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How to Shine Coins

Most coin experts recommend against cleaning coins "as doing so may end up ruining the coin's numismatic value," according to Best Coin.com. Valuable coins should only be cleaned by a professional, because home cleaning can actually harm the surface of the coin with scratches, spots and other blemishes. If you must shine up your coins at home, there are a few different techniques you can try that will bring some of the like-new luster back to your tarnished coins without damaging the finish.

Things You'll Need

Petroleum jelly
Cotton swabs
Lint-free cloth
Olive oil
Distilled water
Rubbing alcohol
Dishwashing detergent
Old (soft-bristled) toothbrush

Instructions

- 1
  Apply petroleum jelly to both sides of the coin with a cotton swab, then rub it clean with the lint-free cloth. This will remove grime that has accumulated on the surface of the coin.
- 2
  
  Olive oil can take up to a year to achieve positive results.
  
  Soak the coin in olive oil. Rinse off the coin with distilled water because tap water contains minerals that can damage the coin's surface. Patience is the key here, since it takes at least 24 hours and up to a year to get good results. Try 24 hours first, then increase the time of each subsequent soak until you have achieved the desired results.
- 3
  Soak the coins in rubbing alcohol until any grime and dirt has become dislodged, then rinse with distilled water. Dry the coins with a lint-free cloth.
- 4
  Wash the coins in distilled water mixed with a mild liquid dishwashing detergent, then use an old, soft-bristled toothbrush to loosen grime. This method tends to work best for nickel coins. Rinse with distilled water and dry with a lint-free cloth.

Coin Collecting