how to clean copper pennies without damaging them
Clean pennies with Vinegar and Salt NurdRage 664K views 10 years ago How to CLEAN coins HardCoreCopper 43K views 1 year ago Coin Collecting : How Do I Clean Dirty Coins?. ", "It is so amazing, the power of baking soda and vinegar.". There are various other methods to clean your pennies. That way, if the cleaning method damages the coin, youre not going to be upset about it. Heritage Auctions is an online consignment program with a 10 percent fee. What is the formula for calculating solute potential? 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. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. As you can see, these materials are very cheap and easy to find anywhere. How do you clean old copper coins without damaging them? In many cases, cleaning a coin can lower the value of the coin as a collectors item. Overall, cleaning a copper penny is not that difficult most of the time, and any of the methods listed above will be sure to get the job done right. It might even be a good idea to stay away from even hiring a professional service to clean them for you. Required fields are marked *. You can also try using a damp cloth with baking soda, which will help loosen any stuck-on dirt without damaging the coins surface. Any attempt at cleaning a coin can reduce its value. But, when you combine vinegar with other ingredients, it will become a cleaning agent, not a tarnishing agent. There will be times when you think your coin is clean, only to discover later that its still dirty. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Take them out, setting them on the cloth. 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. Use distilled water because chemicals in tap water may cause discoloration. This natural acid can be used to clean coins, pots and pans, and more. [2] 3 Now simply apply the paste to the penny wherever you want it to brighten up. This website uses cookies to improve your experience, but you may opt out if you wish. With -cup of ketchup, just dip your old toothbrush in and scrub the surface of the coin. So how do you safely store your wheat pennies? It is very gentle and can help reveal details on the coin surface you may not be able to see. Follow these steps to make your pennies completely clean: Step 1 Pour a small quantity of vinegar into a bowl. Clean copper coins in a vinegar and salt solution. It may take a few treatments, so work gradually and wash the coins off each time to avoid damaging them. Apmex is a well-known auction site for coins. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 60,522 times. One not so common cleaning method I found is using ketchup. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Enjoy! Place the coins in a plastic container and cover with mouthwash. HOW TO CLEAN COPPER COINS - PENNY EXPERIMENT - YouTube It can be frustrating, but hang in there! First, do not every use any type of jewelry cleaner or metal polish on coins. If your penny is really important to you. The vinegar poured into that bowl should be enough to cover those pennies. Step 2 Add a teaspoon of salt to the bowl full of vinegar, and stir the mixture until the salt is completely dissolved. Stir together until the soap is sudsy, then add your coins to the bowl. Rinse the coin very well under warm water. That means a lot more options for getting them clean enough to use again. Dish soap is also a good and very gentle way to clean coins. Cleaning and polishing rare and old coins can devalue them. Start with two tablespoons of baking soda, mixing it with water into a bowl. It may take a couple of applications, so dont be afraid to try this method a few times to get out those tough stains. Step 1: Line Container With Aluminum Foil. 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! Pull the coins out of the liquid and gently wipe them with a paper towel to break apart the tarnish and dark spots. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Before we go into the process of bringing corroded pennies back to life, let us look at the cleaning materials you must have. Youll be surprised at what works and what doesnt! Use a soft cloth to rub the paste on the surface of the copper. The best method for achieving that is with salt and vinegar. The level of water in the container should determine when you stop adding pennies into it because they must all get totally submerged into the solution for this process to work. How To Clean Old Copper Coins Without Damaging Them With over 17 years of experience, Alicia specializes in creating a healthier, green alternative to chemical-based cleaning products and services. Cleaning these will absolutely devalue them if they are not cleaned properlyso just be mindful of this. If pennies are collectibles, then cleaning them may reduce their value. Repeat, as necessary. Then mix gently until the salt totally dissolves in the lemon juice. But before you start your timer, make sure none of the pennies are touching themselves. You can also use just a touch of olive oil for polishing older coins that have become tarnished. How to Clean Corroded Pennies Safely and Effectively, How to Clean Gold Jewelry With Vinegar Without Any Damage, How to Clean Wheat Pennies Safely and Without Damage. Drop your coins in a bowl and cover them completely with olive oil. Make a paste: Use a lemon juice/salt or vinegar/salt paste and a sponge to scrub the copper. Drop your coins into the mixture and let them sit for about 5 minutes. Gold Nuggets Metal Detectors Easy & Effective Ways to Clean Dirty Coins at Home, 10+ Ways to Clean Your Clipper Blades like a Pro Barber, https://www.howtocleanthings.com/how-to-clean-pennies/, https://sciencebob.com/clean-pennies-with-vinegar/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mMp2OYpCq8, https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-copper-and-brass-with-ketchup-223741, Wie man Kupfermnzen sekundenschnell reinigt, Pulire le Monete di Rame in Pochi Secondi, . Can hydrogen peroxide be used to clean 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! 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. Dissolve 1 tsp (7 g) of table salt in a bowl with of white distilled vinegar. While you're grasping the coin firmly by its edges, use a clean toothbrush to lightly scrub the flat surfaces of the coin. The baking soda isnt acidic like vinegar and citrus juice solutions, so leaving the paste in place for a while is safe. Pennies have been around since the late 1700s in the United States. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. How to Clean Copper Naturally So It Looks Brand-New - Real Simple If you feel that it needs longer, you can soak it for up to 15 minutes. One good option is the traditional 2 by 2 cardboard and mylar protective sheaths. Mix your hand soap in with the water, creating a soapy mixture. Safely storing your wheat pennies is critical for preserving and protecting them. Even more importantly, understand how the condition impacts the value. Numismatists and some coin collector organizations may offer these services. You like wouldnt need the professional cleaning. Soak coins in warm water mixed with liquid dish detergent to clean off light dirt and grime. Fill the bowl with enough lemon juice to cover the quarter. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. You may not see these changes with your naked eyes if you clean carefully, but they are there. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This service does not come with a grading protection guarantee. The presence of salt and vinegar as its ingredients explains why this method works. Garret ACE 400 Review For tips on how to shine your coins with baking soda, read on! 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. Of course, there are other ways to clean corroded pennies. Step 3 Now put those pennies into the bowl containing the mixture of vinegar and salt. For a stronger treatment, let the coins soak in oil for about a day, then scrub them with a soft toothbrush. With this simple technique, anyone can get their penny as clean as it once was. Let them sit for a month though you may need to let them go for as long as six months. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Dish soap is another good cleaning method and is very gentle. The effect is immediate and obvious. Have them professionally cleaned or sell them as is. To clean a copper penny, squeeze out a small amount of tomato ketchup onto the face and back of the coin. If you decide to clean your wheat pennies, make sure you start with the least invasive cleaning method first. These became known as Lincon wheat pennies. This detector features multiple search frequencies and has 2 different coin modes: one for foreign coins and one for U.S. coins. You can clean as many pennies you want with a single pencil eraser. Finally, dry your coins with a microfiber cloth to get rid of excess moisture. For this reason, only clean coins that have little value, such as standard pennies. Soak your pennies for five minutes in vinegar to dissolve any copper oxide . 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. How do you clean badly tarnished copper coins? Believe it or not, you can clean copper coins using yet another household item: ketchup. When they are sufficiently clean, lay them out on a soft cloth, dabbing them dry with gentle pressure. Anyone can use this simple technique. Instead, dip a soft-bristled toothbrush into the vinegar solution and scrub the coins with it. Brighten old, dark pennies in seconds! Last Updated: October 27, 2022 Garret ACE 250 Review Rinse the coins thoroughly with water to remove the baking soda and vinegar solution. Easy & Effective Ways to Clean Dirty Coins at Home, 10+ Ways to Clean Your Clipper Blades like a Pro Barber. Hydrogen Peroxide Hydrogen peroxide can prove effective in removing various materials, including organic material. The amount of vinegar used to clean the pennies depends on the number of coins you wish to clean. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 438,144 times. Abrasive cleaners, like using a brush along with an acid or alcohol-based cleaning solution, can leave minuscule hair line discrepancies on the metal that can only be seen under magnification and in the right lighting. If youre having trouble getting rid of the tarnish on your copper penny, rubbing alcohol might be the trick you need. How to Clean Coins | Should I Clean My Coins? Your email address will not be published. There are various other methods to clean your pennies. This article has been viewed 438,144 times. Again, if you have hard or corrosive water, go with distilled water. Mix your hand soap in with the water, creating a soapy mixture. It can even be used as a metal polishing solution. How To Clean A Penny Without Damaging It (Detailed Guide) If you have questions, always seek the help of a professional coin cleaner and coin grading service. Pennies get dull and dirty because the copper in the pennies reacts with oxygen in the air to form copper oxide. If there are stubborn stains that dont seem like theyre budging, try scrubbing them vigorously with steel wool while theyre still wet; this should do wonders when trying to remove stubborn grime from coins like pennies made out of zinc (which often have dark spots). You want something a bit more gentle for silver coins but you will need a heavier abrasive for your copper pennies. Leave the pennies for around five minutes in the glass of vinegar or lemon juice. Rinse off the ketchup and inspect the condition of your coins. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. Do not leave the coin in the ketchup for more than an hour or two as it will leave a green oxidation on the coin. Cleaning in small batches is a better option. Thanks. As a general rule, make the paste at a ratio of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Other Ways To Clean Copper Coins Without Damaging Them 1. You can visit a local coin dealer if you have one nearby. This article was co-authored by Elias Weston. This makes it easier for copper atoms to join oxygen from the air and chlorine from the salt and form a blue green compound called malachite. In a small container, place a small amount of table-salt (1 gram is plenty). Rinse the coins with fresh water after 24 hours and let them air dry. 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. Well, the general rule is if you intend on selling your wheat pennies, you should not clean them. When in doubt, leave the coin as you found it. Dont use steel wool or abrasive chemicals to clean your penny, as this could damage the metal. Use a small plastic container full of hydrogen peroxide. Copper is a soft metal, so copper coins are prone to degrading over time. Rinse them off after soaking them in vinegar so they dont reabsorb any of that dirt onto themselves! 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. 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. How To Clean Old Copper Pennies. If this does not bother, you and you simply want to restore the coin for yourself you can use a baking soda paste. I need advice on how to clean a coin without applying any damage to it Cool the copper: Leave the copper item in the solution until it is cool to the touch. Copper, silver, nickel, and gold coins should strictly never be cleaned. [1] 2 Add enough acetic acid (vinegar, white vinegar is most recommended) to moisten the salt into a paste. There is something so magical and intriguing about looking through coins from the past. After 5 minutes, wash the solution off the coins with warm water, since if its left on too long it can damage them. 5. Rubbing alcohol can be used to clean pennies and other copper coins, as well as other metals. Drop your coins into the mixture and let them sit for about 5 minutes. One of the main reasons for pennies becoming dirty is their continual circulation among people. Be patient and try not to get frustrated. You must be gentle. Use a stronger acid like ketchup or cola to strip away the green patina that forms when copper is exposed to salt and water. Baking Soda And Vinegar Great For Science Fair Volcanoes But Not For Enhancing Your Coins Value. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. How to clean a copper penny? Should the oil start to look discolored, change it out. 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. When you put your pennies in a vinegar and salt mix, the vinegar and salt react together and remove the copper oxide. 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. Ammonia works well for removing rust from copper pennies, but it can also damage the surface of the penny if not used properly. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. I usually DO NOT use water or oil, b. "Knowing how to safely clean copper is big time helpful. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Use household cleaners: Basic household cleaners like baking soda, vinegar and salt will work wonders for your copper pennies! This happens because the vinegar and salt dissolves the copper oxide layer of the penny. Your email address will not be published. The Nokta Makro CF77 Coin Finder is another great detector for coin shooting. Very old or dirty coins require the extra effort. Warm distilled water can be used to clean coins. Get an appraisal before you clean themif you plan to sell them. The coins need to be submerged in the vinegar, so make sure the vinegar doesn't have too much space to spread out. Rinse the coin very well under warm water. The Mabnol : How to Clean Coins Something like a penny for example. As a result, the shiny bright metal develops an external layer having a dull green color. An alternative is to use vinyl erasers, but they do not contain abrasive, which is typically found in pencil erasers. How To Clean Coins Without Devaluing Them [DIY Hack] - YouTube Wheat pennies were made of different metals during different years depending on the need for metals. Apply the paste with a microfiber cloth and rinse it off with water. So there is no need for you to buy harsh bleaching agents, because you want to clean corroded pennies, these simple ones can help you achieve your goals if you use them properly. Lemon juice is acidic and can cause damage to the skin if inhaled or spilled. All items are affected by the passage of time, and coins are no different. Copper coins often turn a muddled brown color, and these marks can be cleaned off with salt and a mild acid like white vinegar. How to clean copper pennies using vinegar and baking soda. Ketchup is composed of vinegar, salt, and tomatoes. If it can clean oil off baby ducks, it should be able to clean your wheat pennies with very little damage! You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. After WWII, the original metal composition was reinstituted and reigned until the wheat penny retired. If I must choose a cleaning method, I will choose distilled water. My dad has collected coins my entire life. Anyone can use this simple technique. They will not pay you until you have shipped the coins. After learning about how to clean a copper penny in this article, you should be able to do it well and keep your coin looking better for longer. Try not to rub the coin too much with your fingers or the dirt, silt, and other residue on the surface can damage the coin. Its a very interesting question and a great DIY project. But do notenothing is 100% safe or 100% fool proof. You can also use baking soda and salt to clean your pennies. Its best to wear rubber gloves when handling the ketchup and penny because they can both leave your hands stained red if you arent careful! The Garrett Ace Apex is one of my favorite metal detectors for coin shooting. Its found naturally in wine, and it works by breaking down the copper oxide coating on your pennies. 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). Put the coin in the bowl and slowly rub the coin with your finger from both sides. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). How to Clean Copper Coins in Seconds: 4 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow Cleaning Copper With Ketchup: Ketchup can be used to clean a variety of copper products. In fact, 99% of coins do not increase in value after you clean them. Some are damaged by contact with other coins, general circulation, or being buried in the ground for many years. Can hydrogen peroxide be used to clean coins? This detector works very well in areas with high soil mineralization. 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. Pennies are normally made of copper, which is a shiny, bright metal, and more recently Zinc. Just make sure you keep the rubbing to a minimum. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy! Vinegar and salt. Dry the coins with a microfiber cloth to give them that extra shine! Be sure to check with a professional before cleaning a corroded coin that may have significant value. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 5 Ways to Clean Pennies - wikiHow tb1234 Basic Penny Cleaning Warm water Dishwashing soap Plastic bin Toothbrush Paper towel tb1234 This process only works in fluid. The wheat penny was produced until 1958, with a few changes along the way. When you handle your coins, wear cotton, Nitrile, or latex gloves, and handle the coin only by the edges. If you dont see any results after trying a method for a few minutes, move on to something else. The coins should be dipped in that bowl for at least five minutes. The first step to cleaning a copper penny is soaking it in vinegar. Get a corrosive resistant container, such as a glass, and soak your wheat pennies in the vinegar for at least 30 minutes. On average, a quarter-cup should be adequate. 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. Hold the coins under a little bit of running water to ensure all of the cleaning solution rinses off. Ensure you rinse all the vinegar off the coin once it is cleaned. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. Copper, silver, nickel, and gold coins should strictly never be cleaned. Gently scrub them with either a soft toothbrush or your fingers. Make sure they are not directly on top of each other. Clean them off using distilled water and soap, using an old toothbrush to scour them clean. Allow the coins to air-dry on a microfiber or cotton towel. 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. Wet the penny with warm water until its thoroughly dampened (but not dripping). 3. We hope you enjoy these tips and find the one that works best for you! Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. These cookies do not store any personal information. Hydrogen peroxide can be an effective way to clean your coins. If you are not worried about damaging the coins as much, you can continue down the list and use some of the more abrasive cleaning methods. There are many options for selling wheat pennies. The best thing about using rubbing alcohol is that it will remove the tarnish from your copper coin without damaging its surface. This is what gives some pennies their odd bluish hue. 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. EBay, one of the most popular online auction sites, charges a 10 percent fee plus listing fees. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. 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. Wheat pennies are a relatively common find when metal detecting. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. There are also various commercial cleaners available in the market to clean your pennies, but they may prove a bit expensive if you have lots of pennies to clean. You can always put them on other websites like Facebook market, but you may not reach the intended audience with that forum. Fisher F22 Review Make sure that any cleaner you use is rated to clean pennies prior to 1982. Let them soak for a while. The key is to first know what kind of coin you have. If you are planning to keep the coins for your own collection, you may certainly clean them as you see fit. Here are a few different methods that you can use to get those pennies clean. Come Clean About Cleaning Your Coins - PCGS Or in layman's terms, by generating microscopic bubbles between a hard surface and a softer material, and allowing them to catastrophically collapse. Every cleaner is thoroughly vetted and every cleaning is backed by a 100% money-back guarantee. Tartaric acid is a weak organic acid, which means its not as corrosive to your penny as other chemicals. After brushing each penny, rinse with clean water and dry, it should be looking good as new by now. To clean using this method, place your coins in a small plastic container, fill with enough hydrogen peroxide to cover, and soak for 24 hours. Vinegar is most effective for cleaning copper. Create a mixture using -cup vinegar of lemon juice and a teaspoon of table salt together into a bowl. After 24 hours of drying time (72 hours if you live in humid conditions), use a soft cloth like an old T-shirt or washcloth to buff up all sides of your penny until it has regained most of its original shine! You can use lemon juice to clean copper pennies, but youll want to work in a well-ventilated area when you do. It does not store any personal data. Drop the pennies into the mixture for about 5 minutes. Before you do anything, do your research to know the value of the coin. When a rare coin is found, it is often submitted to professionals, such as those at PCGS, or Professional Coin Grading Services. Make a bath using a cup of isopropyl alcohol combined with two tablespoons of salt. Hydrogen peroxide can prove effective in removing various materials, including organic material. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". In that event, you would want to avoid anything highly abrasive that could damage the surface of the coin. To prevent grime buildup, it is imperative that collectible coins be stored in a safe, secure, airtight place. Repeat the process as many times as you need in order to get the coins clean. Soak them in vinegar or ketchup: If youve ever used ketchup on your penny, then you know that it can clean it up pretty quicklyand with very little effort on your part at all! How do I choose between my boyfriend and my best friend? If they look clean enough, use a soft cloth to dry them. Lightly rub the ketchup into the coin with a soft toothbrush, then rinse off the ketchup. I like to use distilled water to clean coins if I decide to clean them. If you dont have vinegar on hand, filtered tap or distilled water can be used as a substitute. A professional coin valuer will notice these minute scratches on the surface from cleaning. How do you remove green corrosion from copper coins? They were initially made of bronze, a 95 percent copper alloy.
