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How to Clean Old Silver Dollars

Silver dollars, or any collectible silver coin, should only be cleaned under certain conditions. In many cases, cleaning a coin can lower the value of the coin as a collector's item. In severe cases, where the date and other details of the coin are not visible due to dirt and grime, cleaning is warranted. This circumstance is more common with silver dollars found by metal detecting enthusiasts than with coins held by collectors.

Things You'll Need

Silver dollars
Baking soda
Toothbrush
Vinegar, lemon juice or rubbing alcohol
Bowl
Soft cloth

Instructions

- 1
  Confirm the value of the coin before attempting any cleaning. According to the website gometaldetecting.com, cleaning a valuable coin could cut the value of the coin in half. Consult with a coin dealer or research the coin in reference books to determine the value of the coin in its current state.
- 2
  Wet the silver dollar and then dip it into baking soda. Use a toothbrush to scrub the tarnish and dirt from the silver dollar. This system obviously cleans one coin at a time but has the advantage of being nonabrasive and should return a shine to the silver dollar.
- 3
  Clean tarnish from silver dollars with vinegar, lemon juice or rubbing alcohol, according to the website mycoincollecting.com. Pour the liquid in a bowl and soak the coins in the liquid until the dirt and tarnish loosens. Pat the coins dry with a soft cloth.

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