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Cleaning silver?

neacpaneacpa Member Posts: 2,711 ✭✭✭
edited May 2006 in General Discussion
I know some of you are bound to be collectors of silver coins. What is the best way to clean old silver coins without damaging them? Warm water and a soft toothbrush? Any cleaners that you can just soak them in without damaging them? I need to clean some that I received from my dads passing and they are just grimy. Also, would a person use the same thing to clean/shine old wheat pennies? Thanks in advance!!
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Comments

  • riderrider Member Posts: 1,528 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    There are some neat methods mentioned here. I've used the baking soda and toothbrush and it works fine.......http://gometaldetecting.com/cleaning-finds.html
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  • spryorspryor Member Posts: 9,155
    edited November -1
    I clean silver by putting a sheet of aluminum foil in the bathroom sink, add a few tablespoons of table salt, and a few of baking soda. This combination causes some kind of reaction that will disolve the tarnish. The foil is a key part. If having a sort of thick gunk on it as I have seen on some old coins, something stronger may be in order.
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  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Cleaning old pennies pretty much destroys their collector value. Don't you watch Antiques Roadshow? Patination is the ticket.
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  • mondmond Member Posts: 6,458
    edited November -1
    coins,drop them in diluted vinegar, brings them up in a lovely sparkle (not too sure about silver tho).
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  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by He Dog
    Cleaning old pennies pretty much destroys their collector value. Don't you watch Antiques Roadshow? Patination is the ticket.


    You are right. Any coins should be left as is. You cut the value in half by cleaning them.
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  • jaflowersjaflowers Member Posts: 698 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    First thing is DO NOT CLEAN any of the copper or nickel coins and absolutely DO NOT use any kind of brush or cleaning "paste" type substance. You will devalue whatever it is you inherited. If you want to take a little dirt and grime off of silver coins go to a coin dealer or some jewelry store and get a jar of "Jewel Luster". It's a nasty smelling blue liquid that will remove tarnish and some dirt just by dipping the coin in it and running some water over it. You can rub gently with your fingers and a very soft old toothbrush. It will not hurt your silver coins. If they have tape residue on them or such you can also use acetone but again, no brushes.
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  • Rebel_JamesRebel_James Member Posts: 4,746
    edited November -1
    Jewelry stores sell 'Jewel Luster.' That's a fancy name, with a BIG markup in price, for 'Tarnex,' that you can find at CVS, Eckerds, Walgreens, or maybe Wally World has it.
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  • William81William81 Member Posts: 25,482 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Been a collector all of my life...Most experts out there will tell you to leave them alone. Any rubbing, brushing etc. even with a soft cloth or tooth brush will leave little hair line marks.

    Any coin dipped or cleaned with any chemical that changes the natural toning of the coin will also devalue it greatly.

    If you don't believe what I am saying check out ebay...do a search of coins with the word cleaned added. They sell for far less than uncleaned coins.

    Also the eariler listed shortcut http://gometaldetecting.com/cleaning-finds.html

    Says: DO NOT CLEAN OLD COINS THAT YOU SUSPECT ARE VALUABLE, it will cut their value in half......
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  • guns-n-painthorsesguns-n-painthorses Member Posts: 6,462 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I use old silver coins for conchos on horse tack I build. Since the coins are going to be ran thru a press to dome them, I always polish them before mounting them onto the leather. I use a cleaner called "Flitz". Contains no abrasives. Rub on, rub off, presto, instant shine. We also use it on our silver parade saddles with great results.


    Got Guns?
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  • neacpaneacpa Member Posts: 2,711 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Really not interested in collector value of the coins. There are not that many (10 silver dollars, 14 silver halves, 27 silver quarters and 19 silver dimes). Just wanting to clean them up and put them in a display in a shadow box or something like that. My brother said he thought dad had pennies for every year since 1895. Again, was going to clean them up and put them in a sequence in a display box of some sort. Thanks again for the info.
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  • mp5shootermp5shooter Member Posts: 2,429 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    guns don't you mean wax on wax off
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  • yoshmysteryoshmyster Member Posts: 22,059 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If value is not important but less damaging in cleaning would be using "Tarnex" (stinks like crap but it does the trick) but all it does is clean the surface and will not get the high polish. If you're looking for high mirror polish then a bit of Rouge (Iron Oxide) on a felt or muslim polishing wheel will do the trick.

    Aluminum and Baking soda works well. I use a crappy old aluminum pot left over after I changed out to stainless to prevent further "Old-timers"[:p]. On top of stove boil the baking soda water mix and dunk the silver. This is recomended just for cleaning silver without any stones.
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