Should You Clean Your Coins Before Selling Them?

Many new to the world of valuable coins may wonder, “Should you clean your coins?” The short answer is no, you should not clean your valuable coins if you care about maintaining their maximum potential value. There are no guaranteed harmless ways to clean you coins, and cleaning them not only causes damage, but also washes away much of the numismatic history that gives rare coins their unique value. 

With any coins that might be rare in your collection, getting an appraisal is always the first step towards making good decisions about what to do with your rare coin collection.

To find out if your coins potentially have value, get a free coin appraisal online with Coinfully today.

In this article, we’ll break down exactly why you shouldn’t clean your coins as a general rule.

If your coins might be worth a significant sum, your best bet is always to leave them in their current condition and have them professionally appraised before you make any decisions about cleaning them.

Let’s talk about why.

Why You Shouldn’t You Clean Your Coins

Cleaning your coins will not restore the original surface, and in most cases, will damage the coins. 

Additionally, the patina and other buildup on old coins can actually be more valuable than having a an older cleaned coin, especially from a historical perspective.

If you have valuable gold or silver coins, sometimes the value is in their precious metal and cleaning your silver or gold coins wouldn’t add to their melt value, and only risks reducing their numismatic premium.

In fact, professional grading services like PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) and coin dealers specifically look for signs of cleaning when assessing coins. If a coin has been cleaned, it may receive a lower grade, ultimately decreasing its resale value.

Before making any decisions about your coin collection, it’s important to understand navigating the coin market to ensure you’re maximizing the value of your collection. For insights into maximizing your returns, check out our guide on how to get the best price for gold coins.

How to Clean Your Coins Safely (You Can’t)

There is no way to safely clean your coins.

No matter what method you try to use, you are almost guaranteed to damage your coins and diminish their value.

Should You Clean Your Coins Before Appraisals? No

If you have any valuable coins, you should stay away from cleaning them before appraisals to make sure your coins do not lose any value.

Some things that can make your coins look dirty (such as patina) can actually add to your coin’s value.

Trying to clean these marks out could harm the value of your coins.

Before cleaning your coins, get a free coin appraisal online to see what your coin’s value is and if a cleaning would add to their value in the first place, which it almost universally won’t.

There are three ways you can get appraisals before cleaning your coins: You can send in photos and get an online appraisal by an expert, take your coins to a shop and get an expert appraisal in-person, or you can get an at-home appraisal and have an expert come to your home to appraise your coins.

If you have already cleaned your valuable coins, you can still get an appraisal and see how much it has added or taken away from their worth.

For quick, zero-pressure coin selling, reach out to Coinfully today to get a professional evaluation of your collection.

The Risks of Cleaning Coins: What You Need to Know

Cleaning coins can do more harm than good. Once a coin’s surface is altered, it cannot be undone, and potential buyers or grading services will notice. In fact, some of the most counterfeited US coins are altered versions of genuine coins that have been scrubbed or polished to appear more valuable.

If you’ve inherited a coin collection and aren’t sure what to do with it, check out these inherited coin collection tips to help guide you through appraisals, selling, or preserving your collection.

If you’re ready to find out what your coins are worth, get a free appraisal for your coins with Coinfully’s expert team. We’ll help you determine their true value without any pressure to sell.

Numismatist vs. Coin Collector: Who Cares About Cleaning?

The debate over cleaning coins often boils down to a numismatist vs. coin collector perspective.

• Numismatists (coin experts) value a coin’s historical integrity and originality. Cleaning a coin can erase key historical markers, making it less desirable.
• Coin collectors may not always focus on history but still generally avoid cleaned coins, as they lose resale value and are harder to sell in the long run.

If you’ve inherited coins and are unsure of their significance, you might want to consider whether to sell or keep inherited coins.

Final Thoughts: Leave Your Coins as They Are

The best way to protect your coin’s value is to leave it untouched. Cleaning may seem like a good idea, but in reality, it often reduces a coin’s worth rather than enhancing it.

Before making any decisions, get a free coin appraisal online from a trusted expert. If you decide to sell, Coinfully offers a zero-pressure coin selling experience, ensuring you get fair value without feeling rushed.

Plus, if you’re feeling unsure about parting with a collection that holds sentimental value, don’t overlook the emotional aspects of selling coins. It’s a process that can be surprisingly emotional, especially if the collection has family history.