| Coins must be preserved in the state they leave | | | | coin, do not do it. One exception to the never |
| the mint as much as possible. This means that | | | | clean rule is ancient coins that cannot even be |
| everyone who comes in contact with a coin must | | | | seen until they are cleaned after being unearthed. |
| know how to handle it. That is asking a lot if the | | | | The real problem is the history of the coin. Many |
| coin has had several owners, since it only takes | | | | people selling online clearly say the coin remained |
| one inexperienced person to cause a coin to | | | | sealed except for photographing or for scanning it. |
| depreciate significantly. | | | | That once is an unnecessary exposure. Some |
| Holding a coin without damage requires touching | | | | may even use a less than clean surface upon |
| only the edge. It is not just the abrasion that is to | | | | which to place the coin for photographic purposes. |
| be avoided, but any oil or other foreign substance | | | | And can you be certain that person did not handle |
| on your fingers could easily be transferred to the | | | | the coin improperly, leaving an oily film on it? |
| coin. This could eventually destroy the finish. | | | | Professional and mint workers should know how |
| It is not just transferring foreign materials by | | | | the coin is to be handled, and respect it as a |
| direct contact that needs to be avoided, a coin | | | | valuable artifact. Someone who simply wants to |
| can also be diminished in value by exposure to the | | | | sell coins may improperly handle the coin before |
| environment. Avoid taking any coin out of the | | | | you purchase it, and the problem may show itself |
| protective capsule of plastic bag in which it was | | | | only in the future. Buy from professionals or |
| sealed by the mint. If the coin is packaged in a | | | | directly from the mint, and do not hesitate to ask |
| vacuum, breaking the seal allows exposure to the | | | | where the dealer obtained the coin. Dealers |
| environment. | | | | cannot vouch for the coin's history unless the |
| For coins that do not come in a protective | | | | dealer got the coin from a mint or a distributor. |
| capsule or bag from the mint, encase them as | | | | One more rule is always avoid exposure of your |
| soon as possible. Before encasement, be very | | | | coins to sunlight. It may trigger some chemical |
| careful with the coin. Place it only on clean, soft | | | | reactions you find undesirable. |
| surfaces that are devoid of any chemical that | | | | Black Spaniel Gallery provides links to the major |
| might eventually attack it. Paper may contain | | | | mints in countries where English is spoken, to |
| sulfuric acid, so do not use paper. Never keep a | | | | allow you direct access to these mints. Some |
| coin in an envelope for a prolong period of time, | | | | mints sell to the public, others to a distributor, |
| and avoid using envelopes altogether if possible. | | | | who should be respectful of the coins being |
| Also, avoid speaking near the coin in its direction, | | | | distributed. These links can be found at by |
| since small, unseen droplets of saliva can do | | | | selecting the button to the link page. This service |
| excessive damage. | | | | to the coin collecting community is happily |
| Even sealed coins can be contaminated at the | | | | provided. |
| mint. If there is a high pollution count of any | | | | In summary, protect your coins both against |
| substance that will attack the metal the day the | | | | mishandling and the environment once they are in |
| coin was sealed, and it is not vacuum sealed, it | | | | your protection, and do what you can to |
| may eventually show discoloration spots. | | | | determine those who possessed the coin prior to |
| Should a coin become discolored, do not clean it. | | | | you were equally respectful. And wait until you |
| Cleaning usually devalues a coin. Seek professional | | | | get your coins home to look at them. |
| advice, and if it is considered unwise to clean your | | | | |