If you do use an abrasive like vinegar or salt, make sure that you dont rub the abrasive in as it could scratch up the surface of the coin. 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. 1/4 cup white vinegar 1 teaspoon salt A clear, shallow bowl (not metal) 2 clean steel nails A clean steel screw or bolt Paper towels Put the salt and vinegar in the bowl. Admittedly, this one is hard to see working well, so I always suggest testing brand new coin cleaning methods on a coin you care absolutely nothing about. The olive oil is good at separating the dirt from the surface of the coin for a thorough cleaning experience, though it takes substantially longer. This eliminates the possibility of abrasions to your investment. It is definitely cheaper to clean it yourself, but there are occasions where it would be more prudent of you to allow professionals to handle it. 5. Drop your coins into the mixture and let them sit for about 5 minutes. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Other Ways To Clean Copper Coins Without Damaging Them 1. How To Clean Old Copper Pennies. It may take a few treatments, so work gradually and wash the coins off each time to avoid damaging them. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The first step to cleaning a copper penny is soaking it in vinegar. Scrub low-value coins with baking soda and vinegar, lemon juice and salt, or ketchup to break apart tarnish. 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. The acid from the ketchup can help to deal with oxidation as it forms on your coins. Easy & Effective Ways to Clean Dirty Coins at Home, 10+ Ways to Clean Your Clipper Blades like a Pro Barber. With over 17 years of experience, Alicia specializes in creating a healthier, green alternative to chemical-based cleaning products and services. Fill up two plastic containers with distilled water and a tablespoon of mild hand soap. The acetic acid in white vinegar can help remove contaminants from your coins. Step 2 Add a teaspoon of salt to the bowl full of vinegar, and stir the mixture until the salt is completely dissolved. How To Clean A Copper or Zinc Penny - Coin Collecting! If it works for you, stick with it. Whether its a regular penny or a wheat penny, hopefully youve found this article to showcase a helpful method on how to clean a corded penny. Dry them off with paper towels. Step-2: Mix dish soap with water in a bowl. Come Clean About Cleaning Your Coins - PCGS Pull the coins out of the liquid and gently wipe them with a paper towel to break apart the tarnish and dark spots. Step 1: Line Container With Aluminum Foil. Once youve removed the coin from the coke, gently rinse it under cold running water. Use sparing amounts of oil to avoid damaging coins. After youve cleaned off any grime or other contaminants from your coins surface, its time for step two: cleaning out any crevices that could have collected dust or dirt over time. tb1234 Basic Penny Cleaning Warm water Dishwashing soap Plastic bin Toothbrush Paper towel tb1234 Rinse the coins thoroughly with water to remove the baking soda and vinegar solution. Some wheat pennies found can be worth a small fortune. Keep in mind that this is more of an abrasive than even the sand method and can do serious damage without the proper care. 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. Create a mixture using -cup vinegar of lemon juice and a teaspoon of table salt together into a bowl. Cleaning them can go wrong very quicklyand who wants to devalue their newly found treasure? Experts can always tell if a coin has been cleaned improperly. When you handle your coins, wear cotton, Nitrile, or latex gloves, and handle the coin only by the edges. In fact, it would probably be extremely wise to do so, at least from a sanitary perspective. This should be enough to get them clean. The good news is that there is a solution available no matter what type of coin. How to clean a copper penny? You just cant see them because they are microscopicbut your intended buyer will see them. Signs of cleaning can be evident in many ways and often affect the value of the coin. Wheat pennies are a relatively common find when metal detecting. The Mabnol : How to Clean Coins These became known as Lincon wheat pennies. Use a stronger acid like ketchup or cola to strip away the green patina that forms when copper is exposed to salt and water. PCGS offers a restoration service that can aid in cleaning your coins professionally. Pat the coin dry. How to Clean Wheat Pennies Safely and Without Damage, How to Clean Corroded Pennies Safely and Effectively, How to Clean Gold Jewelry With Vinegar Without Any Damage. "Knowing how to safely clean copper is big time helpful. Mix it together and add the coins into the bowl. In fact, there are a lot of people who may suggest that using vinegar will hurt the integrity of your penny by making it tarnish. You can use your finger or an exceptionally fine brush to remove any stuck-on dirt. You may want to try using some non-abrasive cleaners (like vinegar) if youre worried about removing any patina on your coinand always keep in mind that these cleaners are only meant as a starting point! You dont have to sacrifice the quality of your pennies just so you can have them looking good. In 1943, the composition changed to zinc plated steel due to the need for copper during World War II. But before you start your timer, make sure none of the pennies are touching themselves. If you plan on cleaning off a lot of coins at once, use a bigger bowl and add more vinegar as needed. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. If you have recently gone metal detecting and found several wheat pennies, what do you do with them now? Step 3 Now put those pennies into the bowl containing the mixture of vinegar and salt. Be sure to check with a professional before cleaning a corroded coin that may have significant value. Acids wear away copper, so exposing a coin to vinegar and other products can cause permanent damage. It only requires rubbing the penny with a pencil eraser. You do not want to leave behind any residue that may further degrade the pennys condition! Its important to note that cleaning tarnish off valuable or rare coins can greatly affect their value. If necessary, a little bit of gentle soap can be used, with Ivory soap being the preferred brand. Vinegar will remove any oxides formed on the coin surface. Start adding your pennies into the solution, but dont throw everything inside at once. I go from light cleaning, to using soap and water, to using olive oil. And if you're unsure of how to properly clean a coin and you want a second opinion, get in contact with a coin expert before trying any of the following methods. You will want to use a soft-bristled brush, one that has been well worn in as well as a soft cloth. Aluminum Foil Any aluminum foil will do, what you have laying around in your kitchen will work great. The best way to clean pennies is to never ever clean them. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. How do you clean badly tarnished copper coins? Hydrogen peroxide can be an effective way to clean your coins. This step is basically you leaving the pennies to soak inside the salt and lemon juice solution for 15 minutes. Elias Weston is a Cleaning Specialist and the Founder of Seatown Cleaners in Seattle, Washington. I would not do any cleaning at all. Make sure that any cleaner you use is rated to clean pennies prior to 1982. If you don't have any vinegar on hand, a 1:1 ratio of water to acetone will produce the same effect. In 1909, a new design featuring President Abraham Lincon was introduced. Apply the paste with a microfiber cloth and rinse it off with water. A professional coin valuer will notice these minute scratches on the surface from cleaning. You can also try using a damp cloth with baking soda, which will help loosen any stuck-on dirt without damaging the coins surface. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 4 Ways to Clean Copper Coins - wikiHow We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. You can also seek the services of the Numismatic Conservation Services. It might seem like theres no hope for your tarnished coins, but fear not! Remember, cleaning a wheat penny you have found while metal detecting might make it look better to you, but to a professional numismatist, it will be ruined. One of the main reasons for pennies becoming dirty is their continual circulation among people. Start with two tablespoons of baking soda, mixing it with water into a bowl. Thats not necessarily to say the material so much as the purpose of the coin. Hydrogen Peroxide Hydrogen peroxide can prove effective in removing various materials, including organic material. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Again, use small circular motions, scrubbing the entirety of the coin for a minute or so. In fact, 99% of coins do not increase in value after you clean them. Mix in extra salt if you wish, but keep a close eye on the coins to avoid damaging them. Thanks. Even more importantly, understand how the condition impacts the value. You can also find protective books which have individual sleeves for each coin. So my suggestion would be to take a random corroded penny that you dont care about, and try this cleaning method. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. White Vinegar One of the most recommended cleaning solutions for wheat pennies is white vinegar. But for coins that have collectible value, they are oftentimes worth more than their face value. For others, coins can be collected throughout the years, some of which become quite valuable. Allow the coins to air-dry on a microfiber or cotton towel. Mix equal parts distilled water and lemon juice into a container. The right materials will effectively clean your pennies and will also be safe for your hands. Method 1 Using Simple Washing Download Article 1 Sort your coins. Different types of coins require different cleaning solutions, so ask an expert if you are not sure. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Modern Coin Mart is another site for selling coins. You may also have luck selling them online. If the water is not enough, continue down the list and use dish soap. Required fields are marked *. Any attempt at cleaning a coin can reduce its value. Its also an effective way to remove oxidation from copper and make sure that there are no stains left behind. Cleaning these will absolutely devalue them if they are not cleaned properlyso just be mindful of this. Pennies are normally made of copper, which is a shiny, bright metal, and more recently Zinc. The best method for achieving that is with salt and vinegar. In many cases, cleaning a coin can lower the value of the coin as a collectors item. Ketchup contains acid that can help remove copper stains. Step 4: Add More Baking Soda & Hot Water. Take them out, setting them on the cloth. Get an appraisal before you clean themif you plan to sell them. Before you begin cleaning, sort through the coins to determine which coins need the most work. This is a simple, inexpensive method that works well on pennies that arent too tarnished. The method of cleaning depends on the type of coin. How to Clean Copper Coins Found in the Ground: Best Do's and Don'ts 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. Instead, dip a soft-bristled toothbrush into the vinegar solution and scrub the coins with it. Hold the coins under a little bit of running water to ensure all of the cleaning solution rinses off. The presence of salt and vinegar as its ingredients explains why this method works.