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How to Remove Marker From a Silver Dollar

In the eyes of a coin collector, the silver dollar should appear to be adequately worn for authenticity. Silver coins that have been circulated have a gray, deep brown or black tone. Older coins become tarnished to a blue, green or violet color. This is highly desirable for collectors. If you happen to find a silver dollar that has a marker stains on it, try a few tricks before taking it to a professional coin shop for cleaning.

Things You'll Need

Ammonia
Vinegar
Lemon juice
Fingernail polish remover
Distilled water
Soft cloth
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Small glass jar

Instructions

- 1
  Pour a small amount of ammonia, vinegar, lemon juice or fingernail polish remover in a glass jar; just enough to cover a coin. Any of these acidic liquids helps dissolve dirt and marker stains on a coin's surface. If one doesn't work well, rinse the coin and try another.
- 2
  Soak the coin from one day to three weeks. Check it daily to see if it's getting cleaner. The soaking time depends on how clean you want the coin. Some collectors want large bits of grime off while leaving the normal wear and tear; others want their coins shiny.
- 3
  Rinse the coin with distilled water. Distilled water has all of the minerals removed, so it's the purest form of water to keep from adding mineral deposits to the coin. Dry with a soft cloth.
- 4
  Squirt a pea-size amount of toothpaste on a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean stubborn stains from a marker.
- 5
  Scrub the coin gently in a circular motion to lather the toothpaste and loosen the marker stain. Rinse with distilled water and dry with a soft cloth.

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