trade stimulator / slot tokens. polish or leave them?

[buzzojoe]

I just purchased a batch of old slot machine and trade stimulator tokens. They are all filthy and tarnished. I have a vibrating polisher that I use for small parts. It does an INCREDIBLE job of cleaning and polishing stuff. I'm going to keep any of them that go with machines that I have in my collection and then sell the rest. I'm wondering if I should polish them or leave them. Unlike machines themselves that are more valuable with original "patina" on them, I'm thinking that people will want the tokens to be as clean and shiny as possible. I know I'm going to clean the ones that I'm going to keep. I just don't want one of those "antiques roadshow" moments when they say "If you wouldn't have cleaned them"......
Any advice genuinely appreciated!!!

[Jackpot]

I am looking for "tokens" for my wizzard clock, do you or anyone else have any of those? Attached is information on this trade stimalator.
Thanks
Jackpot

[nvmos2]

Here's my 2 cents worth (or should I say 2 Free Plays worth);
Generally speaking............
there are coin collectors, token collectors, and trade stimulator/slot machine collectors.

Coin collectors seem to look down there noses at tokens and don't put much value on them regardless of condition.
There is a Coin Collector Club here and regular coin shows. I've been to their meetings and go to the shows occasionally.
I think they like their coins with patina (do not clean).
When there are machine tokens at the shows, they are usually in the "junk box' and sell for 10 to 25 cents each.

Token collectors are far fewer in number; I don't think I've ever seen a Token Show advertised around here.
I've contacted a few of them looking for trade stimulator tokens;
when they have them, they often over-value them and want way too much.
I think they would say do Not clean the tokens.

I don't think machine collectors, on the other hand, would want to put dirty tokens in a machine, particularly if it has been restored or is an otherwise good clean working machine.
A couple years ago, I made it a point to stock all my machines with the proper tokens. Before putting them in machines, I cleaned them all in a brass tumbler.
I sold the extras in batches on ebay under the slot machine or trade stimulator categories, not under exonumia.
None of the bidders or buyers complained about them having been cleaned or even commented on it.

My recommendation; clean the tokens and pass on the ones you don't need to machine collectors;
maybe they'll find their way back to a payout tube they've been in before.