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 Replies: 42 / Views: 10,798 |
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New Member
United States
4 Posts |
I have a 2001 Walking Liberty silver dollar that is becoming slightly tarnished. I don't think it's due to mistreatment as I have kept it in a closed case since I've had it. Is this type of tarnishing normal for pure silver, and if so what do I do to get rid of it? Any help is appreciated. Edited by Mike
02/04/2006 2:16 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
2884 Posts |
Hi zoomzoom. Rule#1. Do not clean your coins! Rule#2 See rule #1!!! Slight tarnishing is normal on silver coins and desirable to some collectors. If you want to slow the effect, store it an airtite holder or have it slabbed(encapsulated) by a third party grading company. Mike  Edited by Mike
02/04/2006 2:27 pm
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Valued Member
United States
108 Posts |
EZ-est coin cleaner... It is what the dealers use. They clean coins and, get them graded too. Dip it in this stuff for 2 seconds rinse for 2 minutes under running cold water, then rinse in baking soda and water, then rinse again under running cold water for a minute or 2, pat it dry a little. Then dip in in acetone for 20 seconds or so, finally air dry it or blow dry It.
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Rest in Peace
United States
2884 Posts |
Hi Vic. I do not recommend cleaning coins and with rare exceptions cleaning diminishes the value of the coin. It is ill advice to tell anyone to clean a coin. These same dealers you claim that clean coins will offer you spit for cleaned coins. There are far to many cleaned coins for sale as it is. Baking soda is a mild abrasive. Leave the cleaning to conservators. This forum, in general, does not condone coin cleaning. Thanks, Mike  |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1529 Posts |
Zoomzoom...if you are not worried about devaluing your coin, then there are heaps of methods yo can use....  You are getting good advice from Mike here, it would be wise to take notice of it. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1327 Posts |
do not clean it. Do what mike said and get a airtite holder should be able to get one for 1 or 2 dollars and it will stop the tarnishing, do not clean it. More people would buy a coin that is tarnished wa before they buy a cleaned coin. It is normal for this to happen to your silver. just get them in airtite holders, DO NOT CLEAN IT WITH ANYTHING
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1079 Posts |
I agree with all suggestions of not too clean coins. Wholeheartly!!!
I will add though, if the coin is not an investment piece and not a high value coin and you want to clean it, then do it. I have once or twice.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1091 Posts |
Of course if you want to really make it shine  use some cutting compound and a electric buffer.  It will shine but be only worth face value, or it'se weight in silver as this would be. Yes Rule number one applies. Don't clean it.  Edited by toast
02/04/2006 11:12 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
2078 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by Vic
EZ-est coin cleaner... It is what the dealers use. They clean coins and, get them graded too. Dip it in this stuff for 2 seconds rinse for 2 minutes under running cold water, then rinse in baking soda and water, then rinse again under running cold water for a minute or 2, pat it dry a little. Then dip in in acetone for 20 seconds or so, finally air dry it or blow dry It.
Talking about bullion silver Fresh minted silver has no collector value other then the mint selling it at a premium over silver for coining it  If I sell the coin again I get meltvalue from whomever I sell it to unless somebody likes it colored or shiny and pays silver value plus maybe a little coining premium Last week I refused to pay over melt for yellowing 2002 Brittania bullion silver coins The plastic sheets between whitch the Britannias were stuck were just falling apart The coins were yellowing at the edges and had plastic goo on them from banging around during transport However if you want to dip your bullion silver I think one should start with acetone as the first dip and then rinse in water and then proceed with the described method Because if there is a fingerprint on the coin the acid or base is not going to reach below the fingerprint on the coin and the fingerprint will be visible untill the coin is remelted  |
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Valued Member
United States
458 Posts |
I can't believe we are actually "instructing" on how to destroy a coins value--  Go ahead zoom, clean your coin and it will now be worthless (to me). It will forever only be worth $1 to me & will never be slabbed by a TPG. BTW if it is what I think it is, it is not a "walking liberty silver dollar", what you have there is an ASE. "American Silver Eagle". BTW, welcome to our forum. CiScO |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7629 Posts |
The only safe method for dipping silver is to use Ez-est or Jewel-Luster, both acid cleaners, for a couple of seconds, then wash the coin in lukewarm to warm water with dish soap. The soap cuts the acid and neutralizes the coin without being abrasive, such as would be the case with baking soda....that's a bad idea. When you've sufficiently cleaned the acid off the coin with the dish soap using your fingers, pat the coin dry with a paper towel, being sure not to slide the paper towel on the surface of the coin - pat only.
I have been dipping poorly colored silver this way for 15 years and have never had a problem with the coins turning, dulling out, or coming back from grading services in anything other than a slab.
Using acetone or any other alcohol based substance is not good for the coin - they coat the coin instead of clean it off.
Be aware that this method is ONLY recommended for silver colored coins - nickels, clad, and silver. Other coins, such as cents, will be RUINED using this method.
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Forum Kid
Kuwait
1523 Posts |
OOOH!!!
As Mikes Rule#1, I agree with that. You should never ever clean coins, not with vineger, baking soda and never ever a metal brush!
Take this seriously!
THANKS
TKC!
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Forum Dad
 United States
24148 Posts |
quote:
It is what the dealers use. They clean coins and, get them graded too. Dip it in this stuff for 2 seconds rinse for 2 minutes under running cold water, then rinse in baking soda and water, then rinse again under running cold water for a minute or 2, pat it dry a little. Then dip in in acetone for 20 seconds or so, finally air dry it or blow dry It.
Vic, can you please provide a list of the "dealers" so we can all avoid them? |
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New Member
 United States
4 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
As can be plainly seen the opinions on cleaning coins ,varies somewhat,, But largely I believe that the market is on the side of never clean a coin at least by yourself,, there are companies that specialise in restoration of coins that are market acceptable, but the value of the piece that is the point of this thread is such that to utilize these companies far exceeds the value of the coin,,
If you dont like the toning that is occuring on your coin replace it with one that is bright and then store it in a better environment to keep it from happening again.
Rick
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
2078 Posts |
Using acetone or any other alcohol based substance is not good for the coin - they coat the coin instead of clean it off.
Being an old chemical engineer I hold the coin in my hand and just poor the acetone over the coin
If the environmental temperature is too low the acetone will be too slow in flashing off and this will show in droplets or bluish tinging under 12 x magnification
Otherwise the coin will be completely degreased as will be your fingers
They used acetone for a long time as nailpolish remover and now moved on to somthing like Methyl Ethyl Ketone
But I seem not to have made my point
If I own one ounce of silver and I am going to get only meltvalue
which is 95 % of the silver value
I can even polish it with diamond polish if that makes me happy and then use the coin for rolling it across my knuckles like magicians are want to do
And in the end it will still be an ounce of silver
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Replies: 42 / Views: 10,798 |
Posted 02/04/2006 8:45 pm
guess I need to brush up on my coin lingo. And I'm definitely NOT going to clean it now after reading these posts!! 
