Using Town Talk polishing cloths on silver coins and bars

[MJ5050]

Is it advisable to use something like a Town Talk polishing cloth to polish silver coins and bars in long-term storage or is it best not to polish them but to leave the coins in capsules and the bars in Town Talk bags?

Many thanks

[dicker]

Hi MJ5050

Personally, I do not clean coins at all. Not ever regardless of their state.

If you polish a proof you will destroy its value.  If its bullion coins then there is not so much to lose to be honest....  

I have a Sovereign in my collection that appears to be covered in tar....I wouldn't try and remove because it is 'honest'.

Bars are another matter - I don't think it really matters too much.

Best

Dicker

[KPW82]

I was thinking of giving my Queens Beasts bullion set a little polish with a cloth before I put them away in the display case I've got coming, if I did is Town Talk like the OP mentioned a good one or are any others reccomended?

[StackemHigh]

15 hours ago, KPW82 said:

I was thinking of giving my Queens Beasts bullion set a little polish with a cloth before I put them away in the display case I've got coming, if I did is Town Talk like the OP mentioned a good one or are any others reccomended?

Only clean/polish them if you're happy with surface scratches on your coins. 

[KPW82]

50 minutes ago, StackemHigh said:

Only clean/polish them if you're happy with surface scratches on your coins. 

They are not in bad condition so I'll just leave them as they are, thanks.

[Wampum]

Polish or dipping will destroy your coins, so best never to use anything that will damage the surface,

I have found that if you are putting into storage Silica Gel similar to what you get in shoe boxes works well with a few anti tarnish strips(town talk will probably have these),just make sure they are not touching your treasures when you store them,

The silica removes the moisture and the small anti tarnish papers remove the pollutants, both however have to changed out now and again.        

[StackemHigh]

There was a member on here a few years ago that would collect a full tube of sovereigns and other silver bullion in caps then vaccum seal the tube using a food vac bags. I would buy regularly from him and never had any problems.

[SidS]

Don't clean coins or polish them, as doing so will destroy any numismatic value that they had.

I'd only be willing to ruin coins in this way if they met both of these two conditions:

1) They were worn or damaged and had no numismatic value

2) They have verdigris - which will spread to other coins that come into contact with them.

Sterling rarely gets verdigris, 50% coins are much more vulnerable.

[dwreck]

Never ever clean any old coins or antiques ever! Big no no. Maybe silverware but even that can ruin the surfaces.