Numismatics, or the study and collection of currency has always been considered a hobby for people with refined tastes. When you collect coins, you should be aware that maintaining their shine is as much important as finding the rarest of them. However, cleaning and maintenance of old coins is not always a wise decision, because cleaning can reduce the value. This reduction can be up to 90%. If you decide to clean coins, read these tips to know how to do it without ruining their surfaces much.

Use Cold, Tap Water

Be careful with holding the coin. Don't touch the surface, especially if you proceed with rubbing motions. Let the water flow for 60 seconds and feel free to add more water pressure.

Soaking Coins in Different Solutions

Tarnishing and rust can be removed by soaking, but it is not the same for all types, as you can see:

• Gold coins can be be soaked for a couple of minutes in almost boiling water with soap.

• Old pennies are free of contaminants after 24 hours in vinegar

• Bronze coins must be kept away from tap water (minerals taint the surface). Use distilled water or oil of olives. Sometimes, soaking bronze coins can take up to several weeks.

• Any copper-made and nickel-clad money will be shiny after a couple of minutes in distilled water/white vinegar.

• The aforementioned works well for silver coins, but an over 7-minute soaking in lemon concentrate will be a nice finish after the main procedure.

Second Rinse

Rise the coins again after the soaking part. Use almost hot, tap water.

Finish with Malt Vinegar

Malt vinegar can help the process. Pour it over and rinse it after 10-12 minutes. Use an old toothbrush with gentle bristles.. Use dish soap for the toothbrush and run warm water while you do the washing. Rinse well, because the dirt particles can do some awful scratches. Focus on the soiled areas only.

Dry the Coins

Use a soft, lint-free cloth to dry your coins. Pat them and use the cloth to lay the coins on it.

Additional Tips

For older coins, you can risk and clean tougher dirt with a precision screwdriver or a toothpick. Pry and chip off with care. This is a precision job, which can be hard for amateurs. Use good lighting and a magnifying glass. Low-value pennies can be cleaned with the following solution: ¼ cup of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt.

If none of these tips provide decent cleaning and maintenance of old coins, you should look for reliable professionals. The use of eco-friendly products and advanced techniques is crucial, so you should be careful when you do a research.