Cleaning silver dollar

kaiser10 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-26-2006, 07:14 PM

Not sure where to post this but figured this would be the best place. Today I just happened to find a silver dollar that I had as a kid. But it definately needs some cleaning. It's not shiny at all and has almost like a yellow taint to it. I'd like to put it in an air-tite to use as a card protector, provided I can get it clean and shiny. What would be the best way to clean it? Thanks.

JM · #2 (**permalink**) 06-26-2006, 07:22 PM

Don't Clean It!!!!!!

kaiser10 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-26-2006, 07:23 PM

JM · #4 (**permalink**) 06-26-2006, 07:24 PM

ok now that I have your attention, if you clean it, it will lose any numismatic value it may have. You should first take it to a local coin shop and have them appraise it for you, you could have a jewel in the rough. If they tell you its not got any numismatic value, then you can use pretty much anything to clean it. Something like toothpaste would probably work well, silver cleaner would be the obvious choice though.

kaiser10 · #5 (**permalink**) 06-26-2006, 07:28 PM

But.......it looks so bad.

Alright I guess I'll take your advice. I doubt I have a coin shop anywhere near me, though. Thanks.

JM · #6 (**permalink**) 06-26-2006, 07:31 PM

Believe it or not, some collectors pay a premium for tarnished silver coins like that. They prefer to call it 'toned'. If you have a scanner and want to send me a pic, I can give you an idea of its condition and whether its common date or not. Actually, tell me the date and I'll look it up to get you started.

This site will give you addresses of dealers in your area http://www.ngccoin.com/

On the right side there's a dropdown just above where it says "collectors society"

kaiser10 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-26-2006, 07:34 PM

The date is 1987. Doesn't seem like it'd have much value (seems kind of recent to me).

I'll scan it sometime tonight, probably after High Stakes. Thanks for your coin knowledge.

panthershutch15 · #8 (**permalink**) 06-26-2006, 08:24 PM

JM is right...I went through the process of selling 160 old silver dollars for my grandpa and every resource said NO CLEANING!!

compost kid · #9 (**permalink**) 06-26-2006, 08:44 PM

If it is 1987 I would say you are pretty safe cleaning it as there is likely no collectible interest in it. A quick check in almost any coin catalogue (or e-bay) can confirm its value. If it has no value as a collectible, and you think it would look better cleaned, I say clean away.

kaiser10 · #10 (**permalink**) 06-26-2006, 09:37 PM

Thanks guys. Looking online and ebay, doesn't seem like it's worth that much. Any good household solutions to make it shiny without damaging it (is toothpaste alone going to do it)? I'd hate to go out and buy some silver cleaner just for this.