![]() Our inventory is constantly changing, so be sure to check back often. and foreign coins and banknotes available online from The Great American Coin Company. For particularly valuable coins, it’s a good idea to send them to a professional grading service like PCGS, NGC, or ANACS and get an official stamp of approval.įor more information about detecting cleaned coins, see this article on the Coin Update website.įor a more general look at the topic, this article on US Coin covers the subject pretty well.Īnd whether you’re a seasoned collector or just getting started, be sure to browse the selection of U.S. The safest way to protect yourself from dirty deals on cleaned coins is to buy only from sellers you trust. Coins that were cleaned a long time ago may even have regained enough patina to fool them. Some coin cleaning is evident to average collectors with a little close inspection, but sometimes it takes an expert grader to see it. Those will be removed if the coin has been cleaned, resulting in an even, non-radiating luster. The cartwheel pattern comes from residues and artifacts that were on the coin when it was minted. Just because an uncirculated coin is bright and shiny doesn’t mean it hasn’t been cleaned, though. When held at an angle to strong light, the light should reflect in a radiating cartwheel pattern from the coin’s relief surfaces. Uncirculated or AU coins should be bright and lustrous. Dull Uncirculated or About Uncirculated Coins Older silver coins will look greyish and have a patina around the lettering and artwork. Old copper coins should look medium to dark brown with no shine at all. Cleaning removes most, if not all, of it, giving the coin an unnaturally clean metallic look. Here’s what to look for: Bright-Looking Older CoinsĬirculated coins have a patina that comes from reaction with the elements and contact with skin oils. ![]() On the other hand, if you’re buying coins, you need to know the telltale signs that it’s been cleaned. So before you even consider cleaning a mud-encrusted coin, be sure you know how to do it without ruining it. Even a simple washing can leave scratches and blemishes that degrade the coin’s collectability. ![]() Removing it actually lowers a coin’s value. That includes natural aging such as oxidation and patina. Just like most other collectibles, coins retain their value by being kept in their natural state. As a coin ages, the metal develops a patina as a way to protect itself from the environment. Without a doubt, the answer is No one hundred percent of the time you should not clean coins. Because for collectors, dirty can be beautiful. No Background This question comes up all the time: Should you clean coins. We’re talking about the coins themselves. And we’re not referring to unscrupulous dealers (but be careful who you buy from). No, we’re not talking about counterfeiters and forgers, although they’re out there. Collecting coins can be a dirty business, and if you want your collection to keep its value, you should keep it that way.
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