Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Take your Morgan silver dollars to a coin dealer to determine if cleaning them will reduce their value. Even if you are keeping them for sentimental reasons, you may decide to sell them someday. If you do choose to clean them, you have several ways of doing it.
Keep a soft cloth handy when cleaning your Morgan dollars. You will need this to lay them on to dry, regardless of the method of cleaning that you choose. Rubbing them dry will risk damaging the coin.
Soak all of the coins being cleaned in a dish for a few hours in a weak acid solution. The best choices are lemon juice, vinegar, or rubbing alcohol. Some collectors recommend using nail polish remover that contains acetone. All of these solutions can be used without being diluted. Make sure that the coins are completely submerged and do not stack the coins on top of each other. Do not rub the coins.
Be very careful not to leave the coins in the solution too long when using a commercial silver cleaning solution. These cleaners can be harsh and can remove more silver than you intend very quickly. Usually just a few minutes in this type of solution will be enough.
Rinse the Morgan dollars in clear water after cleaning to stop the cleaner from damaging the silver, and allow the silver coins to air dry. This applies to any cleaning method employed. Avoid touching your coins with your fingers because the oil from your skin can also damage the coin. Only use one of the cleaning options at a time to clean your coins and try not to clean them too often.
Wash the coins in warm water with a mild liquid soap if you are only wanting to make them more sanitary. Follow the same cautions as when cleaning the coins. Do not rub them and allow the coins to air dry after a clear water rinse.