Your coins may lose their brightness over time, and you'll be tempted to polish them. The best advice is ... DON'T. Any cleaning will begin to wear the coin surface, and, though it may look brighter for a time, the coin will lose its value to a collector. The natural tarnish or toning of a coin is expected by collectors, and is actually proof of its authenticity.

For example, never clean coins with commercial jewelry and metal polishes or silver tarnish remover, which will remove the toning that normally collects over time on copper and silver coins. Removing tarnish often harms coins, leaving small spots, scratches, or pockmarks that can significantly diminish their numismatic value.

Never clean a Proof or Uncirculated coin as doing so will invariably introduce minute hairline scratches and ruin any mint luster. If there is dust on the surface, use a photographic squeeze-bulb air blower to remove it or something similar.

What Would You Like To Know About?

• How To Start A Coin Collection
• Care & Handling
• Cleaning
• Grading U.S. Coinage
• How To Price Coins?
• Storing Your Coin Collection
• Tools Of The Trade
• How To Select Magnifiers
• American Numismatic Association
• Consumer Alert: Investing In Rare Coins
• Dictionary of Numismatic Terms

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