how to clean copper pennies without damaging them
Shine the coins to make them look better. 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. He has a hefty collection of wheat pennies that hes found with various techniques. Vinegar is most effective for cleaning copper. When in doubt, refrain from cleaning anything older than those. Metal Detector Reviews (for anyone), Garrett AT Pro Review Ammonia works well for removing rust from copper pennies, but it can also damage the surface of the penny if not used properly. In this article, we will go into details about the steps you should take if you want to turn corroded pennies into their original fine, bright form. This website uses cookies to improve your experience, but you may opt out if you wish. Let them air dry or wipe them with a soft, microfiber cloth. Pennies are made from highly reactive metals like copper or copper alloys, so it is only normal for them to get corroded with time. Caution: blood plasma counts as a fluid. 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. If you dont have vinegar, lemon juice should work just fine. If you decide to clean your wheat pennies, make sure you start with the least invasive cleaning method first. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. What are ultrasonic cleaners when it comes to cleaning copper coins? Dry them off with paper towels. After applying, give it a couple of minutes and then rinse using distilled water. Just make sure you keep the rubbing to a minimum. Ketchup can restore the copper glow of a penny. You can clean a dug copper coin by removing layers of dirt, gently, with a toothpick, piece of wood, or your fingernail until getting down to the patina. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. That would be true if your plan was to only use vinegar to clean a corroded penny. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Lemon juice. One good option is the traditional 2 by 2 cardboard and mylar protective sheaths. For older, condition-sensitive coins, a gentle bath of water and mild hand soap will suffice. [1] Start working on the coins that need the least amount of work. Fisher F22 Review Pennies get dull and dirty because the copper in the pennies reacts with oxygen in the air to form copper oxide. If the water is not enough, continue down the list and use dish soap. It is very gentle and can help reveal details on the coin surface you may not be able to see. Aluminum Foil Any aluminum foil will do, what you have laying around in your kitchen will work great. Alicia Sokolowski is a Green Cleaning Specialist and the President and co-CEO of AspenClean, a green cleaning company in Vancouver, British Columbia. 1 1/2 cups olive oil. The more contact the coins have with one another the more damage they take on. It might even be a good idea to stay away from even hiring a professional service to clean them for you. Mix 3 parts baking soda with 1 part vinegar. As a result, the shiny bright metal develops an external layer having a dull green color. Follow these steps to make your pennies completely clean: Step 1 Pour a small quantity of vinegar into a bowl. It does not store any personal data. Step-2: Mix dish soap with water in a bowl. That way, if the cleaning method damages the coin, youre not going to be upset about it. Looking to achieve that bright, orange-copper color? 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. Dont make the mistake of using something meant for regular coins on something older and more condition sensitive. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUbe88W78I0&feature=youtu.be&t=13, https://sciencebob.com/clean-pennies-with-vinegar/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mMp2OYpCq8&feature=youtu.be&t=27, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHZSYR463uw&feature=youtu.be&t=41, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS9-A1TO67c&feature=youtu.be&t=45, https://www.pennycollector.com/cleaning.html, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/shine-bright-like-a-penny/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7cfVkadI_A&feature=youtu.be&t=174, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7cfVkadI_A&feature=youtu.be&t=928, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUPuRLcm7WY&feature=youtu.be&t=516, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUPuRLcm7WY&feature=youtu.be&t=542. After WWII, the original metal composition was reinstituted and reigned until the wheat penny retired. Heritage Auctions is an online consignment program with a 10 percent fee. Leave the coin to soak for about 5 minutes or so and then check on its condition. 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. tb1234. How to clean a copper penny? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This natural acid can be used to clean coins, pots and pans, and more. With -cup of ketchup, just dip your old toothbrush in and scrub the surface of the coin. Baking Soda And Vinegar Great For Science Fair Volcanoes But Not For Enhancing Your Coins Value. Copper is a soft metal, so copper coins are prone to degrading over time. Youll be surprised at what works and what doesnt! 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. Which is correct poinsettia or poinsettia? Be gentle: A penny is a delicate coin and you dont want to scratch it up in the process of cleaning it. Mix your hand soap in with the water, creating a soapy mixture. Coins / February 17, 2021 by Walt / Leave a Comment. NEVER drink the solution that was used to clean the pennies. If the coins still look a little dull, try treating them with more paste. This natural acid can be used to clean coins, pots and pans, and more. 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. That is because ketchup has vinegar in it, which is naturally acidic. This is the important part: rinse with distilled, not tap water. If it can clean oil off baby ducks, it should be able to clean your wheat pennies with very little damage! When in doubt, leave the coin as you found it. The first step to cleaning a copper penny is soaking it in vinegar. How do you clean old coins without damaging them? The best thing about using rubbing alcohol is that it will remove the tarnish from your copper coin without damaging its surface. WATER. (So before you start using baking soda, vinegar, toothpaste, or ketchup to clean your coins at. You can visit a local coin dealer if you have one nearby. This service does not come with a grading protection guarantee. Hydrogen peroxide can be an effective way to clean your coins. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 438,144 times. If youre more of a do-it-yourselfer, try using a basic household cleaner to start. Mix 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup flour and enough vinegar to make a thick paste. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. So, thinking about cleaning them is not wrong, and they can be cleaned in several ways. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Some are damaged by contact with other coins, general circulation, or being buried in the ground for many years. The key is to ensure that you dont use anything super abrasive, especially on older coins. Mix your hand soap in with the water, creating a soapy mixture. But for coins that have collectible value, they are oftentimes worth more than their face value. Experts can always tell if a coin has been cleaned improperly. Then, rub a small amount of vegetable oil onto each side of the coin to loosen stubborn dirt. Mix in extra salt if you wish, but keep a close eye on the coins to avoid damaging them. Stir the mixture to dissolve the salt. After a good shake, take the coins out and rinse them off. It can be frustrating, but hang in there! Mix equal parts distilled water and lemon juice into a container. Method 1 Removing Dark Spots with Vinegar Download Article 1 Pour 14 cup (59 mL) of white vinegar into a small bowl. Copper coins often turn a muddled brown color, and these marks can be cleaned off with salt and a mild acid like white vinegar. If you are in a humid location, you can use desiccants to absorb atmospheric moisture. Coins Metal Detectors This detector works very well in areas with high soil mineralization. Use sparing amounts of oil to avoid damaging coins. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. For others, coins can be collected throughout the years, some of which become quite valuable. Before you begin cleaning, sort through the coins to determine which coins need the most work. If this does not bother, you and you simply want to restore the coin for yourself you can use a baking soda paste. Rare coins shouldn't be cleaned as doing so could remove the value Credit: Getty. Fill up two plastic containers with distilled water and a tablespoon of mild hand soap. For tips on how to shine your coins with baking soda, read on! So if you leave your hand in the ultrasonic cleaner long enough, it will "clean" the flesh from your bones. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. This process only works in fluid. In this video I clean three old worn large cents. If you have a collection of copper pennies, chances are that theyre not looking their best. It is always at the discretion of the buyer whether the minute scratches and damaged caused by cleaning is an issue. Remember, you can always try cleaning a coin again, but you cant reverse mistakes. An easy way to clean copper pennies and coins to remove the build-up of grime is with soapy water and a little elbow grease. Because the effect is achieved only where the mixture has been in contact with the coin, this allows one to get creative with the contrasting features of the coin itself with your choice of different colored copper. Retrieve the coins from the vinegar and apply a few teaspoons of baking soda to each coin. Place the quarter you want to clean into a small plastic bowl. Vinegar and salt are the best methods of cleaning your pennies. If you are planning to sell your cleaned pennies, using chemicals or scrubbing methods for cleaning could leave marks on the coins and an appraiser could easily discover this, which will greatly reduce the market value of your pennies. If you dont have ketchup or another acid, try using a metal polish from a general store. Hold the coins under a little bit of running water to ensure all of the cleaning solution rinses off. If your penny is really important to you. They also will not pay you until you ship the coins. When they start to look cleaner, remove them from the bowl. When a coin is submitted to be examined by the experts at PCGS, signs of cleaning can be evident in many ways. 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. Microwaving 2 cups of water for 2-3 minutes should suffice and avoid boiling water. 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. [1] 2 Add enough acetic acid (vinegar, white vinegar is most recommended) to moisten the salt into a paste. It may take a couple of applications, so dont be afraid to try this method a few times to get out those tough stains. Dip one penny halfway into the liquid. Elias specializes in helping clients find cleaning services with instant booking and flexible pricing. "What stood out was that very common household ingredients were used.". Take them out, setting them on the cloth. First, gather your supplies. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This article has been viewed 60,522 times. On average, a quarter-cup should be adequate. % of people told us that this article helped them. Thats not necessarily to say the material so much as the purpose of the coin. The good news is that there is a solution available no matter what type of coin. If you are planning to keep the coins for your own collection, you may certainly clean them as you see fit. Put the coin in the bowl and slowly rub the coin with your finger from both sides. 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. Remove tough tarnish on coins by soaking them in hydrogen peroxide or . For many pennies, one tablespoon (15 g) of salt in 1/2 cup (4 oz) of vinegar will get the job done. Use your soft cloth to dry them off gently in order to prevent any scratching. The presence of salt and vinegar as its ingredients explains why this method works. If you are keeping them or do not care if they are damaged, you can use methods like vinegar, peroxide, baking soda, mouthwash or even, dare I say, ketchup! When you handle your coins, wear cotton, Nitrile, or latex gloves, and handle the coin only by the edges. 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. Modern Coin Mart is another site for selling coins. Wet the coin with water and roll in baking soda. 290K views 3 years ago In this video you will find a simple but very effective method of cleaning old coins. 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. Can I use isopropyl alcohol to clean the coins? For instance, use a small applicator to "paint" only the heads for an unusual "cameo" effect. If it's a very thin coin, don't clean it as the vinegar can scorch through it. Soak the Pennies in Vinegar. This should be enough to get them clean. With this simple technique, anyone can get their penny as clean as it once was. 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. You will not need to clean your coins repeatedly if you know the best way to clean pennies and how to preserve them properly. There is even a high chance that you have all of them in your kitchen right now. Step 3 Now put those pennies into the bowl containing the mixture of vinegar and salt. Wed love to hear from our readers! If pennies are collectibles, then cleaning them may reduce their value. Seatown Cleaners offers standard, deep, and move-in/out cleaning services using green products and cleaning techniques. This eliminates the possibility of abrasions to your investment. If you plan on cleaning off a lot of coins at once, use a bigger bowl and add more vinegar as needed. Be sure to check with a professional before cleaning a corroded coin that may have significant value. Rinse the coins thoroughly with water to remove the baking soda and vinegar solution. {"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. If your pennies still dont get clean after the fifth step, you can mix baking soda with a tablespoon of water, then use an old soft toothbrush to gently scrub the surface. For a more gradual treatment, leave the coins out of the bowl. It is okay to stop at the fourth step, but if some of the pennies dont get clean after you use the paper towel to clean them, you can put them back into the solution and soak for an extra five minutes. Continue to slowly add water to the baking soda until it takes on the consistency of paste. They must all lie flat at the bottom of the container. Apmex is a well-known auction site for coins. Soak the coins for 12 hours. Believe it or not, you can clean copper coins using yet another household item: ketchup. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. After 5 minutes, wash the solution off the coins with warm water, since if its left on too long it can damage them. There are a variety of suggested ways when it comes to cleaning coins, and cleaning . For a stronger treatment, let the coins soak in oil for about a day, then scrub them with a soft toothbrush. 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. Use a small plastic container full of hydrogen peroxide. 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! Very old or dirty coins require the extra effort. 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. 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. If it doesnt work for you, or somehow has hurt or damaged the penny in your eyes, stop using this method and find one you feel is a bit better. They include: As you can see, these materials are very cheap and easy to find anywhere. 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. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Those are meant to clean items like antique silver vases and your wedding ring. Copper, silver, nickel, and gold coins should strictly never be cleaned. 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! Keep in mind that this is more of an abrasive than even the sand method and can do serious damage without the proper care. The amount of vinegar used to clean the pennies depends on the number of coins you wish to clean. If you dont have vinegar on hand, filtered tap or distilled water can be used as a substitute. We all enjoy the metal detecting finds we discover, and sometimes, even pennies fall into that category. How do I choose between my boyfriend and my best friend? This works well because the dish soap will loosen dirt and grim, and gently lift it from the surface of the metal object. Let them soak for a while. Pennis that were made prior to 1982 had more copper in them, which can lead to a more intense reaction chemically while cleaning. Approved. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. There are many options for selling wheat pennies. Clean copper coins in a vinegar and salt solution. Get a corrosive resistant container, such as a glass, and soak your wheat pennies in the vinegar for at least 30 minutes. I usually DO NOT use water or oil, b. Even if they appear corroded and lacking shine or have a tarnish on them. You can use your finger or an exceptionally fine brush to remove any stuck-on dirt. The baking soda isnt acidic like vinegar and citrus juice solutions, so leaving the paste in place for a while is safe. Dissolve 1 tsp (7 g) of table salt in a bowl with of white distilled vinegar. Place the coins in a plastic container and cover with mouthwash. However, with old coins you have found while metal detecting, you may want to refrain from cleaning. Under Water Metal Detectors 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. According to renowned numismatists, Ivory soap, and water is the safest way used in cleaning steel pennies. Use Water Sometimes the simplest methods are best. Please do not clean collector coins, I don not take responsibly of any damage done. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. If it works for you, stick with it. Enjoy! Other coins are molded from different metals, so the solution may not work as well on them. 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