Cleaning coins is a subject most coin collectors tend to disagree upon. One side says, “Never clean a coin under no circumstances”, while the other side says “You shouldn’t clean a coin, but if you must, use a mild cleaner like soap or olive oil”. Both sides have a point, and most coins should never be cleaned. However, the author hopes to point out a few methods that may safely clean a mint state coin.

When talking about cleaning a coin, we are referring only to the removal of “surface only” dirt, grime, glue, tape, goo, etc. In other words, no method that involves the removal of any luster or metal is EVER recommended. What the author intends, by writing about coin cleaning, is the restoring a coin to its original state, as it came from the mint, and a cleaning that leaves the original luster intact.

Although cleaning a coin is not recommended by the author, there are instances where a mint state or a very slightly worn coin may be cleaned safely using the right cleaner or method(Which is really not a cleaning but a form of restoration). Let’s face it, a coin is less desirable with a mark accross it’s surface, from tape adhesive, when compared to a shiny “cleaned” coin anyway.

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