The Atrocity of Cleaned Rare American Coins

A mint state/uncirculated coin will NEVER need cleaning. Don't even consider cleaning it for any reason. Circulated coins don't have the value of their uncirculated counterparts and can sometimes be improved with a light touch up.

A well circulated coin needs to look well circulated, so leave it alone. That leaves the AU grade range of silver coins most vulnerable to being improved by cleaning. If you must clean the coin, do it properly!

Otherwise take it to a dealer and ask for their advice. The dealer will probably tell you to leave it alone, since improper cleaning will substantially decrease its value and sale ability. The more expensive the coin, the more disastrous improper cleaning will be for its value.

Remember, you cannot unclean an improperly cleaned coin.

Any coin whose surface doesn't look quite right will be labeled "cleaned" by coin graders. Their surfaces will look flat, have small scratches or hairlines in it, or some other sign of tampering. Among the most common reasons for a coin to receive a Details Grading is unskilled and improper cleaning.

Improperly cleaned is a generic term used by coin graders to describe unskilled cleaning when the exact nature of the action is uncertain. Improper is the operative word here. Improper cleaning is applying an abrasive such as a scouring pad, Scotch Brite pad, cleanser, polishing compound, etc. to the coin's surface.

The term "improperly cleaned" used by the grading services suggests there are proper ways to clean a coin. Light, nondestructive cleaning, particularly when found on older coins, may still permit numeric grading of the rare American coin.

There are a couple of nondestructive methods of cleaning silver coins. I'll gently wipe business strike circulated coins with rubbing alcohol and cotton pad to remove surface grime and finger prints. This makes the coin look more presentable without removing toning or doing surface damage.

Washing the coin in dish detergent also constitutes proper cleaning. Let the coin soak in dish detergent mixed 50/50 with water for ten minutes, then swish it around in the detergent water before holding it under the running rinse water, and finally blotting it dry with a terrycloth towel.

For very specific kinds of problems, there is a professional coin dipping solution called EZ-est, which removes surface contaminants quickly without apparently damaging the surfaces. This to me is a great product for enhancing the eye appeal of a coin without changing mint luster or any important characteristics.

I rarely dip silver coins. Dipping solutions only work for a limited number of very specific situations. It is not a panacea for problem coins.

I only dip a coin after carefully considering whether the coin will be substantially improved by its use. For example, if the coin has tarnished to a dark brown or black I'll consider dipping it briefly. I don't want to completely remove the toning, just enough so the features can be seen again.

I use a small sieve with the coin always visible. I'll swish the coin just under the solution surface, so I can constantly monitor the coin surface change. Then I remove the coin just before it's where I would like it. I immediately dunk the sieve into a container of water to stop the chemical action.

Only a few seconds in the solution will do what I need it for. I have noticed a glitter floating in my container of coin dip and realize the glitter is microscopic pieces of coin removed by the solution. Repeated dipping or leaving the coin in too long will constitute improper cleaning of the rare American coin.

The directions on the container say coin surface damage may result, if the coin remains in the solution for longer than 15 seconds. I strongly recommend adhering to that time limit. If the problem isn't solved in that timeframe, it probably won't be solved by the dipping solution anyway.

Learn what coin surfaces should look like in their natural state. It will help you appreciate what you have and not be tempted to alter it. If the coin has problems to begin with, DON'T BUY IT!

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