Japanese Yen Collecting: My Personal Insights and Stories
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June 21, 2025
Just the other day, I scored a huge batch of old world coins—about 200 pieces spanning from the 1700s to the 1940s, with some real ancient treasures in the mix. Many looked like they’d never seen circulation, and I was over the moon! But then I noticed fresh fingerprints and some gunk from handling. That moment taught me more about caring for a new collection than any guidebook could, and I’d love to pass along what I learned so you can avoid those heart-stopping “oops” moments.
Handle Like Eggs, Not Pocket Change
My first realization? How you touch coins matters more than you’d think. Always pick them up by the edges—your skin oils can etch into the metal like invisible acid over time. I’ve seen fingerprint damage surface years later on coins that looked fine initially. Now I won’t touch anything without cotton gloves or at least holding it by the rim. It’s the simplest way to protect those original surfaces we all drool over, especially on mint-state pieces.
The Great Cleaning Debate
When I spotted those fresh fingerprints, I almost grabbed a cloth—then remembered the collector’s cardinal sin. Cleaning used to be standard practice, but nowadays? Originality is king. Once you strip a coin’s natural toning or ‘skin,’ there’s no getting it back, and the value tanks. Ancient coins get a bit more leeway since they’ve often been cleaned before, but for anything else? Hands off unless you’re dealing with active corrosion or harmful gunk. My rule? If it ain’t actively damaging, leave it be.
Acetone: My Secret Weapon
For removing modern contaminants without altering the coin, pure acetone became my best friend. It’s shockingly gentle on silver, gold, copper—pretty much any metal—and magically lifts fingerprints, dust, and even PVC residue without touching the toning. Here’s how I use it after some trial and error:
- Use only pure acetone (not nail polish remover—those additives can ruin surfaces)
- Just dip for seconds or rinse gently—no rubbing!
- Pat dry with microfiber or air dry to dodge water spots
- Always test on a junk coin first
When I tried this on my haul, I couldn’t believe it—fingerprints vanished like ghosts, and that ugly green PVC slime wiped away clean while leaving the coin’s character intact.
When Storage Goes Wrong
The real shocker in my batch? PVC damage from old plastic flips. Humidity turns that plastic into acid, leaving green corrosion. Acetone saved most of them, but it taught me to never trust old holders. Now I only use archival-quality materials. If you inherit a collection, play detective—check for smoke damage, humidity spots, or other slow killers that creep up over decades.
Putting It to the Test
I documented acetone treatments on nine coins with before-and-after photos. The results? Contaminants lifted right off without any metal damage. I learned to never scrub (even Q-tips can micro-scratch!) and that different metals need different approaches—silver loves acetone, while copper needs extra patience. It’s become my gentle first-aid kit for rescuing coins without crossing into “cleaning” territory.
So here’s my hard-won advice: treat coins like fragile history, use acetone as your gentle cleaner, and embrace the beauty of original surfaces. Do this, and your collection will stay true to its story—and its value—for the next caretaker down the line.
