Many people are finding themselves collecting coins. The reasons for each person could be very different but the goal is the same.
Whether you are collecting coins as an investment, as sort of a treasure hunt, or a way to spend quality time with your children, it is key to make sure that you are taking proper care of your coins.
Even if you think that the coins you have now are not worth anything, you could be wrong. The coins could be worth more then you know or even grow in value as time moves on.
In order to make sure that your investment and your time spent collecting the coins were not wasted, make sure that you are taking proper care of the collectible coins at all times.
The first thing that you need to do is to make sure that you are keeping your coins protected from over exposure of any sort of elements. The best way to do this is by making sure that you have a safe and secure drawer, chest, or box that cannot be messed with or damaged. Something that can be locked away is generally the best option to go with.
When handling the coins, make sure that you are doing everything in your power to avoid scratching the coins. If you scratch a coin, you have just deflated its worth. It does not mean that it is totally worthless after being scratched but it is certainly not going to be worth as much.
The best way to make sure that you are cleaning the coins effectively is to wash them using lemon juice, rubbing alcohol, ammonia, or vinegar. Pick whichever works best for you or what you are used to using.
But before you start cleaning the coins, make sure that you are doing proper research. Some coins will actually loose their value if they are cleaned.
If you are afraid of what a good cleaning may do to the value of your coin, make sure to have it inspected by a professional or spend some time studying coin books.
You should have no problem finding information on the coins that you have and whether or not it is okay to clean them up.
Make sure that you are using a soft toothbrush and rubber gloves when cleaning the coins. This will allow you to make sure that you are getting it very clean while protecting the skin on your hands from harsh chemicals.
Don't just throw away the coins that are not worth a lot of money. Your children or even your grandchildren will still find these to be extremely interesting.
Since they are not worth much of anything, if you are willing to risk whether or not they ever will be worth anything, you can clean them up.
Make those coins all nice and shiny and maybe give them to the kids as a gift. Or maybe use them for a real treasure hunt in the back yard.