More and more people are becoming interested in coins; some collect them, while others are interested in them for special occasions and events. That's why it's necessary to outline, in five steps, how to maintain your coins. However, it is not recommended to wash them yourself, but by strictly following the rules below, you can achieve a quality result.
1 - Handling coins
It is important to handle gold, silver, or bronze coins by their edges using tweezers. It is advisable to wear cotton gloves to handle them without the risk of damage. This is particularly important with numismatic proofs, which have a mirror-like surface. Any mark on them can impact the coin and reduce its value.
2 - Gently wash a dirty coin
A coin should be cleaned on the surface. To do this, it is necessary to use a cleaning kit. Simply wash the coin with a cleaning solution in lukewarm distilled water and with a polishing cloth impregnated with a cleaning product.
Usage tip: Dip the coins in the bath for 3 to 8 minutes, then rinse them thoroughly and gently dry them with a soft cloth. Let the coins air dry on a paper towel.
It is also possible to use an ultrasonic cleaning device to effectively and gently clean coins and medals. The vibrations caused by ultrasound dislodge dust, grease marks, and dirt from the surface and also from hard-to-reach areas. The device is used with water, but the effect can be enhanced by adding a universal cleaning solution.
3 - Coins: do not polish them
You can use an eraser to make the black pennies in your pockets shine before giving them to your children or grandchildren, to start a potential collection. Indeed, there are several types of modern coins, as well as ancient ones, to start a coin collection. For more restricted budgets, silver metal possesses the same intrinsic characteristics as gold metal from a heritage investment perspective.
4 - Place coins on protected surfaces
When it is necessary to place a coin outside its pocket, always put it on a clean, soft surface. Let's take the example of a velvet cushion, which is an ideal surface. It is also possible to use a soft, clean cloth. Furthermore, it is strongly advised against sliding coins on a hard surface, as this will damage the coin.
5 - Store your coins in a secure location
Coins exposed to the air are likely to tarnish and suffer more serious damage. That's why there are also compartments suitable for all coin capsules, offering double protection for your precious coins. The edges of the capsule make it easy to lift.
Most capsules are designed with two pockets, one for the coin and another that can be used to hold a piece of paper with information about the coin.
Regarding the pockets, these are generally stapled on three sides to prevent coins from slipping. Therefore, it is necessary to use a pair of tweezers so as not to scratch the other coins.