Nearly all metal detectors will be able to find coins in the right conditions. With this simple technique, anyone can get their penny as clean as it once was. Once theyve soaked enough, take them out and rinse them with clear water until all traces of acid are gone from their surfaces; finally dry them off with a paper towel before putting them back into circulation (or storing them). They can clean your coin if it has PVC residue, dirt, debris, adhesive, tape reside, copper spots on gold, or toning issues. [1] If you use the right materials and carry out the process in a gentle manner, you can get the best of both worlds a set of cleaned shiny pennies that are also not damaged. Let the coins sit in the mixture for about 10 or 15 minutes so that the soap can break down the grime. You can also try using a damp cloth with baking soda, which will help loosen any stuck-on dirt without damaging the coins surface. Vinegar is most effective for cleaning copper. They can eliminate or reduce the effects of outside contaminates that have caused issues with your coins. For older, condition-sensitive coins, a gentle bath of water and mild hand soap will suffice. Copper, silver, nickel, and gold coins should strictly never be cleaned. The acetic acid in white vinegar can help remove contaminants from your coins. Baking soda and vinegar have proven to be one of the most effective ways to clean tarnished coins. Stir together until the soap is sudsy, then add your coins to the bowl. Be sure to check with a professional before cleaning a corroded coin that may have significant value. But if you simply want to clean the coins for non-commercial reasons (for example, you just want a bunch of cleaned pennies youve found to become part of your coin collection), the vinegar/lemon juice method will be good enough. The soap should help keep the coin safe while you gently scrub it. Sell them the way they are (or as is) and you will surely gain more money from your pennieswell, assuming they are actually worth something, of course. Drop the pennies into the mixture for about 5 minutes. Fill the bowl with enough lemon juice to cover the quarter. How To Clean A Penny Without Damaging It (Detailed Guide) If necessary, a little bit of gentle soap can be used, with Ivory soap being the preferred brand. The right materials will effectively clean your pennies and will also be safe for your hands. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. The amount of vinegar used to clean the pennies depends on the number of coins you wish to clean. This service does not come with a grading protection guarantee. Over time, coins of all sorts can and will collect grime and gunk. Coins are part of most of our lives in one way or another. The effect is achieved only where the mixture has been in contact with the coin, so ensure you cover the entire coin! For coins that dont have collectible value, you can use sand, olive oil, and even isopropyl alcohol to get the job done. If you are in a humid location, you can use desiccants to absorb atmospheric moisture. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Wheat pennies were made of different metals during different years depending on the need for metals. Lightly rub the ketchup into the coin with a soft toothbrush, then rinse off the ketchup. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. If you are planning to keep the coins for your own collection, you may certainly clean them as you see fit. Wash each coin gently with a soft toothbrush before rinsing and drying it. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. A great way to clean coins without doing damage to them is using a bath of salt and isopropyl alcohol. Mix in extra salt if you wish, but keep a close eye on the coins to avoid damaging them. So how do you safely store your wheat pennies? How to clean coins without damaging them - YouTube There are a variety of suggested ways when it comes to cleaning coins, and cleaning . Maintain your coins in great condition through proper care, handling and storage. But if you do really want to get stuck in and have a go at cleaning some coins, we recommend that you experiment on some modern loose change instead. Next, mix baking soda and water into a thick paste and rub this paste over the penny using your fingers. Steel pennies were abandoned the following year, and brass pennies were introduced. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e9\/Clean-Copper-Coins-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-Copper-Coins-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e9\/Clean-Copper-Coins-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid5915095-v4-728px-Clean-Copper-Coins-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"
\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. How To Clean A Copper or Zinc Penny - Coin Collecting! Rinse the coins with fresh water after 24 hours and let them air dry. The first step to cleaning a copper penny is soaking it in vinegar. Both can damage coins easily. Its important to note that cleaning tarnish off valuable or rare coins can greatly affect their value. If needed, use a soft towel or soft-bristled brush to scrub the coin. How to Clean Steel Pennies (6 Stupid-Simple Tips) - Metal Hunting Magazine wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 438,144 times. So, thinking about cleaning them is not wrong, and they can be cleaned in several ways. As you can see, these materials are very cheap and easy to find anywhere. Rinse the coin very well under warm water. Lemon juice. Distilled water is highly recommended as tap water since it contains chlorine that works perfectly in removing the unwanted substances. 6 Can hydrogen peroxide be used to clean coins? Wet the penny with warm water until its thoroughly dampened (but not dripping). You want something a bit more gentle for silver coins but you will need a heavier abrasive for your copper pennies. This means distilled water. Lemon juice is acidic and can cause damage to the skin if inhaled or spilled. So if you leave your hand in the ultrasonic cleaner long enough, it will "clean" the flesh from your bones. Silver dollars, or any collectible silver coin, should only be cleaned under certain conditions. How do you clean badly tarnished copper coins? From there, use your brush to gently get the grime off of the coins before putting them back into the water again. How to clean copper pennies - YouTube No scrubbing necessary at all. If you happen to find one of these while metal detecting, do not attempt to clean them yourself! Cheap Metal Detectors Salt and vinegar combinations have been used to clean coins for many yearsthis method is actually on display in one of the earlier videos I shared above. You just have to put a thin but uniform layer of sauce on the penny and then rinse it off with water after some time. Let the coins sit in the mixture for about 10 or 15 minutes so that the soap can break down the grime. The key is to first know what kind of coin you have. This method you will help you to clean old coin properly without any damage to. It can be frustrating, but hang in there! Pennis that were made prior to 1982 had more copper in them, which can lead to a more intense reaction chemically while cleaning. Clean at your . When you put your pennies in a vinegar and salt mix, the vinegar and salt react together and remove the copper oxide. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Tartaric acid is a weak organic acid, which means its not as corrosive to your penny as other chemicals. You like wouldnt need the professional cleaning. Leave the pennies for around five minutes in the glass of vinegar or lemon juice. There are coins worth thousands upon thousands of dollars, all contingent on the condition of the coin. The key is to ensure that you dont use anything super abrasive, especially on older coins. Then dip your coins in the solution and let them soak for an hour or twothe longer they soak, the more oxidation will come off. Hydrogen Peroxide Hydrogen peroxide can prove effective in removing various materials, including organic material. It might seem like theres no hope for your tarnished coins, but fear not! Most wheat pennies that are not extremely rare will sell for at least 3 to 5 cents at most coin dealers. Vinegar will remove any oxides formed on the coin surface. 2. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. From there, wipe your finger on your face for some natural oil, made up of sebum, and transfer it to the face of the coin. Rare coins shouldn't be cleaned as doing so could remove the value Credit: Getty. How to Clean Copper Coins Found in the Ground: Best Do's and Don'ts WATER. HOW TO CLEAN COPPER COINS - PENNY EXPERIMENT - YouTube Gentle dish soap, like Dawn, is a good option for getting those wheat pennies shining again. If you dont have vinegar, lemon juice should work just fine. Soak the coins for 12 hours. If you have a collection of copper pennies, chances are that theyre not looking their best. Exposure to air leads to the formation of copper oxide. At this stage, the corrosion on the pennies mustve reacted with the lemon and salt solution, so it is time for you to start removing them from the container. Its also an effective way to remove oxidation from copper and make sure that there are no stains left behind. Passchal.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.comSitemap | Contact | Privacy Policy. Once youve removed the coin from the coke, gently rinse it under cold running water. Step 3: Add Tarnished Silver Coins. So our advice is that if you have found some valuable pennies (and have hopes of selling them for big money), it is actually safer to not clean them at all. You do not want to leave behind any residue that may further degrade the pennys condition! Place your pennies in the vinegar or the lemon juice. Experts can always tell if a coin has been cleaned improperly. Wheat pennys face value is 1 cent, but every single one of them is worth more than face value, regardless of condition. This detector features multiple search frequencies and has 2 different coin modes: one for foreign coins and one for U.S. coins. For coins that are not terribly valuable, you can clean them yourself with little to no worry. Hello internet and today i will be showing you how to clean your old coins without damaging them and I'll be cleaning my rare 1886 type 2 Indian head cent ju. For others, coins can be collected throughout the years, some of which become quite valuable. After brushing each penny, rinse with clean water and dry, it should be looking good as new by now. Instead, dip a soft-bristled toothbrush into the vinegar solution and scrub the coins with it. tb1234 Basic Penny Cleaning Warm water Dishwashing soap Plastic bin Toothbrush Paper towel tb1234 When a coin has evidence of cleaning, it is valued as Genuine-Cleaned. This means that despite the condition of the coin, it will be valued less than Fine range coins that have not been cleaned. Gently scrub the coin with an incredibly soft brush. As an added precaution, you should only mix one tablespoon of ammonia with one gallon of water when using this technique; over-mixed solutions will damage your coins surfaces quickly. Copper is a soft metal, so copper coins are prone to degrading over time. It does this by using the low levels of acids that are contained naturally in vinegar and lemon juice to remove the patina (brown oxidation) on the penny. Mix cup vinegar with 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl that is non-metallic. In addition to the vinegar and lemon juice, ketchup can also be used to clean copper pennies. What do you see? This process only works in fluid. I go from light cleaning, to using soap and water, to using olive oil. White Vinegar One of the most recommended cleaning solutions for wheat pennies is white vinegar. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. This article has been viewed 438,144 times. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Since we are also concerned about safety, it is important for you to know that the acidic substances that these rust removers contain could be harmful to your skin, so you should protect yourself with gloves and a mask when using them. This detector uses 5 frequencies simultaneously or it can use them individually. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. It may take a couple of applications, so dont be afraid to try this method a few times to get out those tough stains. Apmex is a well-known auction site for coins. You may even want to take the same steps you learned from here to help clean other dirty pennies that you come across in the future. If you decide to clean your wheat pennies, make sure you start with the least invasive cleaning method first. For a safer way to remove stubborn debris and make a coin shine, rub it gently with a little bit of vegetable oil. What is the fastest way to clean copper coins? This article was co-authored by Alicia Sokolowski. Use a stronger acid like ketchup or cola to strip away the green patina that forms when copper is exposed to salt and water. Hot sauce and brown colas are some other household substances that work well on copper coins. Ketchup. Anyone can use this simple technique. Rinse them off after soaking them in vinegar so they dont reabsorb any of that dirt onto themselves! Using a soft cloth, apply your chosen cleaner to the coin and allow it to soak in for five minutes. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Method 1 Removing Dark Spots with Vinegar Download Article 1 Pour 14 cup (59 mL) of white vinegar into a small bowl. Coins / February 17, 2021 by Walt / Leave a Comment. Keep in mind that this is more of an abrasive than even the sand method and can do serious damage without the proper care. 1 1/2 cups olive oil. 4 Ways to Clean Copper Coins - wikiHow How do you clean old copper coins without damaging them? What is the best solution to clean copper? After 5 minutes, wash the solution off the coins with warm water, since if its left on too long it can damage them. Paper Towels This process can get a bit messy. When you handle your coins, wear cotton, Nitrile, or latex gloves, and handle the coin only by the edges. "What stood out was that very common household ingredients were used.". If it can clean oil off baby ducks, it should be able to clean your wheat pennies with very little damage! When they start to look cleaner, remove them from the bowl. This way, you should not have to worry about cleaning them on a regular basis. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Garret ACE 400 Review We will focus on the materials you need, how to use them, and most importantly, how to carry out the cleaning process in a safe way so that the pennies do not get damaged or lose their integrity. 3 Ways to Clean Old Coins - wikiHow Remember to not use tap water because the chemicals are bad for the coins. Dish soap is another good cleaning method and is very gentle. Dish soap is also a good and very gentle way to clean coins. How to Do Something Your Don Know: How to Clean Coins As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Simply hold your copper penny by its edges between your thumb and forefinger, then dip its entire surface into a small bowl of freshly squeezed lemon juice. These coins range in value from a few cents to a small fortune, if you, Read More How to Clean Wheat Pennies Safely and Without DamageContinue, ABOUT|AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE|PRIVACY POLICY|TERMS OF USE. Beach Metal Detectors Like vinegar, citrus juice is acidic and wears off copper oxide on coins. Gold Nuggets Metal Detectors If the quarter is clean, rinse it off with distilled water. When you clean via any method, you are clearing off small parts of the penny surface along with the corrosion, so a slight change in the appearance of the pennies is actually inevitable. Where I live, we have acidic and hard water. So my suggestion would be to take a random corroded penny that you dont care about, and try this cleaning method. In fact, it would probably be extremely wise to do so, at least from a sanitary perspective. I know it sounds strange, but stay with me. There is one important thing to note, though. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. For some of us, they just collect in a container until they are used or traded in. If you dont have a brush available, leave the coins submerged in the ketchup for at least 5 minutes. Elias Weston is a Cleaning Specialist and the Founder of Seatown Cleaners in Seattle, Washington. Take them out, setting them on the cloth. How to Clean Silver Coins Without Damaging Them in 7 Simple Steps If you have any other ideas, please share them in the comments below. How To Clean Old Coins (Hint: Don't!) - Vintage Cash Cow Blog You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. [1] Start working on the coins that need the least amount of work. But, when you combine vinegar with other ingredients, it will become a cleaning agent, not a tarnishing agent. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. They include: As you can see, these materials are very cheap and easy to find anywhere. My dad has collected coins my entire life. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Hold the coins under a little bit of running water to ensure all of the cleaning solution rinses off. In 1943, the composition changed to zinc plated steel due to the need for copper during World War II. Metal Detecting Hack: How To Clean (or ruin) Copper Coins Keep in mind that adding more salt to the solution makes it stronger. Before you begin cleaning, sort through the coins to determine which coins need the most work. By using our site, you agree to our. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Place your pennies at the bottom of the cup or glass so that they are not stacked on top of each other. It removes various materials including organic material. The coins should be dipped in that bowl for at least five minutes. These coins range in value from a few cents to a small fortune, if you are lucky enough! The advantage is it will not cause any decrease in numismatic value, but there are better options for cleaning materials. There will be times when you think your coin is clean, only to discover later that its still dirty. If you plan on cleaning off a lot of coins at once, use a bigger bowl and add more vinegar as needed. Gently scrub them with either a soft toothbrush or your fingers. If youre using lemon juice, be sure that the penny is very well-cleaned beforehand and that its completely dry before applying the lemon juice. Finally, dry your coins with a microfiber cloth to get rid of excess moisture.