how to clean copper pennies without damaging them how to clean copper pennies without damaging them

All items are affected by the passage of time, and coins are no different. Dont make the mistake of using something meant for regular coins on something older and more condition sensitive. You can also use baking soda and salt to clean your pennies. This detector works very well in areas with high soil mineralization. Even more importantly, understand how the condition impacts the value. There are coins worth thousands upon thousands of dollars, all contingent on the condition of the coin. This may be true in certain aspects, such as uncirculated monies. Fill up two plastic containers with distilled water and a tablespoon of mild hand soap. This method you will help you to clean old coin properly without any damage to. Very old or dirty coins require the extra effort. Something like a penny for example. The wheat penny was produced until 1958, with a few changes along the way. Finally, drop the coins in, seal the lid, and shake it. A common ingredient in DIY eco-friendly cleaners, the acetic acid in white vinegar can help wear away the contamination on your coins. It is very gentle and can help reveal details on the coin surface you may not be able to see. For others, coins can be collected throughout the years, some of which become quite valuable. This is a simple, inexpensive method that works well on pennies that arent too tarnished. 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. In fact, I use dish soap to clean my wedding ring, necklaces, and other jewelry. This service does not come with a grading protection guarantee. But before you start your timer, make sure none of the pennies are touching themselves. The composition of the coin, the condition of the coin, and the year of the coin all affect its value. Your email address will not be published. Lightly rub the ketchup into the coin with a soft toothbrush, then rinse off the ketchup. Or in layman's terms, by generating microscopic bubbles between a hard surface and a softer material, and allowing them to catastrophically collapse. That way, if the cleaning method damages the coin, youre not going to be upset about it. After a good shake, take the coins out and rinse them off. 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. Just make sure that you gently apply the olive oil and you can help prevent tarnish over time. If you are planning to keep the coins for your own collection, you may certainly clean them as you see fit. 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. Can hydrogen peroxide be used to clean coins? This, Read More How to Clean Corroded Pennies Safely and EffectivelyContinue, 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, ABOUT|AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE|PRIVACY POLICY|TERMS OF USE. Last Updated: November 9, 2022 Create a mixture using -cup vinegar of lemon juice and a teaspoon of table salt together into a bowl. If you have questions, always seek the help of a professional coin cleaner and coin grading service. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This detector uses 5 frequencies simultaneously or it can use them individually. Place the coins in a plastic container and cover with mouthwash. Dissolve 1 tsp (7 g) of table salt in a bowl with of white distilled vinegar. The first step to cleaning a copper penny is soaking it in vinegar. There will be times when you think your coin is clean, only to discover later that its still dirty. Clean copper coins in a vinegar and salt solution. The acid from the ketchup can help to deal with oxidation as it forms on your coins. Drop your coins in a bowl and cover them completely with olive oil. Enjoy! No scrubbing necessary at all. Wipe down the surface of your penny with another clean cloth or paper towel until all dirt has been removed from its surface. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Scrub low-value coins with baking soda and vinegar, lemon juice and salt, or ketchup to break apart tarnish. You can always put them on other websites like Facebook market, but you may not reach the intended audience with that forum. Many people think that a shiny coin will be worth more than a tarnished, old looking coin. Have them professionally cleaned or sell them as is. Rare coins shouldn't be cleaned as doing so could remove the value Credit: Getty. 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. Instead, use a soft cloth and a gentle detergent (like dish soap) to clean it. I know it sounds strange, but stay with me. Some wheat pennies found can be worth a small fortune. Try cleaning only a few pennies at a time. If you have a collection of copper pennies, chances are that theyre not looking their best. You dont have to sacrifice the quality of your pennies just so you can have them looking good. They may damage the surface of the wheat penny and devalue them. An alternative is to use vinyl erasers, but they do not contain abrasive, which is typically found in pencil erasers. The key is to first know what kind of coin you have. 3. Wait about five minutes and check your pennies. That is because ketchup has vinegar in it, which is naturally acidic. 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.. You can also use just a touch of olive oil for polishing older coins that have become tarnished. Mix a teaspoon of salt into the liquid by stirring until it is dissolved. If you dont have ketchup or another acid, try using a metal polish from a general store. Use sparing amounts of oil to avoid damaging coins. Fill the bowl with enough lemon juice to cover the quarter. Elias specializes in helping clients find cleaning services with instant booking and flexible pricing. 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. How do I choose between my boyfriend and my best friend? You must be gentle. 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. They must all lie flat at the bottom of the container. You will end up with irreversible damage to the coins. Dissolve 1 tsp (7 g) of table salt in a bowl with of white distilled vinegar. This eliminates the possibility of abrasions to your investment. They will, in fact, devalue. Dip one penny halfway into the liquid. Allow the coins to air-dry on a microfiber or cotton towel. To clean your copper coins, start by adding some vinegar or orange juice to a small bowl, and stirring in 1 teaspoon of salt. Let the coins sit in the mixture for about 10 or 15 minutes so that the soap can break down the grime. After 5 minutes, wash the solution off the coins with warm water, since if its left on too long it can damage them. ", "It is so amazing, the power of baking soda and vinegar.". The baking soda isnt acidic like vinegar and citrus juice solutions, so leaving the paste in place for a while is safe. 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. Different types of coins require different cleaning solutions, so ask an expert if you are not sure. But do notenothing is 100% safe or 100% fool proof. Can I use isopropyl alcohol to clean the coins? Passchal.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.comSitemap | Contact | Privacy Policy. [2] 3 Now simply apply the paste to the penny wherever you want it to brighten up. Mix it together and add the coins into the bowl. If you have recently gone metal detecting and found several wheat pennies, what do you do with them now? In fact, it would probably be extremely wise to do so, at least from a sanitary perspective. Its important to note that cleaning tarnish off valuable or rare coins can greatly affect their value. It works similarly to ketchup. Coins / February 17, 2021 by Walt / Leave a Comment. Metal Detector Reviews (for anyone), Garrett AT Pro Review Dish soap is also a good and very gentle way to clean coins. When they are sufficiently clean, lay them out on a soft cloth, dabbing them dry with gentle pressure. 1 How do you clean old copper coins without damaging them? Ketchup. Water is less abrasive than other cleaning methods and should clean most of the dirt and debris off your wheat pennies. Mix your hand soap in with the water, creating a soapy mixture. Hot sauce and brown colas are some other household substances that work well on copper coins. 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. When you handle your coins, wear cotton, Nitrile, or latex gloves, and handle the coin only by the edges. As an added precaution, you should only mix one tablespoon of ammonia with one gallon of water when using this technique; over-mixed solutions will damage your coins surfaces quickly. Stir until the salt dissolves. After applying, give it a couple of minutes and then rinse using distilled water. 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. Mouthwash not only helps with dental health but can help you clean up dirty coins. I hope you enjoyed this article and have learned more about how to clean wheat pennies! You do not want to leave behind any residue that may further degrade the pennys condition! There are various other methods to clean your pennies. This method is the best way to clean your pennies, and it will produce a very bright orangey-copper color on your pennies. They include: As you can see, these materials are very cheap and easy to find anywhere. This could mean going into tight corners with cotton swabs dipped in diluted vinegar solution or water; however, if there are no crevices left untouched by this step then this is generally enough for most coins because they wont have been exposed much during wear-and-tear over time anyway (if at all). Remember to not use tap water because the chemicals are bad for the coins. Pull the coins out of the liquid and gently wipe them with a paper towel to break apart the tarnish and dark spots. The soap should help keep the coin safe while you gently scrub it. Rubbing or scrubbing a coin (even with non-abrasive liquids) will leave microabrasions on your coin and cause a severe reduction of value or elimination of any collectible value. After brushing each penny, rinse with clean water and dry, it should be looking good as new by now. % of people told us that this article helped them. Many professional coin collectors and coin valuers recommend leaving the coins as they are. Maintain your coins in great condition through proper care, handling and storage. WATER. 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. Well, the general rule is if you intend on selling your wheat pennies, you should not clean them. Hydrogen peroxide can prove effective in removing various materials, including organic material. It only requires rubbing the penny with a pencil eraser. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Like vinegar, citrus juice is acidic and wears off copper oxide on coins. If you want to use tartaric acid on your pennies, all you have to do is dissolve some crystals of it in warm water. 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 youre using lemon juice, be sure that the penny is very well-cleaned beforehand and that its completely dry before applying the lemon juice. I usually DO NOT use water or oil, b. It removes various materials including organic material. Soak your penny in the vinegar for a minimum of 30 minutes. There are many metal detectors that are specifically for coin shooting, while others are all-purpose metal detectors. Vinegar and salt are the best methods of cleaning your pennies. Start adding your pennies into the solution, but dont throw everything inside at once. Rinse the coin very well under warm water. If you dont have a brush available, leave the coins submerged in the ketchup for at least 5 minutes. Retrieve the coins from the vinegar and apply a few teaspoons of baking soda to each coin. For a stronger treatment, let the coins soak in oil for about a day, then scrub them with a soft toothbrush. These cookies do not store any personal information. Collectors actively look for the tiniest flaws in pennies and they have all the necessary tools to find those flaws. Pencil Eraser for Cleaning Pennies. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It can be frustrating, but hang in there! The advantage is it will not cause any decrease in numismatic value, but there are better options for cleaning materials. Cleaning in small batches is a better option. Next, soak the coins in the solution for 5 minutes, making sure theyre spread out so theyre all submerged. EBay, one of the most popular online auction sites, charges a 10 percent fee plus listing fees. Step 5: Rub Away the Tarnish & Grime. Rinse your pennies well with water; otherwise, if any of these cleaning agents remain on the coin, the coin will turn blue-green. Step 1: Line Container With Aluminum Foil. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. This natural acid can be used to clean coins, pots and pans, and more. Step 4 Now take out the pennies from that mixture, and wash them in water. If I must choose a cleaning method, I will choose distilled water. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. On average, a quarter-cup should be adequate. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Hydrogen peroxide can be an effective way to clean your coins. 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. 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. Use a stronger acid like ketchup or cola to strip away the green patina that forms when copper is exposed to salt and water. When you put your pennies in a vinegar and salt mix, the vinegar and salt react together and remove the copper oxide. With -cup of ketchup, just dip your old toothbrush in and scrub the surface of the coin. Ultrasonic cleaners work by microcavitation. We hope you enjoy these tips and find the one that works best for you! It might seem like theres no hope for your tarnished coins, but fear not! You can clean as many pennies you want with a single pencil eraser. Continue to slowly add water to the baking soda until it takes on the consistency of paste. It can even be used as a metal polishing solution. The amount of vinegar used to clean the pennies depends on the number of coins you wish to clean. If this does not bother, you and you simply want to restore the coin for yourself you can use a baking soda paste. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. If it can clean oil off baby ducks, it should be able to clean your wheat pennies with very little damage! This article was co-authored by Elias Weston. What are ultrasonic cleaners when it comes to cleaning copper coins? Aside from white vinegar, there may not be a more versatile household cleaning agent than baking soda. How To Clean Old Copper Pennies. Pennies are made from highly reactive metals like copper or copper alloys, so it is only normal for them to get corroded with time. You can use lemon juice to clean copper pennies, but youll want to work in a well-ventilated area when you do. 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. Using a soft cloth, apply your chosen cleaner to the coin and allow it to soak in for five minutes. Then mix gently until the salt totally dissolves in the lemon juice. They are too harsh and abrasive to clean wheat pennies with. In fact, 99% of coins do not increase in value after you clean them. This way, you can take any preventative measures necessary to clean the coins and retain their value. In that event, you would want to avoid anything highly abrasive that could damage the surface of the coin. Looking to achieve that bright, orange-copper color? Be gentle: A penny is a delicate coin and you dont want to scratch it up in the process of cleaning it. HCI works, but you get an orange look to the copper and still need to use your elbow grease to clean it. 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. Mix 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup flour and enough vinegar to make a thick paste. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".