how to clean copper pennies without damaging them

You should also rub the coin gently to remove debris, and rinse it under the tap to wash off the oil. Start with two tablespoons of baking soda, mixing it with water into a bowl. 5. Your email address will not be published. But we recommend the vinegar or lemon juice approach because the materials are safe for your skin, overall quite very effective, creates little to no mess, and the risk of damaging the pennies is fairly low. For some of us, they just collect in a container until they are used or traded in. Youll be surprised at what works and what doesnt! If you have a penny that has been cleaned with another method but still looks dull or dirty, try using the baking soda and salt method to bring back its shine. With wheat pennies, you will want to fill a small dish with fresh water and some dish soap. 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! All items are affected by the passage of time, and coins are no different. They include: Fresh lemon juice Salt White vinegar A toothbrush Baking soda A small container A paper towel. Place your pennies at the bottom of the cup or glass so that they are not stacked on top of each other. Coins generally lose value as they get cleaner. As you can see, these materials are very cheap and easy to find anywhere. 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. 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. 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. Repeat this process as many times as necessary before allowing the coins to air dry. 2. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. If the quarter is clean, rinse it off with distilled water. For many pennies, one tablespoon (15 g) of salt in 1/2 cup (4 oz) of vinegar will get the job done. Mix it together and add the coins into the bowl. You can also use just a touch of olive oil for polishing older coins that have become tarnished. 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. Its found naturally in wine, and it works by breaking down the copper oxide coating on your pennies. Anyone can use this simple technique. If you do not sell your coin, you do not pay. Its also an effective way to remove oxidation from copper and make sure that there are no stains left behind. Use your soft cloth to dry them off gently in order to prevent any scratching. 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. Try cleaning only a few pennies at a time. Heritage Auctions is an online consignment program with a 10 percent fee. When they start to look cleaner, remove them from the bowl. Take them out, setting them on the cloth. Here are a few different methods that you can use to get those pennies clean. So, in this article, Im going to explain to you exactly how to clean wheat pennies safely and effectively! If it's a very thin coin, don't clean it as the vinegar can scorch through it. Those are meant to clean items like antique silver vases and your wedding ring. Abrasive cleaning, using a brush and an acid or alcohol solution, can leave the coin with hair lines and discrepancies in the metal that may only be seen under the right lighting and magnification. Mix equal parts distilled water and lemon juice into a container. 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. It can be frustrating, but hang in there! The vinegar poured into that bowl should be enough to cover those pennies. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Lightly rub the ketchup into the coin with a soft toothbrush, then rinse off the ketchup. In fact, it works so well that, like the other coin cleaning brews mentioned here, it can completely strip away the original patina and obliterate the value of the coin. 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. Add more baking soda and water as needed for larger batches of coins. Continue to slowly add water to the baking soda until it takes on the consistency of paste. Never rub or scrub coins which have numismatic value. Wait a few minutes, then check on the quarter. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. 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. Create a mixture using -cup vinegar of lemon juice and a teaspoon of table salt together into a bowl. Just make sure you keep the rubbing to a minimum. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. Pat the coin dry. In terms of valuable wheat pennies, while it can range vastly depending on the pennys condition, here are some best case scenarios in terms of value for a select few: If you happen to have one of these in your wheat penny collection, consider yourself incredibly lucky! Test the ketchup on a small area of your penny first before applying it in more generous amounts. [1] 2 Add enough acetic acid (vinegar, white vinegar is most recommended) to moisten the salt into a paste. The citrus juices are acidic, and mixed with salt, can remove corrosion and debris from wheat pennies. This works well because the dish soap will loosen dirt and grim, and gently lift it from the surface of the metal object. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This detector features multiple search frequencies and has 2 different coin modes: one for foreign coins and one for U.S. coins. In fact, 99% of coins do not increase in value after you clean them. This method is the best way to clean your pennies, and it will produce a very bright orangey-copper color on your pennies. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. 3. Press ESC to cancel. In many cases, cleaning a coin can lower the value of the coin as a collectors item. Finally, dry your coins with a microfiber cloth to get rid of excess moisture. Rinse your pennies well with water; otherwise, if any of these cleaning agents remain on the coin, the coin will turn blue-green. Instead, dip a soft-bristled toothbrush into the vinegar solution and scrub the coins with it. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Pull the coins out of the liquid and gently wipe them with a paper towel to break apart the tarnish and dark spots. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. PCGS offers a restoration service that can aid in cleaning your coins professionally. If you dont see any results after trying a method for a few minutes, move on to something else. You can also try using a damp cloth with baking soda, which will help loosen any stuck-on dirt without damaging the coins surface. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. 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. Do not rub them or the dirt and debris on them can scratch them and ruin the value. Let them sit for a month though you may need to let them go for as long as six months. Vinegar solutions are effective for removing dark spots on coins, but they also tend to make coins look a little dull. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The right materials will effectively clean your pennies and will also be safe for your hands. Allow the coins to air-dry on a microfiber or cotton towel. 290K views 3 years ago In this video you will find a simple but very effective method of cleaning old coins. I would not do any cleaning at all. Signs of cleaning can be evident in many ways and often affect the value of the coin. The more contact the coins have with one another the more damage they take on. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Avoid rubbing where possible as they can scratch and damage the coins surface. How do you clean badly tarnished copper coins? 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. The concept is the same as white vinegar and salt. Alicia Sokolowski is a Green Cleaning Specialist and the President and co-CEO of AspenClean, a green cleaning company in Vancouver, British Columbia. Ketchup can restore the copper glow of a penny. Do I need to add liquid to it? In this article well take a look at the top 10 tips for cleaning a copper penny. Using a soft cloth, apply your chosen cleaner to the coin and allow it to soak in for five minutes. Some of these have relatively sound science behind them, but they should be used at your own risk. HCI works, but you get an orange look to the copper and still need to use your elbow grease to clean it. If possible, stick to water or dish soap for cleaning wheat pennies. Use household cleaners: Basic household cleaners like baking soda, vinegar and salt will work wonders for your copper pennies! Other coins are molded from different metals, so the solution may not work as well on them. 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. Heat safe container. How to clean copper pennies using vinegar and baking soda. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 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. It works similarly to ketchup. Baking Soda And Vinegar Great For Science Fair Volcanoes But Not For Enhancing Your Coins Value. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. When they are sufficiently clean, lay them out on a soft cloth, dabbing them dry with gentle pressure. You must be gentle. Make sure that any cleaner you use is rated to clean pennies prior to 1982. It might even be a good idea to stay away from even hiring a professional service to clean them for you. You can use your finger or an exceptionally fine brush to remove any stuck-on dirt. Step 4 Now take out the pennies from that mixture, and wash them in water. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If you dont have ketchup or another acid, try using a metal polish from a general store. The method of cleaning depends on the type of coin. Just make sure that you gently apply the olive oil and you can help prevent tarnish over time. When you handle your coins, wear cotton, Nitrile, or latex gloves, and handle the coin only by the edges. The composition of the coin, the condition of the coin, and the year of the coin all affect its value. 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. Wet the penny with warm water until its thoroughly dampened (but not dripping). Gently scrub the coin with an incredibly soft brush. It is always at the discretion of the buyer whether the minute scratches and damaged caused by cleaning is an issue. You must remember to use these at your discretion. With this simple technique, anyone can get their penny as clean as it once was. It is very gentle and can help reveal details on the coin surface you may not be able to see. If the coins still look a little dull, try treating them with more paste. References. The key is to ensure that you dont use anything super abrasive, especially on older coins. If you have questions, always seek the help of a professional coin cleaner and coin grading service. Metal Detector Reviews (for anyone), Garrett AT Pro Review How to clean a copper penny? Rubbing the surface of a coin can damage it, even if you cannot see it. Elias specializes in helping clients find cleaning services with instant booking and flexible pricing. For older, condition-sensitive coins, a gentle bath of water and mild hand soap will suffice. 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. tb1234 Basic Penny Cleaning Warm water Dishwashing soap Plastic bin Toothbrush Paper towel tb1234 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. Hold it there for about 10 seconds, then pull it out. Add distilled water and a small amount of dish soap to your shallow bowl. We all enjoy the metal detecting finds we discover, and sometimes, even pennies fall into that category. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. When in doubt, leave the coin as you found it. Coins Metal Detectors They include: As you can see, these materials are very cheap and easy to find anywhere. The acetic acid in white vinegar can help remove contaminants from your coins. Repeat the process as many times as you need in order to get the coins clean. 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. The wheat penny was produced until 1958, with a few changes along the way. Garret ACE 300 Review Start by adding a quarter cup of white vinegar, or lemon juice, into a cup or glass. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. If you are in a humid location, you can use desiccants to absorb atmospheric moisture. Grab some past with your thumb and forefinger, rubbing it gently onto both sides of the penny. Mix 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup flour and enough vinegar to make a thick paste. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. While it is very possible to clean your pennies without damaging them, it is hard to say the same for the market value of the pennies. For coins that dont have collectible value, you can use sand, olive oil, and even isopropyl alcohol to get the job done. Step 6: Rinse Silver Coin With Cold Water. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. The coins should be dipped in that bowl for at least five minutes. So my suggestion would be to take a random corroded penny that you dont care about, and try this cleaning method. You can clean as many pennies you want with a single pencil eraser. 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. Dab some yellow mustard onto a cotton ball or soft cloth and rub firmly over the entire surface of the coin until it starts turning darker than usualthis means that its working! Make sure to use small, circular motions. 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. To clean your copper coins, start by adding some vinegar or orange juice to a small bowl, and stirring in 1 teaspoon of salt. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Again, cleaning corrosion off wheat pennies can harm the value significantly. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The best way to clean pennies is to never ever clean them. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Pennies are made from highly reactive metals like copper or copper alloys, so it is only normal for them to get corroded with time. Rinse them off after soaking them in vinegar so they dont reabsorb any of that dirt onto themselves! Maintain your coins in great condition through proper care, handling and storage. In this video I clean three old worn large cents. How do you clean old copper coins without damaging them? Guys you have got to try this, its crazyand it works like a charm, if you want yourpennies clean do this nowThe materials you need for this science experiment are:A few pennies that need to be cleaned1/4 cup white vinegar1 teaspoon saltNon-metal bowl A bowl of water Welcome To My Channel !! Take them out, setting them on the cloth. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Simply run the water over the coin, or let it soak in the water. While you're grasping the coin firmly by its edges, use a clean toothbrush to lightly scrub the flat surfaces of the coin.