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How to Clean a Tarnished American Eagle Coin

American Eagle coins are collectors coins from the U.S. mints that are made out of silver. Silver is a material that tarnishes easily, making the coin less attractive. Cleaning the tarnish off a silver coin like an American Eagle coin requires careful handling. Mistakes can ruin the coin by stripping away part of the design along with the tarnish. To avoid ruining or scratching the coin during cleaning, take care to avoid abrasive materials. Proper handling will help the coin retain its value.

Things You'll Need

Dish soap
Water
Soft cloth
Lemon
Container
Baking soda

Instructions

- 1
  Rinse the American Eagle coin in warm water and then add dish soap. Rub gently with fingers to remove dirt and dust from the coin. Rinse the coin thoroughly with clean water.
- 2
  Place the coin on a soft cloth and gently pat it dry. Do not rub the coin. Rubbing could result in scratches. Silver is a soft metal that scratches easily.
- 3
  Squeeze the lemon over the coin so that the undiluted lemon juice is covering the coin. Lemon, or similar citrus fruits, contain citric acid, which eats away at the tarnish and improves the appearance of the silver. Rinse the lemon juice as soon as the tarnish is gone. Do not leave it on longer or it can damage the American Eagle coin by eating away the silver. It typically takes about an hour to remove the tarnish, depending on the original state of the coin and the amount of tarnish.
- 4
  Fill a container like a large bowl or pan with 2 cups hot water and add about 1 tsp. of baking soda. Mix the baking soda well and then place the coin in the baking soda solution. Let it sit for a minute or two, then pull it out and rinse with plain water. Pat dry.

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