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 Replies: 28 / Views: 2,931 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1247 Posts |
A fellow gave me a huge collection of US coins.. From 1868 silver dollars to 5$ gold pieces, and hundreds and hundreds of silver and non silver coins.... 5 rolls of sliver quarters, 5 rolls of Mercury dimes and lots of everything. Including proof sets. I am going to buy a coin book. But a question I had is is it okay to put all the old coins in a bucket of warm soapy water to get the surface dirt off? |
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Pillar of the Community
614 Posts |
I wouldn't until I read about it......
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1247 Posts |
okay, any particular reasons?
I know polishing coins is forbidden, but soap and water? (which I think is something that could naturally happen)
I am talking about something like a weak solution of dish soap.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1247 Posts |
any idea on a value for a 1987 $5.00 PROOF gold coin? Minted at West Point? Still, obviously in it plastic holder with all the trappings from the mint.
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New Member
United States
36 Posts |
The problem with soapy water is that it will not remove the dirt without rubbing the coin. If you really feel you need to clean some of the silver coins read up on Acetone Dipping. It will be much less harmful and requires no rubbing of the coin to work.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
Why not take a couple/few weeks and read all you can here about cleaning coins. With the exception of ancient coins it generally decreases the value and/or ruins your coins. Hey it is your choice, but cleaning your coins is not the first thing you want to do. Use the search link here .... http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/search.asptype in cleaning coins and read up. You will find 67 pages found but go to page 2 and look under US Coins and Currency Discussion Forums / Modern US Coins for a plethora of topics where most often the more knowledgeable members will recommend what to do and what not to do. Read, become informed, and then make a good informed decision. |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
okay, any particular reasons?
I know polishing coins is forbidden, but soap and water? (which I think is something that could naturally happen)
I am talking about something like a weak solution of dish soap.
Consider that the value of a given coin varies radically according to condition. A coin does not have to be in Mint State to have considerable value - low mintages, low survival rate, and varieties can mean that even a well-circulated example could bring significant cash. At this point, you do not necessarily know which of those factors might apply to any of these coins. Cleaning any coin, in any condition, will reduce that value by roughly half or worse. You're right in believing that soapy water won't, in and of itself, wreck a coin, but....it also won't "clean" the coin without you applying some sort of force to move the stuff off the coin. Furthermore, if there's crud on a coin, removing that crud will leave a surface of a different look than on the areas not formerly cruddy. That would be an absolute telltale of a cleaning, and the effective end of any real value. If the coins are so common as to only have bullion value, you don't need to clean them. If they have greater than bullion value, you shouldn't clean them. For the record, that 1868 silver dollar you mention is worth at least few hundred bucks even in worn condition. Is that something you want to jeopardize? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1247 Posts |
OKay,
Got it.
Step 1: Identify each silver coin, year, mint mark, condition.
Step 2: Price them
Step 3: Profit.
I am more active on the stamp side of the forum. I also got 5 boxes of stamps.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
OKay,
Got it.
Step 1: Identify each silver coin, year, mint mark, condition.
Step 2: Price them
Step 3: Profit.  We'll be happy to help. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1247 Posts |
thanks, I will be asking questions.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8516 Posts |
Are you selling them for the guy ? Just curious.
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1247 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
Quote:Are you selling them for the guy ? Just curious. Quote:
Yes I am. Then it's a good thing you don't clean them, leave it up to the buyers.In the meantime you can get all sorts of help with them here. Post pictures. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3184 Posts |
if your selling them for the person, definitely take pictures so we can help you that way you can maximize the amount of money he gets
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1247 Posts |
thanks for the advice guys...
like I said, I am on the stamp side more then the coin side...
I need to ID and inventory each coin. I will take scans of them (front and back) for your opinions.
The man has had them for 20 years so he is not in any hurry. I figure this will take me the better part of 6 months to a year. (my time is limited to a few hours a week.).
I have over 3000 posts on the stamp forum and enough "quality" points and time in this forum, so as time goes by, I'll be able to offer them for sale here first.
Thanks for the advice.
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
 , stampvirgin! If you know how to unfry an egg, go ahead and clean your coins, otherwise leave the one coin in a thousand to the experts. Quote:
any idea on a value for a 1987 $5.00 PROOF gold coin? Minted at West Point? Still, obviously in it plastic holder with all the trappings from the mint. 10-25 in the pen. There were no proof or W mints in 1987 $5. I know it's difficult, but your step #1 involves several hours of reading, because you are obviously not familiar with collector coins. |
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Replies: 28 / Views: 2,931 |
Posted 05/05/2012 1:09 pm
