How to Polish Circulated Quarters

Polishing circulated quarters may not be in your best interest if the quarter is old or valuable. Polishing or cleaning old valuable coins can greatly reduce their value especially if harsh abrasives are used that erase fine details on old coins. The United States Mint website states that discoloration on older coins actually adds to the value of the coin. The United States Mint released their newest version of the quarter in 2010 with its "America the Beautiful" quarter program.

Things You'll Need

• Soft nonabrasive towel
• Small container
• Baking soda
• Water

Show More

Instructions

1. • 1

     Wash your hands thoroughly before handling the coins with a mild dish soap. This will remove the oils from your hands that can damage the coin.

   • 2

     Make a cleaning paste by mixing 4 tbsp. baking soda and 1 tsp. water in a small container.

   • 3

     Gently rub the paste over the front and back of the coin.

   • 4

     Rinse the baking soda paste off the coin with warm water.

   • 5

     Dry the coin completely with a soft nonabrasive towel. Do not rub too hard or you may damage the coin.