DiggerMD
Elite Member
I hear folks on here saying never clean silver, then I just saw a post where they say collectors can tell it was dug. Is the dirt a badge of honor thing or is there a reason you wouldn't want to clean them?
The main reason not to clean them is you don't want to ruin the patina on the coins or scratch them. If it's the right coin it could be the difference between a $1,500 coin and a $15 coin. That being said if I dig a common Merc or Barber out of the ground that may be worth $2 and it looks like trash I'll clean the heck out of it to make it to my likings. I always try to verfiy it's not anything potentially valuable I'd be kicking myself over first, but so far not found anything worth enough to buy me more then a value meal or 2 at Micky D's anyway. Note this is just my opinion and a collector would probably have me tarred and feathered for saying it.
I clean my common silver. Once it is dug, it is pretty much worth melt value so I prefer it shiny. I think you should do whatever you prefer or enjoy.
I have dug up a couple silvers that came out with hardly any dirt, and I was careful not to scratch them. I honestly don't know how you could tell if they were dug up or not.
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.... I was careful not to scratch them. I honestly don't know how you could tell if they were dug up or not. ...
When you find an “obvious”, that has any kind of “Markings” stash it in your wallet!!! Do not spit on it!! Wait till you get home!!! And carefully look at it!!! Do Not Try to clean it!!! ... Just Saying.. Been there. Seen others been there too! .. Be Patient!!!
This may not be your best choice for cleaning. Then again on some clad it would probably work wonders.
The "no-cleaning" thing is fairly new. In the early 60s I regularly bought two coin collector magazines, Coin World and Coinage. I distinctly remember reading that cleaning tarnished silver coins with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) was recommended. They did say that you should buy drugstore bicarbonate, not the Arm and Hammer stuff. I still use it on dug silver coins if the tarnish is uneven. Of course I don't do this if it's a key date.
This may not be your best choice for cleaning. Then again on some clad it would probably work wonders.