Should I Clean Coins Before Selling Them?
Thinking of cleaning your old coins? Understand how preserving their original state is crucial for maximizing their selling value.
When considering the sale of a coin, a common question arises: should it be cleaned to enhance its appearance? While the desire to make a coin look more appealing is understandable, numismatic experts advise against cleaning coins yourself. This practice, often intended to improve a coin’s visual appeal, almost invariably leads to a reduction in its numismatic, or collector, value. Attempting to clean a coin can cause irreversible damage that significantly devalues it in the collector’s market.
The Impact of Cleaning on Coin Value
Cleaning a coin can severely diminish its collector value, often by a substantial margin, with reductions ranging from 20% to over 50% of its potential worth. This damage occurs through physical abrasions and chemical alterations. Abrasive cleaning methods, such as vigorous rubbing or using harsh brushes, can create hairline scratches on the coin’s surface. These are easily detectable by professional graders and collectors, leading to a reduced valuation.
Chemical cleaners pose an equally destructive threat to a coin’s integrity. These solutions can strip away the coin’s original surface, etch the metal, or leave behind unnatural residues and discoloration. Such chemical reactions can permanently alter the coin’s composition and appearance. Cleaning is viewed as an irreversible alteration that compromises a coin’s historical authenticity and appeal.
Understanding a Coin’s Original Surface
A coin’s original surface is fundamental to its numismatic value, explaining why cleaning is detrimental. Patina, often referred to as toning, is a natural layer that develops on a coin’s surface over time due to oxidation and environmental interactions. This natural coloration is a stable and often highly desirable characteristic, enhancing a coin’s aesthetic appeal and proving its authenticity and age.
A coin’s original mint luster is a critical component of its grade and visual appeal. Mint luster refers to the reflective quality of a coin’s surface, created during the striking process at the mint. Cleaning can destroy or significantly diminish this luster, leading to a dull or unnatural sheen. Professional coin grading services meticulously assess the originality of a coin’s surface and will penalize any coin showing evidence of cleaning.
Safe Handling and Storage Practices
Preserving a coin’s condition and value involves careful handling and appropriate storage rather than cleaning. When handling coins, always hold them by their edges to prevent transferring oils and dirt from your fingers onto the coin’s surfaces. Using soft cotton gloves is recommended for valuable coins to protect their delicate surfaces from fingerprints and corrosive skin oils. It is also advisable to work over a soft, clean surface, such as a velvet mat, to cushion the coin in case it is accidentally dropped.
For long-term preservation, coins should be stored in inert, archival-safe materials. Recommended options include Mylar flips, non-PVC plastic holders, or acid-free albums. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) holders should be avoided, as they can leach chemicals that cause irreversible damage. Storing coins in a stable environment, away from extreme temperature fluctuations, high humidity, and direct sunlight, helps prevent undesirable chemical reactions and degradation. While loose dust can be gently removed with a soft, natural-bristle brush, any attempt to remove adhered substances should be avoided, as this constitutes cleaning and risks damage.
Professional Valuation Before Selling
Before selling a coin, seeking a professional valuation is the most effective approach to determine its true market worth. Consulting a reputable numismatist or coin dealer, or submitting the coin to a third-party grading service, ensures an unbiased assessment. These experts possess the specialized knowledge and tools necessary to accurately authenticate a coin, assess its condition, and determine its value. They are trained to identify cleaned coins and will factor this into their valuation, which can significantly impact the final price.
Having a coin professionally graded or appraised maximizes its selling potential. This process provides potential buyers with an objective evaluation of the coin’s authenticity and condition, fostering confidence in the purchase. A professionally assessed coin is likely to achieve a better selling price than one presented in an un-appraised or cleaned state.