CLEANING DIRTY COINS : The collector should take great care in the cleaning of the coins. The coins should never be cleaned if one is not sure about the process/result of cleaningespecially with any chemical or wire brush. The coins should be cleaned as under :
(a) Silver Coins may be cleaned with soap or tooth-paste and rubbed between the thumb and the index finger.
(b) Copper, brass and bronze coins should be dipped in sour curd (Khatta dahi) and rubbed with soft tooth-brush. The coins can also be cleaned in Tamarind (Imli) and later and Lemon juice diluted with water.
(c) Copper and Bronze coins may have greenish deposit (Patina) on them. These can be cleaned by dipping them in coconut or seasame oil and rubbing with hard tooth-brush. Tamarind water or Lemon juice can also be used. Any edible oil may also be applied to all obsolete copper; Bronze and Brass Coins, for protecting them from the greenish deposit. However nothing should be applied to UNC coins.
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| cleaned coin of 1970 |
(d) never use an acid or harsh chemical to clean your coins..it will corrode and tarnish your coins
(e) if ever you want to try any of your coin with an unknown chemical,never try it on your rare and valuable coin. Always test it on simple/common coin first to know the outcome of reaction of the chemical X on the surface of your coin.
Depending upon the cleaniness and condition of the coin:-
(a)Good Coin: A coin which remained much in circulation but its legend on both sides should be easily legible. There should be no CUT or STRAY marks on the coin.
(b) Very Good Coin: A coin which remained less in circulation but its legend on obverse and Reverse should be legible without the help of magnifying glass and its letters and figure should be tangible if touched by the index finger. There should not be any cut or stray mark on the coin, these coins should be kept carefully in such a way that they don’t lose their shine and luster by rubbing to each other.
(c) Un-Circulated (UNC) Coin : The Coins for daily use by general public are regularly issued by Reserve Bank of India. All these coins are uncirculated coins (UNC) at the time of issue. UNC coins are also issued for collectors by India Government Mints, Mumbai & Kolkata, in Special packing. These coins are sold at premium. The Mints advertise in prominent newspapers for sale and advance orders are to be booked and paid in advance by bank draft at the following address:
The General Manager,
India Government Mint,
Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg,
Fort, Mumbai- 400 023
and
India Government Mint Alipore ,
Kolkata- 700 053.
