A gold coin is a beautiful, precious object that must be treated with care. Not only that, but it’s also a rare thing that is worth quite a bit of money. For this reason, it’s important that you treat your coin very well. Whether you already own gold bullion coins or are getting ready to make your first investment, here is some advice on how to handle your coin to help it maintain its beauty and value over time.

First off, whenever you touch your coin, it shouldn’t be with your bare hands. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, the oils in your skin can cause the coin to tarnish over time. Secondly, even minute rough spots in your skin and fingernails can create scratches in a coin. This is especially true if you’re handling a super soft coin like an American Gold Buffalo Head or an Ultra-High Relief American Gold Eagle. Because both of these types of coins are made from 24 karat gold, they are both incredibly soft and easy to scratch and dent.

Instead of handling a coin with your bare hands, it’s best to wear soft gloves. You can simply buy a part of soft cotton gloves without snags in them to wear when you handle your coins. If you’ll be showing off your gold coin to anyone else, then it may be wise to purchase two pairs of gloves so that your guest can wear a pair, too.

Secondly, it’s important to protect your coin from dirt and dust as much as possible. The way to do this is by placing your coin somewhere safe and free from debris. If you have a particularly beautiful coin, such as a proof coin or an uncirculated limited edition coin, you probably want to keep it in a plastic display case. This will protect the coin from the world while allowing you to see both sides of it with ease. Regular coins can be placed in sleeves that will keep dust off of them over time.

Thirdly, you should never ever try to clean your coin with anything abrasive. Even a cloth that seems soft can scratch a soft gold coin if you rub it hard enough. Many cleaners that are sold for coins will actually strip away some of the metal, so it’s important not to use these. If your coin does get dirty enough to need a cleaning, simply mix up warm water and mild dish soap. Let the coin soak, swirling it around gently. Pluck it out of the water, and let it dry on a soft cloth.

This cleaning method will keep your coins looking beautiful, while also keeping them free from scratches. If you follow the rest of the advice on how to treat your gold coin, then you won’t have to worry about cleaning much. However, once in a while, even the most cared-for coin might need this type of bath. Just make sure that you’re handling the coin gently all the way through the cleaning.