Advice needed on cleaning silver coins

[Paul J]

Hi there,

I recently won 5 denarii at auction and the previous owner of the coins was a heavy smoker. Unfortunately a smokey environment seems to have had an effect on these coins (giving them a dull look and a smokey odour). I was wondering whether there is a safe way to clean them...i've read a few ideas in various places (e.g. distilled water to remove the odour). Photo attached

Thanks in advance

Paul

[Akropolis]

If they where mine, I would not touch them!!!
To me, they are beautifully toned.
PeteB

[Joe Sermarini]

The appearance of the coins is not from smoke. Wash them in soap and water ONLY to remove the smoke smell.  Do NOT attempt to turn them back into bright silver.  That will greatly reduce the value.  Ancient coin collectors generally prefer toned (tarnished) coins.

[Paul J]

Thank you both, I'll leave them be 

[orfew]

Wow, those are gorgeously toned. Very nice coins.

[areich]

The appearance of the coins is not from smoke. Wash them in soap and water ONLY to remove the smoke smell.  Do NOT attempt to turn them back into bright silver.  That will greatly reduce the value.  Ancient coin collectors generally prefer toned (tarnished) coins.

Just to clarify, Joe is talking about using soap, water and your fingers only to lightly wash them. No cloths, brushes or other utensils, just lightly rubbing them with your fingers.

[Paul J]

I have added the coin to Tantalus and i'll post the link here later (if i'm allowed?); at the moment the site seems to be down

Thanks for all the suggestions

[Paul J]

Hello,

Here is a link to my Otho coin on Tantalus in case you want to see the reverse

http://www.tantaluscoins.com/coins/113111.php

I'll be adding the other 4 very soon

Thanks

Paul

[Paul J]

And here is Pescennius Niger...

http://www.tantaluscoins.com/coins/113119.php

[Paul J]

Antoninus Pius / Marcus Aurelius (I love this coin):

http://www.tantaluscoins.com/coins/113120.php

[Joe Sermarini]

I have added the coin to Tantalus and i'll post the link here later (if i'm allowed?); at the moment the site seems to be down

Thanks for all the suggestions

We would like to see you post them in the Members' Gallery.

[dougsmit]

You list "Pescennius Niger (Caesar)".  It would be more appropriate to list him as Augustus.  We may disagree on how to consider losing contestants in the civil wars but his coins bear AVG and that was the title he claimed from the very beginning.  Caesar is used for those like Clodius Albinus who accepted a lower rank with the hope of someday being promoted. 

I might be tempted to wash (water or possibly acetone) the coins if they are sticky to the touch but would not touch them otherwise.  It would be very easy to turn a thousand dollar coin into a $500 one with very little effort.   Smoke and air pollution are much more hazardous to collectors than to coins. 

[Chris L]

I definitely agree that these coins do not need to be cleaned at all. They are all beautifully toned and should just retain their originality. However, for future reference, I have found that porcupine quills work wonders for removing dirt and pvc from the details of coins. Where other instruments may scratch your coins now matter how careful you are, quills don't seem to. I have noticed certain waxy substances when removed will scratch a coin unless you are SUPER careful, but with waxy material I usually just use a dry q-tip to lightly remove it since it usually has already weakened the top layer of metal anyway. Dry q-tips are wonderful for pvc as well especially on silver. So just something to think about and consider if you come across dirt encrusted or pvc saturated coins. 

[Paul J]

Many thanks for the tips. I have happily realised that these coins are lovely as they are and have left them be.

Doug; thanks for pointing this out, I am not sure why I listed him as 'Caesar' and not 'Augustus' - I thin kthis may have just been an error as it was very late when I input the details! I've now changed this.