If you are among the lucky and privileged few who has just inherited a collection of certified old coins from a parent or grandparent, give yourself a pat n the back.  You must be really special to have been bequeathed something of real value which can provide you a sense of security in the future.

If selling the coins has crossed your mind and you feel the sudden urge to clean  your coins, stop right there.  Come to think of it, before doing anything else, you can do some internet research not just on preserving but also determining old coinsâ?? value.  

Arming yourself with all the knowledge you can get about the old ancient coins in your collection will go a long way in ensuring that your coins are priced accordingly later on when you do decide to sell them.

The question that arises is, does it make good sense?  Probably not. Numismatists (coin collection experts) recommend not cleaning your certified old coins. While shiny & sparkling may look nice, but polishing your coins tends to scrape off  the inherent value of the coins. From something of worth (hundreds to thousands of dollars), you reduce your coins to worthless pieces by polishing them.