Should junk silver be cleaned?

[@michaelmacdonald7886]

All depends on how much free time you have and how much you like clean coins. I once cleaned a Morgan dollar, didn't make a bit of difference in its look to me. One mans opinion.

[@Roarmeister2]

1920-1967(8) can be cleaned without regard for nusimatic value. For the few that have some nusimatic value, forget it when silver reaches $100/oz it will far outvalue any nusimatic value it would have. Up to 1919 (sterling) silver coins, its up to you, but again if silver goes up dramatically the metal value will be higher than the nusimatic except for the exceptionally rare. Me - I clean them ALL with baking soda, hot water and alumuminum foil overnight. I am a long term stacker. JMHO.

[@carlrudd1858]

You ask. I say: clean the junk.... don't clean the rest. SIMPLE.

[@LostBeetle]

I only clean them gently with soap and water to remove surface dirt and grime, then a very quick dip in alcohol for sterilization, lastly rinsed with water and gently dried off. This process does not remove natural tarnish or luster. There is no sense in ever defacing them, if you wanted to sell them eventually they will sell higher with a natural luster, key date or not, they are still collectors items with some (but maybe little) numismatic value.

[@markhadley1545]

If you are sure they have no value over the melt value clean them. Why not? Its not going to ruin their melt value and if you have to barter with them at some point the nicer they look the better

[@TheSilverlover999]

@rocky315w Yes they do carry a lot of germs. but on bullion coin probably they don't have much since they are new and most of them are in airtite case.

[@YANGSTA101]

if it doesn't hold any Numismatic value then do it.., it looks beautiful. plus., if the metal content is all u care for then...., clean on.

[@TheSilverlover999]

Yes you should clean them using a baking soda, aluminium foil and boiling water. reason why? because those coins have thousands of bacteria that can cause different diseases. using baking soda and a boiling water will not damage your coin and sanitized it.

[@MrThe1234guy]

Some people like the gunk thinking that gunk is 80 years old. Maybe it will matter to some on in another 80 years

[@silverexplosion]

never clean silver coins! thats my take. I have thousands of 90%, and never have cleaned one of them.

[@brucebannerman]

I like your pile of silver there my friend. The 50 cent pieces that have a rainbow reflective toning look really nice. The others that you point out that have a dark toning I would leave those the way they are. Besides that I would not clean anything above an XF 45 grading- that's just me. The worn ones that are poor or AG or even G I say clean them if you want- I don't think you're taking any value away- escpecially if you're keeping them and want them to look shiny. Nice collection!

[@okpapereat]

i would clean them if they are in bad and dirty shape really nothing above AU-MS graded coins should be cleaned. But anything like extra fine, about good, ect i would clean. Though sometimes i would just leave them in the 2X2 card they come in even though in bad shape.

[@silvermad1]

i always clean my junk silver.

[@veritasfiles]

Just leave them alone, and I wouldn't store any of them in a special way. You need to avoid looking at and looking for "collector value" so that you always have the mindset that the value is in the metal itself. This is as much about psychology as it is about stacking for the obvious collapse that's coming.

[@MrThe1234guy]

When......

[@CoreyJason]

@@MrThe1234guy it looks like it’s happening now as I type this.

[@cyclopsstaxx2849]

NO NO NO NO!!!! I clean my "junk" in the shower, as well as the rest of my old ass...but never my coins!

[@Bazzbian]

Like nice clean shiny silver? just clean them in ammonia, works a treat

[@erdvilla]

I have some Mexican Un Peso from 1918-1945 with 0.720 Silver grade. I'm just curious to know why some coins develop "burn marks", some of them show black stains like when you put something over a candle flame and it gets dark by the smoke. Some of them just show lines or less than 1/4 of a side "burned". Why does this happen? Is it because only that part of the surface was exposed to oxygen over the last 70 years? Or what is the cause of that phenomenon? Only 1 out of every 50 coins show it.

[@aper422]

i cleaned mine. i dont see that having dirt on them can make them more valuable.

[@andrewrobb9021]

Aren't killing bacteria one of the properties of silver , just saying.

[@MultiMike747]

This is an easy answer, NO! Cleaning anything related to coins, unless for several reasons such as (severe damage, visible past cleaning, etc.), will often render the coin as un-wanted, regardless if it is "junk" or not. I have run into several dealers who will not even purchase a coin if it was cleaned. Overall, make the wise decision and stay away from any type of cleaning, thus to retain your coin's maximum value. -Mike

[@jzak5723]

No dealer is going to not buy a junk silver coin because it was cleaned.

[@tonysara1347]

I clean my English 50% silver coins between 1920 -1946. The pre 1920 coins that contain 92.5% silver i dont clean. I have no probs with cleaning coins,as far as im concerned most of my coins are sold on ebay as scrap or collect.By me buying the coins i maybe stoping them from been melted down.So i cant see that im harming the coins by claning them with a silver polish cloth.I like my Silver to look like Silver not some gruby,clammy, tarnished smelly old coins.Some look Extra Fine when cleaned.

[@leesnider]

I clean my junk silver. I hate how old coins makes my fingers stink. I would rather buy cleaned silver coins. I don't care about numismatic value. Only melt value. I buy silver coins, extract the silver via chemical processes and make ingots of various weights. Silver is silver is silver.....

[@Maldonado1064]

I cleaned my its just junk silver

[@dontmesswithsqacky]

its all the same shit