So before you start, verify that your coin isn't valuable. You can look the coin up in a coin price guide. For modern coins, you’ll need to know the date and the mint mark, if one is present. If you can’t make out the date, or if the coin is so stained or dirty that you can’t tell what it is, try looking at it with a magnifying glass.
If you still can’t work out the details, then it may be worth checking with a coin dealer (or two, for verification) before you start cleaning the coin.
Coin collectors and dealers rarely clean coins, as this tends to remove the patina, but when they do they generally use either special dips, or ultrasonic tanks.
The patina is the thin layer of tarnish (the effects of corrosion and oxidation) that develops on coins (as with silver). Collectors value coins with attractive patinas, and the patina actually serves to protect the surface of the coin. Because of this you don't want to remove any colouration, and you definitely don't want to end up with shiny, as-new looking coins.
Dips are chemical solutions in which you can dip a coin to remove surface dirt, or to brighten the coin and remove tarnish. They can be purchased from coin dealers, jewelers, or hobby supply stores.
Ultrasonic tanks clean coins using sound waves in a water bath - the sound waves literally blast the dirt off the coin. Be aware that these methods can reduce a coin’s value just as easily as other cleaning methods. They can also be tricky to master, making it more likely you'll make a mistake and cause some damage when cleaning coins.
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