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A Coin Collector's Best Way to Restore Tarnished and Grimy Coins

As a coin collector, you should keep your coins in their original tarnished state; attempting to remove the tarnish reduces the value of the coin by 50 percent or more. Tarnishing is a natural process that occurs over time, also called "toning." Toning can actually increase the value of your coins, since it provides proof the coins were not tampered with. Cleaning grime from your coins requires careful handling to avoid destroying the finish with a cleaning solution. You should only clean them to remove grime and stuck-on dirt safely if your coins are not too expensive.

Things You'll Need

Coins
Plastic bowl
Soapy water
Olive oil (optional)
Soft cloth
Compressed air (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Mix tap water and a mild soap in a bowl or pour olive oil in a bowl, enough to cover the coins.
- 2
  Place your coins in soapy water solution or in olive oil for a few days. Do not try to rub the dirt off the coins or manipulate them in any way--just allow them to sit in the water or oil. This helps the dirt to loosen.
- 3
  Rinse the coins thoroughly with tap water. Do not rub the coins, just rinse off the loosened dirt and grime.
- 4
  Place the rinsed coins on a soft, clean cloth and let the coins air dry. Never rub or dry the coins off with any type of cloth or paper. Even a soft cloth will leave scratches on the surface, reducing the value of the coins. You may also used compressed air, generally used to clean electronics like keyboards, to safely dry your coins.

Coin Collecting