question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

If it is JUNK silver and has no numismatic value, do people still frown on cleaned coins? I mean why wouldn't someone want their bullion clean and bright??

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

Your a member now, why not try a search?

Lots of good info on the subject the last few years.


:15_1_70v:

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

................... Or maybe we could give an answer?? LOL

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

Cleaning does not effect the silver value of the coins, but it poses a new set of problems. Cleaned coins often gives the dealer/buyer a reason to complain and pay less if you wish to sell them. They might even say that cleaning the coins took off silver weight, etc.

Some folks just collect silver the way it is, Avg. cirulated condition. A set of VF-1963 Ben Franklins sounds much better than a roll of cleaned Franklins.

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

I just put mine in a pot with some dish soap and heat it up for a little while on the stove. It takes the grimy junk off without taking away from the circulated look. Works ok I guess... try it on a few and see what you think.

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

I didn't give an answer because much more is learned by looking fo answers for yourself, rather than todays easier softer way method

I get tired of the dumbing down of today

perhaps the young fellow was just looking to start a little conversation..?
If so, I apologize

:signs14:

:23_1_22:

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

I like you already!

Thanks I will search in the future!

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

Use acetone. (From the hardware store.)

But to give an answer to your question, it's because it's not worth the effort.

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

I've been struggling with this one myself a bit. I buy a lot of my silver with the idea that 'its all for sale' if someones willing to pay more than it will cost me to replace it. If thats my mentality, I'm not going to do anything that might give an excuse to be low-balled on selling price.

-However - I do like 'pretty' silver more. Every once in a while there will be a piece that I decide I'm keeping no matter what.. If it's going to be mine and not up for sale, I may clean it to my liking if it has a heavy build up.. No polish or anything, but take the grim off...

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

A toothbrush and some Comet paste works pretty good.
I cleaned some of mine that had bits of tape and tape-glue on them, but wouldn't clean them all. Too much work.
And these are ungraded junk--the place I go to sells them out of 5-gallon buckets. They're beaters.

----

If I was trading them and someone claimed that cleaned coins were lighter, I'd ask them to get a scale and compare a cleaned coin with an uncleaned coin. I've got some in the junk pile that are heavily worn, and I wouldn't argue that they were lighter--but cleaning? That doesn't take off anything, unless you used sandpaper.

-end-

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

Yeah, thats my point, aren't all junk silver coins "junk" so what difference would it make if they look dirty or look clean? It's like there is some unspoken numismatic value for junk silver that somehow decreases the value of the coins that are only valued for their silver bullion content anyway...

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

Some of the junk silver I have gotten in the past has looked real good. Almost clean as new.

Alot of these I would pull aside and put in roll containers. Mostly the quarters and halves, but some dimes to..

Mark

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

By the way

MERRY CHRISTMAS

and

Happy Holidays!

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

It's just metal and it all melts the same. Do with it as you please. Hell, I've bought 100oz 999 bars that were painted black, honest!! I guess someone wanted to disguise them. Polish away Sir!!

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

Cleaning junk coins is IMO a personal choice. I for one would not clean 'em if I had any, because junk coins are not "bullion". Rather, they are alloyed metals and cleaning them serves no positive purpose and thus is a waste of time and effort.

Cleaning circulated coins gives them a "different" appearance that can make them suspect relative to authenticity. Shiney worn coins look faunky...unreal, and this could very much hurt a person at trade-out...particularly if bartering in a shtf environment.

Circulated silver coins naturally take on a patina (an oxidized/tranished natural look) that (1)supports their authenticity and (2) is expected by potential buyers. The coins also in most cases, have a certain odor which remains on the hands after handling which is also expected by folks who know about it. If you doubt this fondle a few different lots and then smell your hand and then smell the coins.

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

If you want to clean them then they are yours to do so. I like my silver to shine. :shine: Put them into plastic tubes with tarnex.

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

If there is any chance you may have any kind or "rare" or semi-"rare" coin,
any chance what so ever....then you just screw yourself by cleaning them.

Just don't do it....that is my advice. It just isn't worth it. No one who knows anything about silver will care. If some newbe wants something bright and shiney let them buy new coins or bars....but the damage you could do to
an old special coin is in no way worth it. Just don't. That's all I can say about it. Clean the wrong coin and cost yourself hundreds of dollars.

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

IMHO don't clean them unless they are so dirty that you would want to wear gloves to handle them. And then just use dish soap and water just to get the gunk off of them. You really don't want well-worn coins to shine at resale time.

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

I agree with this and also can foresee a time when so much pre-1964 "junk" goes into the melting pot that what's left gets much rarer and gains numismatic value.

But if you simply must clean, dishsoap first. If that doesn't do the job, then baking soda paste works well and is not as abrasive as comet cleansers.

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

"...but the damage you could do to
an old special coin is in no way worth it. Just don't. That's all I can say about it. Clean the wrong coin and cost yourself hundreds of dollars."

This can happen easier than you might think because nobody knows how many pre-1965 coins struck at any particular mint during any particular year, have survived the tons and tons of coin meltings that have transpired from 1964 to date.

Said another way, while coin collecting books report all the numbers of coins struck at a mint in each year, the reports mean nothing because so many of the coins have been melted.

Many 90% coins that are now being held may become worth a lot more down the road as collectors learn just how comparatively few specimens remain of what historically was a very large number of coins (that were originally produced and circulated).

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

I clean all junk silver. Just run your hand through a bag of older circulated 90% and your hand will be coated with a greasy, sticky residue. Money is one of the filthiest things around. Use hot water and dish soap. Soak for a while then rub them through your hands, rinse with clean water and dry on a towel. The nicer coins (Kennedy halves and 64 quarters, dimes and some Franklins, I use tarnex after the dish soap. I dont bother tarnexing worn older 90%, cause it doesnt look right. This whole process is non abarsive and won't hurt the coins at all. be sure to rinse well and air dry. Hell, I do the same with 10oz bars. I clean old gold bullion with tarnex also. The key here, gents, is bullion. If you have anything numis, leave it alone. And I don't are what anybody says, regular mintage silver eagles (not proofs, DRC's, etc.) are bullion, too.

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

Just for grins, I've ran some "junk" though a few cycles on the Ultra-sonic Jewlery cleaner, heated... SHINY!!!!

Re: question about cleaning JUNK silver
 

Just for grins, I've ran some "junk" though a few cycles on the Ultra-sonic Jewlery cleaner, heated... SHINY!!!!