This is a quick tutorial on why you should never clean Coins, Medals, Bronze statues or for that matter...Gold or Silver items...let it all age naturally. Most collectors would rather buy these items aged, if someone wants things all shiny and new looking, they can easily do that to the item once they own it. Here's the problem - Most things actually Loose Value by being cleaned.

The coin above has been cleaned. If it had been left alone, in this grade it would have been worth around $175, cleaned - $25.

Even the old 'Rub it with Olive Oil' and the ball of your thumb will scratch it and polish the high points. Leave it alone.

 If I can give ONE piece of advice that will benefit you, it is:

NEVER take any Gold or Silver, Coins or Jewelry, Bullion, Paper Currency, Military Medals (or anything else) to one of the 'In Town For Two Days Only' 'Appraisal Shows'. They advertise in the paper and target likely areas with mailed Large Print  Coloured Glossy brochures. They also post all over Facebook, and try to get you into a hotel room to be isolated and talked into selling your items with nobody else around to help you decide.

If you have something you just want to sell outright...I can Recommend  people that I GUARANTEE will pay more for your items. Period.

If you are taking items to them for an appraisal, don't be pressured into selling it while there, get a quote, get out,  and than ask me what it's actually worth.

These people are not in town 'For Two Days Only' to help you...they are here to help themselves.....to your valuable items - At a cut rate.

If you wish to take care of disposing of these things yourself - Get three quotes from qualified shops or persons, then take the quote that amuses you the most. Try not to get talked into selling while at a shop getting that quote. Get them all first, and don't reveal those quotes to other potential buyers, they will just up their offer by a couple dollars to get on top...which of course is just business, but doesn't help you much.

For the sake of a starting point- lets assume scrap price on a Canadian Silver Dollar is around $17, you will get quotes at some shops (or the local scrap buyers that haunt flea markets) of $14 each,  others may offer $17.50 or $20.00.... the higher evaluation are the shops that will try to make their end on the collectors value of that coin (or the McDonalds rapid turnover principle) not simply scrap it out. Or, some people will pay higher to put them away in hopes of the value increasing in the future.

If in Doubt - Throw Nothing Out!

              Contact me.