<p>As solid silver bars, rounds, and coins age, they may tarnish. Tarnish does not affect the metal content of your silver product, but it can have a modest impact on the resale value. Dealers and other buyers will often pay a bit less if the silver does not have its original luster. Older <a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/buy/silver/coins/united-states-mint-silver">US silver coins</a> may sell for less, but still give you the same amount of silver as new ones.</p>
<p>This simple method of cleaning silver coin collections with a small list of supplies can brighten up almost any tarnished silver. Not all tarnish can be removed, but this technique often works wonders.</p>
<p>Don't believe us? Check out these before and after pictures:</p>
<div class="not-prose"><img class="w-full rounded-md shadow-xl" src="https://www.moneymetals.com/uploads/content/tarnished-silver-eagles-before-and-after.jpg" alt="Tarnished Silver Eagles: Before and After Cleaning" /></div>
<p>However, there are several things to consider before cleaning. One of those things is, should you even clean in the first place?</p>
<p>Before you try to brighten your <a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/buy/silver/coins">silver coins</a>, you need to understand when cleaning helps — and when it can permanently reduce value.</p>
<h2 id="should-you-clean-silver-coins">Should You Clean Silver Coins?</h2>
<div class="not-prose"><img class="w-full rounded-md shadow-xl" src="https://www.moneymetals.com/uploads/content/supplies-needed-to-clean-silver.jpg" alt="Supplies Needed to Clean Silver" /></div>
<p>Allow us to state this upfront: <strong>you should NEVER clean numismatic or collectible coins.</strong> A coin's patina and condition are valuable indicators of its authenticity, age, and value.</p>
<p>For example, let's say you have a 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar and it has a noticeable amount of tarnish. Cleaning that coin would significantly reduce its value.</p>
<p>For example, a cleaned Morgan Dollar can sell for 30%-50% less than an uncleaned example of the same grade. Coins that show evidence of cleaning may receive a “Details – Cleaned” designation instead of a numeric grade.</p>
<p>Bullion coins are a little different. It is less risky to clean <a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/buy/silver">bullion silver</a>, since its value comes from how closely it tracks the <a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/silver-price">silver spot price</a>. Advisors still generally recommend not cleaning silver bullion; however, if you do, it is crucial that you use gentle, non-abrasive methods.</p>
<p>Harsh chemicals can cause microscopic scratches on your metal asset. When that happens, it does lasting damage to your silver and reduces its value.</p>
<p>You can often tell if a coin has been cleaned by looking for the following things:</p>
<ul>
<li>Hairlines</li>
<li>Unnatural brightness</li>
<li>Patchy toning</li>
<li>Dull surfaces</li>
</ul>
<p>Hairlines refer to small but noticeable scratches on the coin's surface or edge. Patchy toning and dull surfaces are also easy to spot, especially if you've seen what the coin looked like prior to cleaning. Unnatural brightness also damages a coin's value, since it shows that the coin has been tampered with.</p>
<h2 id="why-silver-tarnishes-science-explained-simply">Why Silver Tarnishes (Science Explained Simply)</h2>
<p>You may find it helpful to understand why silver tarnishes. When silver tarnishes, it happens primarily because of a chemical reaction between silver and sulfur-containing substances in the air. One of the most common culprits is hydrogen sulfide.</p>
<p>When these elements mix with silver, it forms a black layer of silver sulfide. Several other factors can accelerate oxidation, such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>Humidity</li>
<li>Skin oils</li>
<li>Perspiration</li>
<li>Cosmetics</li>
<li>Household chemicals</li>
</ul>
<p>It is worth noting that pure silver (silver that is 99.9% or 99.99% pure) are less prone to this. However, <a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/sterling-silver-price">sterling silver</a> and other non-bullion silver items can tarnish faster because of copper content. Copper reacts more readily with these environmental pollutants.</p>
<p>One of the easiest ways to protect silver from tarnishing is to keep it in airtight bags or containers. Ideally, your storage container should have anti-tarnish strips or silica gel packets to absorb any moisture in the air.</p>
<h2 id="diy-vs-professional-conservation">DIY vs Professional Conservation</h2>
<p>Having explained why silver tarnishes, and how cleaning it can damage the coin, let's talk about your options for when you <em>do</em> need to clean your silver. There are two options for cleaning coins:</p>
<ul>
<li>Do-It-Yourself (DIY)</li>
<li>Professional Conservation</li>
</ul>
<p>If you are trying to preserve your coin's condition, grading, and value, it is best to take your coin to a professional service. Professional conservation focuses on stabilizing contaminants without altering original surfaces.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.ngccoin.com/ngc-conservation/">According to NGC</a>, coin conservation can remove haze, encrustation, and tarnish. They cannot, however, fix corrosion, wear, scratches, or white “milk” spots. In many cases, it is in your best interest to take your coins to professional conservation services.</p>
<p>However, you may not want to send your silver assets to a conservation service. If you are determined to clean a coin yourself, it is best to follow a non-abrasive approach to avoid damaging the coins. We'll explore how to do this further in the remaining sections.</p>
<h2 id="what-you-need-to-clean-tarnished-silver">What You Need to Clean Tarnished Silver</h2>
<h3 id="plastic-container">Container</h3>
<p>This can be something as simple as a cooking pan or a plastic container. There may be some residue left from the tarnished silver so don't use anything that shouldn't get dirty.</p>
<h3 id="approximately-2-cups-of-warm-water">Approximately 2 Cups of Warm Water</h3>
<p>The reaction of the warm water, baking soda, and aluminum foil will allow the tarnished silver to clean beautifully. The warmer the water the better, but waiting for boiling water to cool down before patting down the silver can be time-consuming. Microwaving 2 cups of water for 2-3 minutes should suffice and avoid boiling water.</p>
<h3 id="aluminum-foil">Aluminum Foil</h3>
<p>Any aluminum foil will do, what you have laying around in your kitchen will work great. The aluminum foil is key to the reaction which removes the tarnish.</p>
<h3 id="paper-towels">Paper Towels</h3>
<p>This process can get a bit messy. Drying the silver when finished will help to remove any water or baking soda residue.</p>
<h3 id="baking-soda">Baking Soda</h3>
<p>Avoid using old baking soda, a new container of baking soda is worth the minor expense to help clean up unsightly silver.</p>
<h3 id="latex-gloves">Latex Gloves</h3>
<p>These are great to help protect silver from oils in your hands when cleaning. They are less abrasive than most other options and do a great job of protecting your hands.</p>
<h2 id="how-to-clean-silver-coins">How to Clean Silver Coins</h2>
<div class="vid aspect-w-16 aspect-h-9"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SFipaK-30qw?si=WOJPC7d4yYs_D_fV&amp;controls=0&rel=0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-forms allow-scripts allow-pointer-lock allow-same-origin allow-top-navigation"></iframe></div>
<p>Once you have gathered the needed items, here's what to do next:</p>
<h3 id="step-1-line-container-with-aluminum-foil">Step 1: Line Container With Aluminum Foil</h3>
<p>Line the entire container with aluminum foil. Ensure that the container is completely lined with as few gaps as possible, multiple layers may be necessary.</p>
<h3 id="step-2-sprinkle-baking-soda">Step 2: Sprinkle Baking Soda</h3>
<p>Sprinkle baking soda inside the container on top of the aluminum foil. Line the bottom of the container with baking soda so that you can barely see the aluminum foil on the bottom of the pan.</p>
<h3 id="step-3-add-tarnished-silver-coins">Step 3: Add Tarnished Silver Coins</h3>
<p>Add the tarnished silver into the middle of the container with the most tarnished side up. You may need to repeat steps if both sides are equally tarnished.</p>
<h3 id="step-4-add-more-baking-soda-hot-water">Step 4: Add More Baking Soda & Hot Water</h3>
<p>Cover the silver with baking soda, enough to obscure the silver. Fill the container with hot water until the silver is completely covered. After the water has been poured in, add more baking soda on top of the silver. This will need to soak for at least 5 minutes. Soak times may vary depending on the amount of tarnishing.</p>
<h3 id="step-5-clean-away-the-tarnish-grime">Step 5: Clean Away the Tarnish & Grime</h3>
<p>Put on the latex gloves and begin to lightly pat down the tarnished silver with the baking soda and water mixture. Be careful to not scrub the silver, since that can scratch it. Thoroughly pat down all sides, including the edges, to remove as much tarnish as possible. Rinse the silver frequently to see any remaining tarnish and re-apply baking soda to those areas.</p>
<h3 id="step-6-rinse-silver-coin-with-cold-water">Step 6: Rinse Silver Coin With Cold Water</h3>
<p>Rinse the silver off in the cold water, this step will help to remove any baking soda residue. Oftentimes, if this step is skipped, small white spots can remain on the silver as dried baking soda.</p>
<h3 id="step-7-inspect-your-coins">Step 7: Inspect Your Coins</h3>
<p>Inspect the silver for any remaining tarnishing or left-over baking soda residue. Repeat steps 3 through 6 if necessary. Enjoy your like-new silver!</p>
<h2 id="the-best-silver-coins-for-investment">The Best Silver Coins for Investment</h2>
<p>If you are interested in silver primarily for its metal value instead of its collectibility, there are several <a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/investment">investment options</a> available.</p>
<p>Listed below are some of the <a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/guides/best-silver-coins-to-buy">best choices for silver coins as an investment</a>.</p>
<ul>
<li>Silver American Eagles</li>
<li>Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Coins</li>
<li><a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/austrian-philharmonic-silver-one-ounce-coin/142">Austrian Mint Philharmonic Silver Coins</a></li>
<li>Junk Silver Coins (<a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/pre-1965-silver-dimes-and-quarters/35">Silver Quarters and Dimes</a>)</li>
<li>Junk Silver Coins (<a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/pre-1965-junk-silver-coins-half-dollars-kennedy-franklin/34">Silver Half Dollars</a>)</li>
</ul>
<p>Cleaning these silver items is a little less risky, though still strongly discouraged. However, there is an upside, especially for silver bullion. Most <a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/bullion">modern bullion</a> coins are .999 fine silver and contain little to no copper, making them less prone to tarnish than sterling silver items.</p>
<h3 id="frequently-asked-questions-faq">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)</h3>
<h4 id="q-does-cleaning-silver-coins-reduce-value">Q: Does cleaning silver coins reduce value?</h4>
<p><strong>A:</strong> Yes: in most cases, cleaning silver coins reduces their value. Collectible and numismatic coins can lose a great deal of value through cleaning. Removing tarnish may make a coin look brighter, but it usually removes originality, which is what drives premium pricing.</p>
<h4 id="q-can-i-clean-silver-coins-with-vinegar">Q: Can I clean silver coins with vinegar?</h4>
<p><strong>A:</strong> Using vinegar to clean silver coins is not recommended, especially for collectible coins. This is because vinegar is acidic; that acid quality can scratch the surface, strip natural toning, damage luster, and dull the finishes.</p>
<h4 id="q-should-i-clean-junk-silver">Q: Should I clean junk silver?</h4>
<p><strong>A:</strong> Generally, you should not clean junk silver. At worst, cleaning these coins can waste time, introduce surface damage, and reduce appeal to buyers who prefer original coins. The only time when a light cleaning makes sense is if excessive grime interferes with weight verification or resale presentation. Even in these cases, it is better to rinse these coins gently.</p>
<h4 id="q-how-do-professionals-conserve-coins">Q: How do professionals conserve coins?</h4>
<p><strong>A:</strong> Professional coin conservation is very different from household cleaning. They avoid abrasion on the surface of the coin, use specially crafted treatments that go above and beyond DIY solutions, evaluate the coin for grading, and stabilize the coin by preventing further corrosion.</p>
<h2 id="how-to-buy-silver-coins">How to Buy Silver Coins</h2>
<p><strong>Money Metals Exchange</strong> offers <a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/buy/silver/junk-silver">junk silver dollars for sale</a>, along with other silver products, at highly competitive prices. In addition to the coins listed above, you can invest in a wide variety of coins from a reputable dealer online, without having to visit your local coin shop, and have them delivered directly to your door with reliable and fast shipping!</p>
