Cleaning Junk Silver

Dont do it. Use acetone.

That's true if it's just recent junk silver worth face value, but why would you clean junk silver in the first place? As for regular collectible coins, including older silver, that's not true, and is why we tell people not to clean their coins.

I used to clean junk silver with a chemical dip, and it actually increased some coin's value, at sale. I now consider it a waste of time, as I no longer sell my coins.

I agree I wouldnt ever touch any other coins where there value has very little to do with the metal.

Not sure why youd clean junk silver but if you want to and like it better cleaned why not. No harm in messing up the look of bullion.

The silver-cleaning-cloth uses polish so don't use that. There are a number of dips for silver that can be used. They remove the tarnish and won't harm the coin if done correctly, which usually takes only about 10 seconds. If you leave them much long, the chemicals start to eat into the metal and turn it a dull grey. If you are in Canada, you can try TarnX or CLR; don't know if they have the same in US. Also silver-ring-cleaner dip will work. Remember, 10 -15 seconds only, rinse with lots of water after, and under your finger nails too, it's corrosive. I've done it 100's of times.

Anyone who says it's taboo doesn't realize that they probably own many dipped coins. Any silver coin that hasn't been kept hermetically sealed for more than a year will show tarnish, so all the untarnished coins you see daily on ebay have been dipped. Ever see an old silver tea set that's hasn't been cleaned and is shiny ? Nope, they're black. Any old silver coin should look that, but they don't because they've been cleaned.

There was a case in Canada where a 1936 Dot dime (one of the most rare Canadian coins) in high MS grade, owned by one of the most noted collectors, was dipped and came back a grade higher. I think it was 65 to 66. If he chanced it, well...........

But remember that the person posting is from Canada, and they had 80% silver for most of the time, and that stuff DOES get to looking pretty ugly. And not just looking ugly but FEELING ugly. The joy of junk silver coins is that you don't have to worry about not touching them! You can slish the coins around in your hand and get the feel and sound of them. And silver does have a lovely feel and sound... and that feel and sound is markedly better if the coins are clean! So if someone wants to clean their junk silver so that they can run their fingers through it, letting it fall back into an iron-bound wooden chest whilst they wear and eyepatch and chortle in pirately glee... more power to them!
I say: at least they're ENJOYING their collection to the full!

Personally I think mainstream coin collectors have completely turned things upside down. I believe that coins are meant to be a TACTILE experience, not merely a visual one! The feel of a coin is the single MOST important thing about it!

But of course... I'm also that guy who enjoys circulated coins more than pristine ones... so what can you expect?

I say "Clean away pal!"

Im on the fence about this too. I get the wanting to keep the coins in their natural state, saying this is the way this coin is after 75 years. On the other side, when they are so dirty you can't appreciate the details of the coin. I have been thinking of cleaning my coins too. Get them looking as close to original state as I can so I can oooooh and ahhhhh over a clean, shiny 75 year old coin the way it was back in the day. Coins like this still preserve for future generations. If you want to spend the extra money to enjoy YOUR silver, I say go for it. I think the only reason that I haven't yet is because I haven't had the time to spend cleaning them.