![]() Grading is one of the biggest factors in determining the value of a numismatic coin. For example, a rare 1880 Coiled Hair Stella sold for an astounding $2,574,000 at auction in 2013. When a coin is exceptional in regard to one or more of these factors, it can prove quite valuable on the numismatic market. The value of numismatic coins is determined by four key factors: Merriam Webster defines numismatics as “the study or collection of coins, tokens, and paper money.” 2 Numismatic coins are collectors’ items, and typically command a higher value than the face value of the coins. Indeed, in the eyes of seasoned numismatists, a dark-hued silver dollar of 19th-century vintage is far more satisfying to own than a shiny, worn, cleaned coin with thousands upon thousands of hairlines.Coin collecting is a practice as old as money, and has been referred to as “the hobby of kings.” 1 Have you had a coin collection for decades, or did you just inherit one from a relative? Do the coins look tarnished and dirty? Before you start scrubbing, you might want to consult a coin expert because the coins could have numismatic value that cleaning will ruin. An old coin in its natural state is like a fine, aged wine of a vintage from a far earlier time. Ultimately, the thrust of this message is to encourage coin collectors to avoid cleaning their coins. Sometimes these hairlines will be evident with the naked eye. Abrasive coin cleaners, such as baking soda, toothpaste, jewelers rouge, and acids will literally remove the upper surface of the coin, leaving it in an irreparable state.Ĭoins cleaned in such an abusive manner have an unnatural reflectivity, and upon close inspection with a magnifying glass countless striations and hairlines can be seen scarring the surface. In fact, in most cases, anything more than a simple surface rinsing with water to dislocate loose debris will actually remove tiny bits of metal from the coin. Sometimes, cleaning coins does much more than remove its original coloration. ![]() Many will even turn their noses up at a rare, cleaned coin from the 1790s or early 1800s if a more expensive, original version is available or soon might be. There’s a reason that a cleaned coin is often worth less than half its original, undamaged value – numismatists simply don’t want them. ![]() When Cleaning Coins Does Far More Damage Than Simply Altering Surface Appearance In the end, the coin collector favors the natural appearance of the coin over a piece with altered surfaces. Gold is generally the least reactive of metals in theĬoin realm, and older gold coins usually acquire aĪs you would guess, environmental fumes or other ambient agents may alter the way a coin changes in color over time. With darker toning in more protected areas of the coin. Nickel coins may acquire a soft grey to dark grey, Silver coins usually take on a light grey to deepīrownish grey, with darker hues in the recessed To deep chocolate, based on the age of the coin or On copper coins, the patina usually is a light brown Here are some examples of what coin patina looks like: This patina is actually the metal’s method of protecting itself against the environment. To understand why cleaning coins is so harmful, it’s important to understand the value of patina – the natural layer of toning that a coin acquires over the course of many years. In the 1800s that, to this day, still have detectable Many 19th-century coins that were cleaned way back Permanently alter its natural appearance. Surprising to some, a simpleĬleaning can wreak terrible damage to a coin and While it is human nature make old things look shinyĪnd new again, like many people do with their antiqueĬars, in the coin industry it’s best to let a coin stay
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