Caring for your currency collection

The following information is provided to educate and inform. eBay™ is not liable or responsible for any type of damage or loss caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly, by the information below.

Coins

Coins, like any other objects, get dirty. Although your first impulse is to polish them to make them shiny, but you should not do that. You should probably not attempt to clean your coins except to remove loose dirt or grease, and even then, there are exceptions for some coins.

Grease and oils usually coat coins that come directly from the mint. You can usually use a neutral solvent to remove those oils.

For circulated coins, some collectors use lighter fluid to remove any accumulated material. Consult a professional before cleaning. Lighter fluid should not be used for uncirculated coins.

You should always air dry coins. Drying with a soft cloth or towel can damage a coin; the cloth or towel might pick up particles that scratch the coin.

Dips, metal polish, soap, acid-based cleaners, and household cleaners can damage a coin permanently. Using these products to clean coins can greatly decrease its value as a collectible. Collectors do not want cleaned coins. A coin will discolour more quickly once it has been cleaned. A coin's surface is dulled with each subsequent cleaning, further diminishing the coin's value.

Paper Money

As a general rule, don't clean paper money or try to repair it—if you do, you risk damaging it further. Only experts, called paper conservators, should repair paper money. If you need to contact a paper conservator, you may want to contact a well-known art museum or archival library. These institutions employ staff conservators and may be able to help you find someone to repair your paper money.