Victor, I would not try to treat that spot at all, especially if you are submitting the coin to NGC (or PCGS) for grading.

Thank you, Jeff. My coin is modern 2001 Capital Visitor Center Proof Clad Half Dollar. I would need a specific technic to clean/remove the only tiny spot on it. Possibly corrosion.

Thank you TheKings. My coin is 2001 Capital Visitor Center Proof Clad Half Dollar. This coin appears to have a speck of some sort. Possibly corrosion. Since it’s proof, I’m thinking to spot treating it but with what I’m not sure yet. Acetone works on silver coins salt on metal doesn’t sound right to me.

Thank you Major. I have 2001 Capital Visitor Center Proof Clad Half Dollar. Only 6 graded NGC PF 70 UC, and I want to send it for grading too. Looks like this coin has a speck of some sort. Maybe corrosion. Everything else look good. I would have to spot treat it.

Congrats on you 30th Wedding Anniversary Kaiser.

I was talking about 2001 Capital Visitor Center Proof Clad Half Dollar. Only 6 graded NGC PF 70 UC. I have this coin and it appears to have a very small speck of some sort. Maybe corrosion.

Sir Kaiser,
Congratulations on your commemorative 30th Wedding Anniversary!

Thanks KW!

You are the reason so many of us come to this site so keep up the good work.

Cheers! (but without C2H5OH so you may maintain your long and well deserved sobriety)

Hi victor,

This site is fantastic, and yes, you will get fast, truthful, and quick answers from the team but unfortunately coins, like all objects, are subject to the environmental pollutants of our world. With that being said, if you can’t blow off the ‘imperfections’ with a quick puff of your breath, it might not be worth your time as you might damage the coin beyond its worth.

You might hear the following options but proceed at your own risk.

Acetone – I have seen acetone leave a white milky film on coins after being dipped to remove spots (Acetone can begin to degrade over time and its properties degrade as well if environmental impurities are introduced)

Canned Air – Can be used for dust removal but if the can is held incorrectly, it will expel propellant which can be detrimental to coins.

Lemon Juice, salt, water solution or any other OTC solution – Any time a coin is dipped in a solution, the surface is cleaned but leaves a tell-tale ‘pitting’ which would result in a coin being certified as ‘details’ or ‘genuine-cleaned’ with the major TPG services if submitted for grading.

Hope this helps and hope that the rest of the stellar team on this site can also offer some insight.

Regards,

Hi Victor,
I wish this site would do articles occasionally about cleaning and caring for coins. I think you are going to need to be more specific about what type of “imperfections” you are talking about, as Kaiser Wilhelm mentioned. The only coins I know it is acceptable to clean in any major way are the ones that are dug up out of the ground. I always seem to hear you cannot normally clean coins in any major way without further reducing their value. Dust them off with a clean cloth or wipe smudges with the same is about the most you can do. Cleaned an old penny with an eraser when I was about 12. Learned not too long after that was a bad idea. I have no experience cleaning any coins beyond that, but I am sure others will weigh in with their opinions so you will be able to judge for yourself. I am still not sure if tarnish on silver coins is value destruction or not. Seems to be if it is considered attractive tarnish it is good, ugly tarnishing, bad. In my opinion, if a coin is showing damage through neglect, it is permanently reduced in value with no way to fix it. I would assume museums know a lot about cleaning coins and would know if my opinion is valid. You could try asking someone who works at your local museum or maybe even an auction house. I will also be interested to hear what the other people here have to say in reply to your question.