This detector uses 5 frequencies simultaneously or it can use them individually. You might have to use multiple methods or go back and forth between methods until you find the one that works best for you. If you have recently gone metal detecting and found several wheat pennies, what do you do with them now? Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Put your solution and a small bit of sand into a watertight jar. 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. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. The more contact the coins have with one another the more damage they take on. 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. Removing the copper oxide by cleaning will give your penny a brand-new look. Vinegar solutions are effective for removing dark spots on coins, but they also tend to make coins look a little dull. This way, you can take any preventative measures necessary to clean the coins and retain their value. Finally, take the pennies out and rinse them off using distilled 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. Make a paste: Use a lemon juice/salt or vinegar/salt paste and a sponge to scrub the copper. You dont have to sacrifice the quality of your pennies just so you can have them looking good. 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. The right materials will effectively clean your pennies and will also be safe for your hands. How do you clean old copper coins without damaging them? Pennis that were made prior to 1982 had more copper in them, which can lead to a more intense reaction chemically while cleaning. Soak the Pennies in Vinegar. Before we go into the process of bringing corroded pennies back to life, let us look at the cleaning materials you must have. ", "It is so amazing, the power of baking soda and vinegar.". Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. There are many metal detectors that are specifically for coin shooting, while others are all-purpose metal detectors. Plain tap water is a good options, if you know your water is not corrosive or hard. HCI works, but you get an orange look to the copper and still need to use your elbow grease to clean it. One of the simplest ways to clean coins is by using distilled water and a soft towel. If you dont have ketchup or another acid, try using a metal polish from a general store. They include: Fresh lemon juice Salt White vinegar A toothbrush Baking soda A small container A paper towel. You may not see these changes with your naked eyes if you clean carefully, but they are there. Dissolve 1 tsp (7 g) of table salt in a bowl with of white distilled vinegar. Here are a few different methods that you can use to get those pennies clean. {"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. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Of course, there are other ways to clean corroded pennies. This happens because the vinegar and salt dissolves the copper oxide layer of the penny. It might even be a good idea to stay away from even hiring a professional service to clean them for you. You can use lemon juice to clean copper pennies, but youll want to work in a well-ventilated area when you do. Step 6: Rinse Silver Coin With Cold Water. The first step to cleaning a copper penny is soaking it in vinegar. This article may contain affiliate links, How to Paint Concrete [From Preparation to Sealing], 14 Ways to Open a Stuck Jar A Helpful Guide, A Guide to Wood Finishes That Are Food Safe, How to Significantly Improve Your Charcoal Grill, How to Remove Scratches From Stainless Steel, Pickled Cherry Tomatoes are Definitely a Thing You Need to Know About. If you dont have a brush available, leave the coins submerged in the ketchup for at least 5 minutes. It does not store any personal data. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Create a mixture using -cup vinegar of lemon juice and a teaspoon of table salt together into a bowl. Dish soap is also a good and very gentle way to clean coins. Science Activity: Turn Old Pennies Bright and Shiny! | Exploratorium If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Ammonia is another option that can be used to clean copper pennies. After a good shake, take the coins out and rinse them off. Ketchup. Minelab CTX 3030 Review, on How to Clean a Copper Penny:10 Tips and Advices. The vinegar poured into that bowl should be enough to cover those pennies. For preservation purposes, most collectors recommend against treating collectible coins. Remember, you dont want to use anything that has abrasive qualities to them because they can scratch the coins. 5. Pennies are made from highly reactive metals like copper or copper alloys, so it is only normal for them to get corroded with time. When a rare coin is found, it is often submitted to professionals, such as those at PCGS, or Professional Coin Grading Services. For a stronger treatment, let the coins soak in oil for about a day, then scrub them with a soft toothbrush. You can clean as many pennies you want with a single pencil eraser. If it works for you, stick with it. The best method for achieving that is with salt and vinegar. Its also an effective way to remove oxidation from copper and make sure that there are no stains left behind. Water is one of the best and safest ways to clean your wheat pennies. Rinse off excess mustard under running water until all traces are removed from both sides before allowing them dry completely upside down so they wont lose any color fading away while drying out naturally overnight.. Before you begin cleaning, sort through the coins to determine which coins need the most work. Believe it or not, you can clean copper coins using yet another household item: ketchup. These cookies do not store any personal information. The acid from the ketchup can help to deal with oxidation as it forms on your coins. Stir the mixture to dissolve the salt. Some other options include you can at least look into are: There are many rust removers you can use to clean your coins, and some of them can be very fast and effective, but that is just part of what you need. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. You will end up with irreversible damage to the coins. Do not clean these valuable pennies on your own, and if you do, only use distilled water. Coins are part of most of our lives in one way or another. Lightly rub the ketchup into the coin with a soft toothbrush, then rinse off the ketchup. If you are keeping them for sentimental value or for your own personal collection, you may certainly clean them. You can also seek the services of the Numismatic Conservation Services. 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. Step 5: Rub Away the Tarnish & Grime. You can also use just a touch of olive oil for polishing older coins that have become tarnished. tb1234 Basic Penny Cleaning Warm water Dishwashing soap Plastic bin Toothbrush Paper towel tb1234 Let them soak for about two hours or so, though if they are extremely dirty, you may want to let them sit for up to a week. Ketchup is composed of vinegar, salt, and tomatoes. Never rub or scrub coins which have numismatic value. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. If you dont see any results after trying a method for a few minutes, move on to something else. Wipe down the surface of your penny with another clean cloth or paper towel until all dirt has been removed from its surface. Be patient and try not to get frustrated. You can use your finger or an exceptionally fine brush to remove any stuck-on dirt. Well, the general rule is if you intend on selling your wheat pennies, you should not clean them. Leave the pennies for around five minutes in the glass of vinegar or lemon juice. Should you clean old gold coins? Explained by Sharing Culture Tartaric acid is a weak organic acid, which means its not as corrosive to your penny as other chemicals. For a more gradual treatment, leave the coins out of the bowl. There are many methods you can use at home to clean your wheat pennies, and other coins you have found, safely and carefully. They include: As you can see, these materials are very cheap and easy to find anywhere. Before you do anything, do your research to know the value of the coin. If you had a rare coin you had cleaned too harshly, and wanted to have it valued, it would reduce the coins value. If you dont have vinegar, lemon juice should work just fine. If you do have hard water or highly acidic water, try using distilled water. What is the formula for calculating solute potential? Make sure they are not directly on top of each other. 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. They will, in fact, devalue. Wet the coin with water and roll in baking soda. Method 1 Removing Dark Spots with Vinegar Download Article 1 Pour 14 cup (59 mL) of white vinegar into a small bowl. 4 Ways to Clean Copper Coins - wikiHow Gentle dish soap, like Dawn, is a good option for getting those wheat pennies shining again. Dont use steel wool or abrasive chemicals to clean your penny, as this could damage the metal. Follow these steps to make your pennies completely clean: Step 1 Pour a small quantity of vinegar 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. The presence of salt and vinegar as its ingredients explains why this method works. Instead, use a soft cloth and a gentle detergent (like dish soap) to clean it. Lemon juice. 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). AspenCleans glass cleaner was voted Parents Green Pick 2020 by readers of the Parents magazine. Looking to achieve that bright, orange-copper color? 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. You can also try using a damp cloth with baking soda, which will help loosen any stuck-on dirt without damaging the coins surface. As you can see, these materials are very cheap and easy to find anywhere. Water is less abrasive than other cleaning methods and should clean most of the dirt and debris off your wheat pennies. 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. Step 3 Now put those pennies into the bowl containing the mixture of vinegar and salt. Remember to not use tap water because the chemicals are bad for the coins. So, in this article, Im going to explain to you exactly how to clean wheat pennies safely and effectively! Garret ACE 400 Review That is because ketchup has vinegar in it, which is naturally acidic. How to Clean Corroded Pennies Safely and Effectively - Discover Detecting To clean your copper coins, start by adding some vinegar or orange juice to a small bowl, and stirring in 1 teaspoon of salt. Dump all the pennies into the liquid. 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. Rinse the coins with fresh water after 24 hours and let them air dry. Rinse with warm water and dry thoroughly. Acids wear away copper, so exposing a coin to vinegar and other products can cause permanent damage. [3] 4 Just remember to rinse the pennies thoroughly after all cleaning methods. Paper Towels This process can get a bit messy. How To Clean Old Copper Pennies. 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! The aluminum foil is key to the reaction which removes the tarnish. Leave the coin to soak for about 5 minutes or so and then check on its condition. How do you remove green corrosion from copper coins? I need advice on how to clean a coin without applying any damage to it Start adding your pennies into the solution, but dont throw everything inside at once. 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 have questions, always seek the help of a professional coin cleaner and coin grading service. For this reason, only clean coins that have little value, such as standard pennies. Fill the bowl with enough lemon juice to cover the quarter. This article has been viewed 438,144 times. How To Clean Old Copper Coins Without Damaging Them Mix cup vinegar with 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl that is non-metallic. This method you will help you to clean old coin properly without any damage to. One not so common cleaning method I found is using ketchup. 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. Wait a few minutes, then check on the quarter. Maintain your coins in great condition through proper care, handling and storage. According to renowned numismatists, Ivory soap, and water is the safest way used in cleaning steel pennies. 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. Some of these have relatively sound science behind them, but they should be used at your own risk. Please do not clean collector coins, I don not take responsibly of any damage done. This website uses cookies to improve your experience, but you may opt out if you wish. A common ingredient in DIY eco-friendly cleaners, the acetic acid in white vinegar can help wear away the contamination on your coins. By using our site, you agree to our. Ketchup can restore the copper glow of a penny. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Vinegar is most effective for cleaning copper. Apply the paste with a microfiber cloth and rinse it off with water. 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. This step is basically you leaving the pennies to soak inside the salt and lemon juice solution for 15 minutes. Place the coins in a plastic container and cover with mouthwash. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Mix 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup flour and enough vinegar to make a thick paste. How to Effectively Clean a Penny and Other Old Coins - Real Simple Step 2 Add a teaspoon of salt to the bowl full of vinegar, and stir the mixture until the salt is completely dissolved. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. WATER. Modern Coin Mart is another site for selling coins. 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! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. I like to use distilled water to clean coins if I decide to clean them. The baking soda isnt acidic like vinegar and citrus juice solutions, so leaving the paste in place for a while is safe. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. [2] 3 Now simply apply the paste to the penny wherever you want it to brighten up. Pennies are normally made of copper, which is a shiny, bright metal, and more recently Zinc. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. This works well because the dish soap will loosen dirt and grim, and gently lift it from the surface of the metal object. % of people told us that this article helped them. By using our site, you agree to our. As you will come to find out, there are different methods for cleaning different types of coins. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. [1] How to clean old coins without any damage - YouTube "What stood out was that very common household ingredients were used.". 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.