1887 Sixpence

Don't clean your coins! If they're ancients, get them checked on here before proceeding with any cleaning.

This link gives evaluations, I try and pay half the evaluation of the coins as it's retail values shown. Some coins will no doubt hold a higher premium with rarity, condition etc. http://www.coins-of-the-uk.co.uk/values/sixd.html Type 5 1887 YH

You will need someone to give a grade to get an idea of the figure that would best relate to you coin. It's a nice coin, and the better of the variations for that year-the others had the jubilee head. You could also see what they have sold for on ebay, once you get a grade off someone.

No this is not ancient, an ancient coin for me is something about 1500 years old or older. Someone with a better knowledge of 'what is classed as ancient' may correct that, but that's a ballpark estimate.

People sometimes clean ancient coinage, if it requires it. But regarding modern coinage, it's not recommended. If you ever go to sell them on, people will know they're cleaned.

I'd say this is nearly VF apart from the rim cuts on the reverse, but please don't clean it - it looks like good honest toning to me. The coin will be worth only bullion value if cleaned. You don't often see a nice 1887 Young Head sixpence, unlike the 'withdrawn' Jubilee type which was extensively hoarded and is readily available in EF to UNC.

We all like silver too .... But won't ruin a coin by cleaning it.... As mentioned, it'll lose any and all value over melt if it's cleaned when you come to sell them (if you do). Just because you "like silver", I don't understand why silver would be more appealing cleaning off when it shows the nice original patina that it's acquired over a 100+ years? Lol, if you want blast white silver coins buy nice, original, uncleaned examples or straight up silver bullion... Don't ruin collectible coins, lol. Yikes... I'm almost scared to ask what you've already "cleaned", lol.



Lol, that kind of made me chuckle because generally ancient's are the ONLY coins where it's actually acceptable to clean them.. Because often they can't be identified otherwise... Lol, so that sounded a bit backwards. But no, this wouldn't be considered ancient...

That's what I meant, I should have been more clear. But when there's 2000 years of "crud" and dirt on the coin and it's unidentifiable. Though many are sold uncleaned as well and whomever buys them would "clean".. So I guess tecnically that's not right after recovery.. But I don't really dabble in ancients so.... Just going off what I've seen others do.

WHY do you insist on cleaning your coins? If it is junk silver, there is no practical reason to clean it. It destroys all possible future numismatic value of the coin. Don't waste your time cleaning them. You'll find old-time collectors that don't touch even their junk silver at all, because they know it will kill the coin, and they appreciate its natural, honest tone and surfaces.
Well, it's your coins, so feel free to clean them. But remind me not to buy silver from you.....

Nobody is trying to be rude or attack you, it's just a very frowned upon practice to clean coins (unless it's to " preserve it", like PVC damage, verdigris etc) so with a topic like this is sure to make some people cringe and tweak some nerves, lol, so try not to take it personal.

I kinda get where your coming from, your reasoning at least, but using the antique car comparison is comparing apples to oranges.... It's a totally different hobby with different accepted norms and a much wider opinion base. Some car collectors do like the all original, restored cars, restored just enough so they drive. While others like to supe them up in to dragsters/show cars and switch out everything original aside of the shell... Car collectors like restored cars, though how they're restored varies heavily (some even "restore" them to look beat up, and even paint them to look rusty, because it "does" add character, lol)...

But for most coin collectors there's really not that "grey area"... The majority just don't like cleaned coins, so again it's just an unrealistic comparison. A better one might be antique furniture, where it's the original, unmollested pieces that people look for, and pay big bucks for... opposed to the sanded and repaired ones.

And again, no offence, to each his own and I'd never suggest what one should or should not do... but I'm curious about your comment about displaying your silver? You actually "display" your stash? Like on the wall in a case or something? That just seems like a risky thing to me? I mean my best friends and even most of my family hasn't even seen a single coin of mine, as all it takes is one slip of a word with eavesdropping ears close by and here comes a home invasion.... And goodby silver, lol. Again, to each his own but it just seems kind of risky to me.

And again, like I said earlier, if you like the shiny, nice looking coins that much why don't you just spend an extra few dollars and buy MS, blast white examples? Opposed to displaying junk silver? Then you don't have to worry about cleaning them, they'll be higher grade and eventually when you or your heirs go to sell them not only will the collector value not be ruined but they may even rise in value... Opposed to cleaned coins that will never be worth a cent over melt (unless super rare obviously). Or even a display of bullion coins from around the world that you like and can be bought for not much over spot at all in blast white BU? Or something like that? And you could still collect your older coins (like the OP coin) but leave them original and still have something shiny to look at... Just a suggestion of course, so don't "bite my head off"

Not really my area but I'd guess $20+ as it is. Nice toning offsets the wear and scratch.

Cleaned .. $5? Which is why people are saying don't. The two carbon spots on the reverse might lift with pure acetone and a cotton bud but I wouldn't overdo it. You might end up with shiny patches that will just stand out unpleasantly.

And ... anyone else think the N in PENCE is struck over another N? Which would (if the case) possibly make the coin rather more interesting ..