Cleaned Or Uncleaned

It doesn't matter from which country a coin is from, you shouldn't clean it. Cleaning damages a coin and damage reduces not only value, but appeal as well. Of course with every rule there are exceptions. Ancients for example, but as a general rule of thumb, stick with what you do in the UK.

I may be wrong but I have cleaned silver coins, never brass or copper as this in time will discolour the coin it will eventually go green. but silver coins if not cleaned tend to turn blackish like all other silverware if not cleaned.I`m in a delemer as to what to do.One book says one thing and another book says different, can`t win.

you said it, glenntree!
While you're absolutely free to do whatever you want with your possessions, you should know that when you clean your coins you seriously depreciate their value, whether it is for yourself or for your heirs.
Welcome to the forum, I hope you stick around to see different ways to care for your coins!

and Welcome to the USA. Imagine you once owned us.
I've seen on TV you too have that program called the Antique Road show. If you ever watch it you would hear them state almost all the time not to clean old things. Sometimes they will say this is worth $100 but if not cleaned would be worth thousands. Not sure about your pound stuff since we use dollars.
Imagine someone washing off the dust on an Egyptian Mummy for example.
Old stuff should remain old looking. Collectors normally everywhere prefer originality.

And if you look up cleaning coins in Google or Yahoo, you would find many sites on how to do that, what to use, etc. Cleaning coins is as common as cleaning you car. Many people do that for the same reason as cleaning their cars. Many people imagine that in order to impress others with their coin collections, all the coins must be really pretty and shinny. Yes your supposed to keep a car clean. Same with your house, boat, bicycle, However, those are sort of different items and not something to be collected although some do that too.
Many collectors just don't like dull, dark, discolored coins so they shine them up. The main difference in the above is coins, or any old antiqued item, has accumulated STUFF that when removed, removes some of it's history and in most instances, part of the material too.
Example is Silver tarnishes and that tarnish is an accumulation of the Silver and other substances from the air. You remove that Tarnish, and so goes some of the Silver. If you do this to a Silver coin constantly, eventually no more coin.

Thank a lot for your replies, yes no more cleaning for me.!
on the other side of the coin whot about the grading, I for one
like to see a coin slightly worn, fine / extra fine more than
uncirculated. The latter and proof coins seem to be very personal
to the owners and therefor, are seldom for auction / sale; My
Question is how can you tell for sure an uncirculated coin.