Cleaning Silver Coins

[JeffersWV]

I was speaking with a coin collector/dealer yesterday, and admiring his impressive collection. He had several rare coins. I asked him what he would recommend I use to clean my silver coins after recovery. Here's what he told me.
1) Of course, you should never wipe soil from a coin. The soil will scratch the coin,decreasing it's value.
2) Never use a brush to clean your coin. He did say that a shaving brush could be used (though I doubt that type of brush would be very practical). He stated that even a soft toothbrush (what I've used in the past) would leave very small scratches on the coin, decreasing the value (especially on high dollar coins).
***He offered that soaking the (silver) coin in ammonia was the best cleaning method he knows of.
Comments anyone???

[Wyatt Earp]

Pure household ammonia doesn't work as well as a solution of 50% ammonia and 50% water. I know it doesn't make sense....but I have found that to be the case. I bought and sold a few pounds of silver coins from a cache recovered in Meadville Pa...and I was about 3 weeks soaking the stuff off of those coins.

For what it's worth...Never polish a silver coin. If you do make that mistake, you'd just as well put it in a vending machine. Soaking them in ammonia and water will not impart any luster....but polishing imparts the wrong kind of luster...and looks "hokie" on a well circulated coin. Soak 'em..rinse 'em with water that's as hot as you can stand....pat 'em dry...and leave 'em alone.

Wyatt Fawley

[bill(de)]

Just noticed this post and happened upon a site with similar information and if nothing else a good read. HH Billhttp://www.pcgs.com/articles/article616.chtml

[hoser]

Thanks for the tip. I have a few old silver coins that really aren't worth much, so I will be giving this a try. What about using water pic to help knock off some of the crud from a coin. It works on your teeth to help remove plaque, why not a coin?

[birddude1225]

Jewlery cleaner makes them nice and shiny, and it doesn't damage them because it is non-abraisve. I would be afraid to use ammonia. Isn't that what they use for cleaning floors?