What Happens If a Coin Is Cleaned? (The Cardinal Sin)
You found an old, dark coin. You want to make it shiny. STOP. Put down the baking soda. You are about to destroy money.
To a beginner, "Shiny" = "Good." To a collector, "Original" = "Good."
Unlike Cars
When you sell a used car, you wash it. When you sell a used vintage coin, you leave the dirt on it.
The Micro-Scratches
When you "clean" a silver coin (with a cloth, baking soda, or polish), you are actually stripping away the top layer of metal. Under a microscope, this leaves thousands of "hairline scratches." The coin loses its "Cartwheel Luster" (the way light dances on the surface) and becomes dull and flat.
The Financial Damage
- 1889 Morgan Dollar (Dirty/Original): Worth $55.
- 1889 Morgan Dollar (Cleaned/Shiny): Worth $30.
You just wiped $25 off the value with a paper towel.
Rule: If a coin is dark, ugly, or toned... LEAVE IT ALONE. The ugliness is proof its history.
Grading School
Learn how to spot a cleaned coin from across the room. Don't get tricked into buying damaged goods.