How to Clean a Coin Correctly 

Thank you for your feedback. We have added a WARNING to the video that cleaning can be hazardous to your coins' health. CoinTelevision is committed to bring news and information about the coin collecting hobby. David Lisot, Producer, CoinTelevision.com.

My old drunk daddy had a great way of cleaning coins. Every time I got a few together, he'd come to my house and clean me out.

Friends don’t let friends clean coins

Good words and excellent explanation about difference between cleaning and conserving a coin! Thank you for watching CoinTelevision! David Lisot

I was always told never clean a coin, it kills its value!

I worked as a Bench Jeweler for almost 40 years. How about using a steam cleaner using distilled water only or how about a ultrasonic cleaner using warm distilled water with only a couple of drops of Dawn dish soap mixed in. I would just like to clean the dark finger grime out of the details. Both processes would not change the coloring or remove tarnish. Any thoughts or comments on this are welcome. 😁☕️

He did an experiment on a proof gold coin! What a brave guy!

I work with optics and frequently have to clean spots, smears, outgassing haze, stubborn dust, or smudges off of first surface mirrors, including gold and aluminum. In my experience, Q-tips are too scratchy for mirror surface metal. They WILL scratch, even if fluffed out. For that, I use synthetic cleanroom swabs. They are much less likely to scratch. And don’t use paper towels to dry! They’re more abrasive than you may realize. Use clean microfiber, like for your glasses. Better yet, use a dry blower, like canned air at a distance or those blowers professional photographers use, and blow the liquid to the edges to get absorbed by a microfiber cloth. If I was going to remove a fingerprint, I would first use a clean strip of Scotch tape. It pulls off fingerprints beautifully. What’s left can be washed off with a quick rinse of methanol (wear gloves) blown off with clean air (not from your lips!). I have methanol in a laboratory squirt bottle, and it’s great! Methanol is my favorite for that cloudy haze that sometimes comes from other materials, especially plastics and paints, outgassing and also for dust spots that don’t want to blow off. Stubborn spots may need gentle wiping with poly fiber swabs and different solvents, like acetone or even your own breath fogged onto the coin. With soft metals like gold, there is a good chance of scratching from anything solid, but with enough skill, they can be so small they don’t detract. Practice on cheap, already damaged proofs before trying to de-scum anything valuable! Use a magnifier, too.

Thank you for your feedback. This presentation is an excerpt of a video that was delivered at the the Texas Numismatic Association as an educational presentation in 2016 where we videotaped several different lectures. We have changed the description of the video on RU-vid to address your concerns to read: WARNING: DO NOT CLEAN A COIN WITHOUT EXPERT SUPERVISION! THIS IS NOT AN ADVERTISEMENT TO CLEAN COINS NOR AN ENDORSEMENT OF ANY COIN CLEANING PRODUCT. We were not paid nor have any interest in the product discussed. CoinTelevision is devoted to bring news and information about the coin collecting hobby. Thank you again for your feedback! David Lisot, Video Producer, CoinTelevison.com.

Classic snake oil salesman. Do not "clean" any coin that might have any numismatic value. Dirt, grease, tape residue, sometimes paint or ink, might be safely removed with acetone, but if you don't know what you're doing, don't do it. I love when he says he cleaned a "proof gold coin" that had "bluish, whitish, opalescence" on it.

Many seem to be confused about the difference between cleaning a coin vs. conserving a coin. I always explain it like this: Cleaned = Improperly Cleaned & Conserved = Properly Cleaned. Conserving a coin is a learned skill. Done correctly it can enhance the appearance and value of the coin. Done inproperly and you have a coin that is considered to be "Cleaned" which will not look as nice and will lose some of its value. So you should never improperly clean a coin, however proper conservation can not only be desirable it is often absolutely necessary. However, beginners need to research and practice before ever attempting to conserve coins. There is always a risk you may damage the coin.

He looks like the guy u never pawn your stuff to

3yrs later and he has finally finished cleaning his coin

Me trying to clean a $1 and ended up wasting $30 on the supplies

When I went to go trade an old pennies, giving an estimate, I was told from the experts that you do not clean coins the end. Experts, who take a look at them, can detect that it was cleaned or touched, and that the value goes down tremendously more than it would when it was dirty.

That guy drinking the Diet Dr.Pepper really looks like its working for him

No such thing on how to clean a coin correctly. Bye history and the numismaniac value of that coin. Nicely done on how to send people down the wrong path in to a hobby that I love. The people like me who tell people not to clean coins are the bad guys. Thank you

Thank you for the heads up. I don't see what he did wrong. Common sense on what to clean and what to leave alone.

If you can still notice any of the cartwheel don't conserve or clean that coin until you have a Numismatic Value for the coin as any cleaning will effect that cartwheeling and then you have Ruined the Value . If the coin has already lost the cartwheel , go ahead and do what you want to do with it , it's just a clad coin at that point .

Great information! Thank you

Coins surfaces are porous, & when you take all of the dirt & crap off, you expose the pores again. Oxidation has set in once, possibly due to some impurity or improperly mixed alloy, of course it's always going to come back. I'd argue that in those cases, oxidative conditions were created & it came back. Rinsing those may be giving it fresh grounds to do its thing, in some cases at least. Good vid

What a great share. Got to love it.

Thank you, great video.

People yell about cleaning coins, but most of these coins are not worth anywhere near what they should be worth. They're to be held and looked at and that's not fun if they smell and look like crap. I have some silver quarters with black spots on them. Nothing seems to work, I wonder if this stuff would take it off.

To be sure, when you sell you're coins you're never going to break even, ever. I have coins; Liberty, Morgan, etc. that I've never cleaned and got squat for them even though I bought when prices were $5/oz spot in early 2000. These were BU and in very good shape and still in the 20 coin plastic container they were shipped in. When took them to my local coin store they wouldn't come anywhere near today's spot price and I wasn't happy with the major online dealers either.

FYI: The CONSERV product is simply mineral spirits you can buy in any paint store or hardware store, repackaged with their product name and charging several times the amount it costs.

I have always been told never clean your coin because it ruins the value of the coin. I'm not cleaning my coins but thank you.

I would love to try it.

What should you store your valuable coins in plastic clear cases or yellow manila envelopes this is the second video where I’ve heard somebody insinuate yellow manila envelopes dirties up the coin?

I was always told you never ever clean a coin, just for the sake of cleaning it.

This guy could be a character in Breaking Bad.

thinking of it archaeologically, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this procedure and it is quite favorable in such conditions as shown here.

Some Golden Rules of coin collecting. Number One, NEVER clean them. Number Two, NEVER (I did this when I was young, with no idea) keep them in plastic. Number Three, DON'T 'slab' coins, it's a con, and they use FANTASY 'grading'! Number Four, keep them in special trays eg Lindner - it doesn't effect their surface in any way. Just some of the great ideas I've picked up over my 40+ years of collecting.

My grandpa owned a service station (back when they were actually SERVICE stations-as in when you got gas, they’d come out and pump your gas, check your oil, and wash your windshield). He’d come home and go through the change from his till and take out any silver-and given the guys handling the register were mechanics and had grease and oil on their hands, the coins were often pretty grungy. Grandpa would dip them in kerosene and rub them off. Worked wonders! 😂

It all depends on the potential value of the coin you are attempting to clean or restore.

Good video, thank you

I learned a lot more from the comments than I did from the video

Can you use a soft bristle brush to get more detail?

So much nonsense I was told as a child 50 years ago about the cleaning of coins totally losing their value - NO! They look so much better when they're clean and shiny. Why would anyone want a collection of dirty old coins? (I do understand you can overdo it, but I still think the date needs to be readable.)

Got a American quarter today which is pretty interesting to me because I live in Canada and have never been to the us or any other place that isn’t inside Canada. I don’t intend to sell it or anything so I don’t really care about the reducing value part of cleaning coins plus i don’t intend to use it(I have enough of my own currency) so I’m just going to clean it and put it in some nice case.

I don't know how I have missed ur videos just had one pop up from 3 yrs. Talking about different cleaners, u said said something about a same of bu plus any changes e u still have? Or have u come across something even better. I'm probably 3 yrs to late, thought I would check though. Thank you

I identify as a Clean Coin and I totally back this message.

What do you use, to clean the coin & the different ones. ?? What cleaner on you use ??

Close your eyes and it's like Lin Manuel Miranda teaching coin cleaning techniques

How do you know what coins to clean ? Got 1000s of them that go back to 1800’s and every first mint coins, settlement, war and 1sr parliment mint worked out the value but not grade.

I got a bowl of warm water and added a smidgen of dawn. I only let the coins sok for a couple of minutes then rinsed and dried with microfiber cloth. Was that wro g?

Ancient coins sometimes have to be cleaned to see them...

Thank you so much for this video!!!

I use steel wool and a rock tumbler.

He's cleaning bullion or what we'd consider junk coins. I'd never do this to a coin that had numismatic value.

What is the name of cleaner you mentioned, to clean coins?

Alvin loved your prevention. I have a question, I have a 1944 steel penny would you advise cleaning it, and if so how?

Where can l buy one of that bottle

The most popular show on television

What’s the maximum time you would let those coins sit in your solution? Love the video

8:47 What coin Is that the guy is holding up? I have one. I found it in my grandpas things after he passed. Its not in very good shape. About the condition of the one pictured. No date i can see.

I have a 2007 silver dollar that is oxidized on the back and front. Should I clean it with water or find out how much it's worth before I do anything to it?

I've got some pennies they are in real good shape what about 50 years ago someone melted a candle in between them any good ideas on getting the wax off of those mint state pennies

Every one of these coins looked worse afterwards. I guess that's what I should've expected from a Miami Vice villain.

“I’ll be over there after here if I can help you.”

so I have this Sacagawea $1 coin here with "E Pluribus Unum" engraved on the back, is it worth anything?

Should you clean old coins? - In almost all situations the answer is no, you should not clean old coins. When a coin is graded, the condition of the coin does not include its cleanliness. - Collectors of old coins will fully expect a patina to have developed, and most will appreciate the appearance. - Cleaning an old coin would remove the patina or toning that helps make it even more unique and visually appealing. Removing this effect can significantly reduce the value of the item. - Most coin cleaning products are abrasive, and could damage the coin. Non-abrasive chemicals can still react with the other metals found in some old coins. The physical act of scrubbing or polishing can also wear down the design, destroying one of the most important factors in deciding a coin’s grade.

DO NOT CLEAN COINS WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE DOING! Show to an expert first to determine value. David Lisot, CoinTelevision, Producer. Thanks for watchijng!

Where can I get this product? Or how do I send for the process before grading Thanks

Once the coin starts turning, he's right, it always comes back.

Thank you

THE BEST OF THE BEST STORE

Cleaning a coin is the worst thing you can do for its numismatic value

The best way to clean a coin is "NOT" to clean the coin!!

Did that solvent take the surface off that Table?

Does it lower the value cleaning coins?

Will this work on a crusty KGll?

i literally searched this up, thanks brain

How do you order the Coinserve?

I just got a metal detector for Christmas. What's your website for me to take care of coins I find

Is salt and vinegar bad to use to clean them?

Will PCGS know if you use this stuff?

How do I get this product?

You do this whole vid and Don't put the link to buy this cleaner in the Video ????? Why?????😐

9:33 What is meant by "before they screwed" up MS70?

Simple green works good

What liquid did you use to clean it?

How can one purchase Service?

Just got my kids a gardening hand Shovel for Christmas because they keep using the spoons and he actually dug up a pennie. Literally dug up Money👏🤭on first try.

here, pass that around

Can I buy this in Canada

the grading companies are killing the hobby

hello need your help i put cleaning solutions ( pro saniter) in a contener to wash all my coin copper & silver but i forget to wash .next day went going to wash all my silver coin change colour. please help what to do .

I like Braso, makes my old coins look brand new😀

.When metal detecting i find very old silver coins . For the longest time i used baking soda , hot water and aluminum foil to clean them . Just lately some of my viewers told me cleaning silver coins may diminish their value if done incorrectly. Is the method i use to clean my coins causing irreversible damage. Hopefully you can answer my question. Thank you for the information offered in this video.

“Do you see everything coming off this, folks?” Not the most assuring thing I’d want to hear from a coin cleaner guy.

Coin collectors should promote the cleaning of coins; it reduces the pool of uncleaned coins. You'd think coin enthusiasts would clean all the junk silver, but instead the opposite, real people will dump things like liquid red candy over the junk coins as a joke, as I have seen, before returning it to the store. 'Look, Damaged coins! Extra collectible." ...But It's just a fresh red paint.

How do I clean metal pennies any advice

I clean a bunch of coins. Very satisfying. I also plan on turning them into rings so there’s that too.

Wow nice video

Just remember that it might be easy to clean a coin but impossible to unclean.

wish to have one bottle but 44 £ for delivery to UK its to much :( ..

Sold me on it!! I've got so many coins I need to rinse with this! Thank you and Have a Great Day!!!

How Can I get a test bottle of bu+?

I just want to clean my coin ring. So, I'm guessing since it's already in jewelry that it's probably not worth that much anyway.