Pre-decimal copper coins

[Guest PeterM]

I have an old collection of pre-decimal half pennies dating back to 1900. Unfortunately over the years, due to neglect, they have become very faded and drab. Now I have unearthed them, I am keen to display them somewhere, and I am trying to get them into a more presentable condition. I have been warned about over-polishing them as I may damage them, but I am keen to see whether anybody has any good hints on whether I can get any type of shine or lustre on them.

[Geoff T 3]

The best advice is don't polish them at all as you will damage the coins. Gentle treatment with warm soapy water is about as far as you should go, and the coins have to be totally dry before you store them.

The coins are likely to have little intrinsic value, but the golden rule is always never polish anything. If you were looking to sell coins on, polishing is the quickest way to reduce their value. Once the lustre is gone, it's gone and you can't restore it.

Hope this helps - Geoff