be more abrasive and indeed risk depositing glue or other harmful contaminants onto the coin.

          All of this I say with the underlying caveat that one of the best ways to care for your coins is to not be doing anything with them that involves or roughly resembles cleaning. I understand the question is originally about removing oil but if the conservative methods you are using aren’t working I, again, suggest consulting a coin conservation or restoration professional.

          Best wishes,
          Josh

          Reply

          • What is the reason for using luke-warm water? Does luke-warm water do a better job of removing something on the coin? Where would I find a coin conservation or restoration professional?

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