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How to Prevent Tarnish on American Silver Eagles

The United States Mint first began producing American Silver Eagles in 1986. According to the U.S. Mint, the coins "have always featured a rendition of sculptor Adolph A. Weinman's magnificent Walking Liberty design, originally prepared and executed for the Nation̵7;s first circulating half-dollar coin in 1916." When you purchase an American Silver Eagle, you should take special care to ensure that the image on the front of the coin does not tarnish. Coins can naturally tarnish with age, but taking proper care of your American Silver Eagle will minimize wear.

Instructions

- 1
  Wash your hands before touching the coin. The website Silver Monthly notes, "Your hands are a breeding ground for bacteria and naturally contain oils that can damage any rare coins you might handle." If bacteria gets on your coin, it can tarnish the coin and cause corrosion spots.
- 2
  Avoid touching the front and back of the coin. Repeatedly rubbing or grabbing the front and back of an American Silver Eagle will wear down the design on the coin and will lead to tarnish. When you touch your coin, hold it by the edge.
- 3
  Store your coins in a dry place away from household cleaning products. Moisture in the air can cause damage to the exterior of your American Silver Eagle and lead to tarnishing. The website Preserving My Heritage also notes that "some paints, textiles and other household materials also emit some sulphur-containing organic compounds and these also cause copper and silver to tarnish." It's best to store your silver coins in a box or safe in a cool, dry place.

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