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. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. If you have recently gone metal detecting and found several wheat pennies, what do you do with them now? Soak your coins in a glass or other non-corrosive container for at least 30 minutes, up to overnight, and then wipe with a clean cloth or scrub gently with an old toothbrush. One of the most important aspects of cleaning old coins is to know the value first. You can also seek the services of the Numismatic Conservation Services. Lemon juice is acidic and can cause damage to the skin if inhaled or spilled. From there, use your brush to gently get the grime off of the coins before putting them back into the water again. Fill the bowl with enough lemon juice to cover the quarter. Come Clean About Cleaning Your Coins - PCGS 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Mix cup vinegar with 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl that is non-metallic. Okay, so you have found some corroded pennies you want to clean and you have also gathered all the materials we listed above now its time for action. HCI works, but you get an orange look to the copper and still need to use your elbow grease to clean it. Just remember to rinse the pennies thoroughly after all cleaning methods. The safest way to clean a coin is to send it a professional. They may damage the surface of the wheat penny and devalue them. Be extremely gentle! Remove tough tarnish on coins by soaking them in hydrogen peroxide or . 3 What is the fastest way to clean copper coins? How to Clean Coins - Teachpedia This website uses cookies to improve your experience, but you may opt out if you wish. How To Clean A Penny Without Damaging It (Detailed Guide) Soak coins in warm water mixed with liquid dish detergent to clean off light dirt and grime. So at the very least you need distilled water as a working medium. Mix it together and add the coins into the bowl. Use distilled water because chemicals in tap water may cause discoloration. To clean softer or more valuable coins, your best bet is to lightly rinse them in warm water, then pat them dry with a microfiber cloth. In this article well take a look at the top 10 tips for cleaning a copper penny. An alternative is to use vinyl erasers, but they do not contain abrasive, which is typically found in pencil erasers. Even more importantly, understand how the condition impacts the value. If they're extra dirty or if you're cleaning a lot simultaneously, give them a few more minutes for good measure. Soak the coins for 12 hours. The first step to cleaning a copper penny is soaking it in vinegar. Have them professionally cleaned or sell them as is. Experts can always tell if a coin has been cleaned improperly. The best method for achieving that is with salt and vinegar. Repeat, as necessary. Fisher F22 Review The amount of vinegar used to clean the pennies depends on the number of coins you wish to clean. Baking Soda And Vinegar Great For Science Fair Volcanoes But Not For Enhancing Your Coins Value. 3. Instead, use a soft cloth and a gentle detergent (like dish soap) to clean it. Last Updated: October 27, 2022 Dont make the mistake of using something meant for regular coins on something older and more condition sensitive. Soak your pennies for five minutes in vinegar to dissolve any copper oxide . 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. It works similarly to ketchup. This technique is an easy way to clean silver coins and zinc pennies without causing damage, too. You can also use baking soda and salt to clean your pennies. WATER. Last Updated: November 9, 2022 The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Modern Coin Mart is another site for selling coins. Start with two tablespoons of baking soda, mixing it with water into a bowl. Step 2 Add a teaspoon of salt to the bowl full of vinegar, and stir the mixture until the salt is completely dissolved. So here's how to clean a penny with vinegar: Get a small glass (or another kind of non-corrosive container) and fill it with some white vinegar - just enough to submerge a coin below the surface. Steel pennies were abandoned the following year, and brass pennies were introduced. According to renowned numismatists, Ivory soap, and water is the safest way used in cleaning steel pennies. Mix 3 parts baking soda with 1 part vinegar. Take them out, setting them on the cloth. These became known as Lincon wheat pennies. If youve ever discovered gold jewelry in the woods or beach before, then you likely stumbled upon jewelry that was quite dirty and in need, Read More How to Clean Gold Jewelry With Vinegar Without Any DamageContinue, Wheat pennies are a relatively common find when metal detecting. 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. If you dont have ketchup or another acid, try using a metal polish from a general store. "Knowing how to safely clean copper is big time helpful. One of the most recommended cleaning solutions for wheat pennies is white vinegar. Make sure that you continue to stir in the salt until it dissolves, then place the pennies in so that they are not stacked in any way. In a small container, place a small amount of table-salt (1 gram is plenty). Dry the coins with a microfiber cloth to give them that extra shine! Metal Detector Reviews (for anyone), Garrett AT Pro Review Patience is key: The best way to clean a copper coin is by using patience and not being afraid to try new methods until one works well enough for you without scratching up your penny too much while doing so. 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. Test the ketchup on a small area of your penny first before applying it in more generous amounts. 5 Ways to Clean Your Pennies - The Spruce Crafts They can eliminate or reduce the effects of outside contaminates that have caused issues with your coins. Soak your pennies for five minutes in vinegar to dissolve any copper oxide left on them from handling before you start scrubbing them with toothpaste or soap. If you have a collection of copper pennies, chances are that theyre not looking their best. Please do not clean collector coins, I don not take responsibly of any damage done. Again, use small circular motions, scrubbing the entirety of the coin for a minute or so. The right materials will effectively clean your pennies and will also be safe for your hands. Rubbing alcohol can be used to clean pennies and other copper coins, as well as other metals. Garret ACE 250 Review It is very gentle and can help reveal details on the coin surface you may not be able to see. Soak the coins in the lemon solution for up to one hour. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. You can visit a local coin dealer if you have one nearby. Vinegar and salt are the best methods of cleaning your pennies. Other Ways To Clean Copper Coins Without Damaging Them 1. These were 95 percent copper and 5 percent zing. They include: As you can see, these materials are very cheap and easy to find anywhere. Clean at your . Pennies have been around since the late 1700s in the United States. Soak for 24 hours. Many people think that a shiny coin will be worth more than a tarnished, old looking coin. The Minelab Equinox 800 is another of my favorite metal detectors. Then, rub a small amount of vegetable oil onto each side of the coin to loosen stubborn dirt. Soak your coins in a glass or other non-corrosive container for at least 30 minutes, up to overnight, and then wipe with a clean cloth or scrub gently with an old toothbrush. Coins made of nickel and silver will be easily cleaned; however, coins made out of copper will be harder to clean as copper reacts to more materials than other metals. If you plan on cleaning off a lot of coins at once, use a bigger bowl and add more vinegar as needed. Use a stronger acid like ketchup or cola to strip away the green patina that forms when copper is exposed to salt and water. Cleaning in small batches is a better option. The Mabnol : How to Clean Coins By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Distilled water is highly recommended as tap water since it contains chlorine that works perfectly in removing the unwanted substances. If you want to go with something that is both inexpensive and likely already in your home, olive oil is the right choice. Leave the pennies for around five minutes in the glass of vinegar or lemon juice. The baking soda isnt acidic like vinegar and citrus juice solutions, so leaving the paste in place for a while is safe. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 438,144 times. It is easy to just use any cleaning agent for this, but you need to understand that there are many cleaning materials that will potentially damage the penniesand even hurt your skin in the process. If needed, use a soft towel or soft-bristled brush to scrub the coin. Place the coins in a plastic container and cover with mouthwash. Split your coins into three categories: showing good detail, showing some detail, and showing no detail. Many professional coin collectors and coin valuers recommend leaving the coins as they are. This detector works very well in areas with high soil mineralization. Clean copper coins in a vinegar and salt solution. How to Clean Old Coins | Coupon Codes Microwaving 2 cups of water for 2-3 minutes should suffice and avoid boiling water. The composition of the coin, the condition of the coin, and the year of the coin all affect its value. Aside from white vinegar, there may not be a more versatile household cleaning agent than baking soda. The first step to cleaning a copper penny is soaking it in vinegar. The best way to clean pennies is to never ever clean them. 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. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. 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. Be patient and try not to get frustrated. Do I need to add liquid to it? Drop the pennies into the mixture for about 5 minutes. Drop your coins into the mixture and let them sit for about 5 minutes. [2] 3 Now simply apply the paste to the penny wherever you want it to brighten up. It can be frustrating, but hang in there! This article has been viewed 60,522 times. How to Effectively Clean a Penny and Other Old Coins - Real Simple This means distilled water. With over 17 years of experience, Alicia specializes in creating a healthier, green alternative to chemical-based cleaning products and services. Use a stronger acid like ketchup or cola to strip away the green patina that forms when copper is exposed to salt and water. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Pat the coin dry. The advantage is it will not cause any decrease in numismatic value, but there are better options for cleaning materials. Other coins are molded from different metals, so the solution may not work as well on them. It removes various materials including organic material. CoinsForSale.com charges a 5 percent selling fee and no listing fee. Everyday change can be cleaned in just about any type of way. So, thinking about cleaning them is not wrong, and they can be cleaned in several ways. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Before we go into the process of bringing corroded pennies back to life, let us look at the cleaning materials you must have. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. In fact, it would probably be extremely wise to do so, at least from a sanitary perspective. Be sure to check with a professional before cleaning a corroded coin that may have significant value. They were initially made of bronze, a 95 percent copper alloy. 7+ Useful Ways to Clean Copper Pennies - Tips Bulletin These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Mix 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup flour and enough vinegar to make a thick paste. Keep your coins in a stable, cool, dry location. Before you do anything, do your research to know the value of the coin. Wet the penny with warm water until its thoroughly dampened (but not dripping). So my suggestion would be to take a random corroded penny that you dont care about, and try this cleaning method. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. wheat pennies found can be worth a small fortune. Required fields are marked *. Let the coins sit in the mixture for about 10 or 15 minutes so that the soap can break down the grime. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. With your paper towel, clean the pennies carefully and watch how they start getting clean and shiny. 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 might have to use multiple methods or go back and forth between methods until you find the one that works best for you. As you will come to find out, there are different methods for cleaning different types of coins. Ketchup is also effective at cleaning copper jewelry, so keep this tip in mind next time you need an emergency polish job for your favorite necklace or bracelet! Alicia Sokolowski is a Green Cleaning Specialist and the President and co-CEO of AspenClean, a green cleaning company in Vancouver, British Columbia. We hope you enjoy these tips and find the one that works best for you! For coins that dont have collectible value, you can use sand, olive oil, and even isopropyl alcohol to get the job done. The key is to ensure that you dont use anything super abrasive, especially on older coins. Do not clean these valuable pennies on your own, and if you do, only use distilled water. Your email address will not be published. Cleaning Copper With Ketchup: Ketchup can be used to clean a variety of copper products. 3 Ways to Clean Old Coins - wikiHow Coins / February 17, 2021 by Walt / Leave a Comment. How to clean rare & old coins without damaging them - The Sun Start with a mixture of warm, soapy water when cleaning silver coins. Dont use steel wool or abrasive chemicals to clean your penny, as this could damage the metal. Tartaric acid is a weak organic acid, which means its not as corrosive to your penny as other chemicals. How to Clean Silver Coins Without Damaging Them in 7 Simple Steps 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. Leave the coin to soak for about 5 minutes or so and then check on its condition. The effect is immediate and obvious. Remember, you can always try cleaning a coin again, but you cant reverse mistakes. Continue to slowly add water to the baking soda until it takes on the consistency of paste. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Rinse with freshwater and let air dry. Soak your penny in the vinegar for a minimum of 30 minutes. Use sparing amounts of oil to avoid damaging coins. Use Water Sometimes the simplest methods are best. It is always at the discretion of the buyer whether the minute scratches and damaged caused by cleaning is an issue. The acid from the ketchup can help to deal with oxidation as it forms on your coins. 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. tb1234. Dont leave them in a bowl of water, since the vinegar solution and copper oxide will end up in the bowl and on other coins. Rinse them off after soaking them in vinegar so they dont reabsorb any of that dirt onto themselves! Cleaning and polishing rare and old coins can devalue them. Looking to achieve that bright, orange-copper color? It may take a couple of applications, so dont be afraid to try this method a few times to get out those tough stains. Keep in mind that adding more salt to the solution makes it stronger. The right materials will effectively clean your pennies and will also be safe for your hands. There is something so magical and intriguing about looking through coins from the past. What is the fastest way to clean copper coins? Ketchup contains acid that can help remove copper stains. There are many metal detectors that are specifically for coin shooting, while others are all-purpose metal detectors. For older, condition-sensitive coins, a gentle bath of water and mild hand soap will suffice.