If you dont have vinegar, lemon juice should work just fine. Cleaning and polishing rare and old coins can devalue them. References. Place the quarter you want to clean into a small plastic bowl. With your paper towel, clean the pennies carefully and watch how they start getting clean and shiny. Pennies are normally made of copper, which is a shiny, bright metal, and more recently Zinc. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. 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. Remember, you dont want to use anything that has abrasive qualities to them because they can scratch the coins. Can I use isopropyl alcohol to clean the coins? The effect is achieved only where the mixture has been in contact with the coin, so ensure you cover the entire coin! Elias specializes in helping clients find cleaning services with instant booking and flexible pricing. The Nokta Makro CF77 Coin Finder is another great detector for coin shooting. This website uses cookies to improve your experience, but you may opt out if you wish. If the coins still look a little dull, try treating them with more paste. You will end up with irreversible damage to the coins. The key is to first know what kind of coin you have. So my suggestion would be to take a random corroded penny that you dont care about, and try this cleaning method. AspenClean develops and manufactures its own line of 100% Natural, EcoCert certified, and EWG verified cleaning products. So if you leave your hand in the ultrasonic cleaner long enough, it will "clean" the flesh from your bones. If youre more of a do-it-yourselfer, try using a basic household cleaner to start. Get an appraisal before you clean themif you plan to sell them. Garret ACE 300 Review Kids Metal Detectors Step 4: Add More Baking Soda & Hot Water. Rinse them off after soaking them in vinegar so they dont reabsorb any of that dirt onto themselves! This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. 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. Steel pennies were abandoned the following year, and brass pennies were introduced. One of the most important aspects of cleaning old coins is to know the value first. 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. Before you begin cleaning, sort through the coins to determine which coins need the most work. Make sure to use small, circular motions. How to clean green corroded copper coins Mix cup vinegar with 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl that is non-metallic. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This is what gives some pennies their odd bluish hue. What are ultrasonic cleaners when it comes to cleaning copper coins? We hope you enjoy these tips and find the one that works best for you! Garret ACE 250 Review Listerine and other antiseptic mouthwashes can clean dirt, oil, and debris from old coins. To clean your copper coins, start by adding some vinegar or orange juice to a small bowl, and stirring in 1 teaspoon of salt. 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. Have them professionally cleaned or sell them as is. SALT AND VINEGAR EXPERIMENTPulire le monete di rame in 1 minuto con sale e acetoMusic:"Fluffing a Duck" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creati. For many pennies, one tablespoon (15 g) of salt in 1/2 cup (4 oz) of vinegar will get the job done. The right materials will effectively clean your pennies and will also be safe for your hands. Some of these have relatively sound science behind them, but they should be used at your own risk. Again, use small circular motions, scrubbing the entirety of the coin for a minute or so. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. 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. When in doubt, refrain from cleaning anything older than those. Water is one of the best and safest ways to clean your wheat pennies. Those are meant to clean items like antique silver vases and your wedding ring. In fact, 99% of coins do not increase in value after you clean them. By using our site, you agree to our. These coins range in value from a few cents to a small fortune, if you are lucky enough! You can also use baking soda and salt to clean your pennies. With -cup of ketchup, just dip your old toothbrush in and scrub the surface of the coin. Keep in mind that this is more of an abrasive than even the sand method and can do serious damage without the proper care. So here's how to clean a penny with vinegar: Get a small glass (or another kind of non-corrosive container) and fill it with some white vinegar - just enough to submerge a coin below the surface. Make sure that any cleaner you use is rated to clean pennies prior to 1982. EBay, one of the most popular online auction sites, charges a 10 percent fee plus listing fees. Rubbing the surface of a coin can damage it, even if you cannot see it. So how do you safely store your wheat pennies? The coins should be dipped in that bowl for at least five minutes. The Minelab Equinox 800 is another of my favorite metal detectors. 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). 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. It can even be used as a metal polishing solution. One not so common cleaning method I found is using ketchup. Then, rub a small amount of vegetable oil onto each side of the coin to loosen stubborn dirt. That way, if the cleaning method damages the coin, youre not going to be upset about it. Ultrasonic cleaners work by microcavitation. With this simple technique, anyone can get their penny as clean as it once was. 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. Soak the coins in the lemon solution for up to one hour. Rinse with freshwater and let air dry. There are various other methods to clean your pennies. 2. There are many metal detectors that are specifically for coin shooting, while others are all-purpose metal detectors. Step 3 Now put those pennies into the bowl containing the mixture of vinegar and salt. 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. As you will come to find out, there are different methods for cleaning different types of coins. Warm distilled water can be used to clean coins. ", "It is so amazing, the power of baking soda and vinegar.". 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. If you do have hard water or highly acidic water, try using distilled water. Maintain your coins in great condition through proper care, handling and storage. 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. If they look clean enough, use a soft cloth to dry them. Check back on them every few minutes, especially if you use a highly acidic substance like cola, to avoid damaging them. For tips on how to shine your coins with baking soda, read on! Most wheat pennies that are not extremely rare will sell for at least 3 to 5 cents at most coin dealers. Whether its a regular penny or a wheat penny, hopefully youve found this article to showcase a helpful method on how to clean a corded penny. They must all lie flat at the bottom of the container. In addition to the vinegar and lemon juice, ketchup can also be used to clean copper pennies. 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. Add distilled water and a small amount of dish soap to your shallow bowl. The coins need to be submerged in the vinegar, so make sure the vinegar doesn't have too much space to spread out. If you don't have any vinegar on hand, a 1:1 ratio of water to acetone will produce the same effect. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Dissolve 1 tsp (7 g) of table salt in a bowl with of white distilled vinegar. Please do not clean collector coins, I don not take responsibly of any damage done. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. This happens because the vinegar and salt dissolves the copper oxide layer of the penny. 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. 3 What is the fastest way to clean copper coins? Dont use steel wool or abrasive chemicals to clean your penny, as this could damage the metal. Pat the coin dry. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Then mix gently until the salt totally dissolves in the lemon juice. Monitor coins carefully and rinse them with clean water as soon as possible. The presence of salt and vinegar as its ingredients explains why this method works. This website uses cookies to improve your experience, but you may opt out if you wish. 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. If you feel that it needs longer, you can soak it for up to 15 minutes. 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. The Garrett Ace Apex is one of my favorite metal detectors for coin shooting. I would not do any cleaning at all. Different types of coins require different cleaning solutions, so ask an expert if you are not sure. Dish soap is another good cleaning method and is very gentle. 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. Drop your coins into the mixture and let them sit for about 5 minutes. Basically, it all depends on why you are getting your pennies cleaned in the first place. Pull the coins out of the liquid and gently wipe them with a paper towel to break apart the tarnish and dark spots. Pencil Eraser for Cleaning Pennies. Gently scrub them with either a soft toothbrush or your fingers. Nearly all metal detectors will be able to find coins in the right conditions. You can also use just a touch of olive oil for polishing older coins that have become tarnished. LARISA NIEDLE You'll Need: Salt White vinegar (or fresh lemon juice) Shallow plastic container Cloth or paper towel Baking soda (optional) Toothbrush (optional) Dishwashing liquid (optional) 02 of 07 Step 1: LARISA NIEDLE In a jar, combine 1 cup vinegar (or lemon juice) and 1 tablespoon salt. Heat safe container. 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. If you do not sell your coin, you do not pay. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Rinse the coins with fresh water after 24 hours and let them air dry. Mix it together and add the coins into the bowl. Soak the coins in more salt and vinegar if they still look dirty. One of the main reasons for pennies becoming dirty is their continual circulation among people. 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. From there, use your brush to gently get the grime off of the coins before putting them back into the water again. As a result, the shiny bright metal develops an external layer having a dull green color. To prevent grime buildup, it is imperative that collectible coins be stored in a safe, secure, airtight place. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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! These were 95 percent copper and 5 percent zing. It does not store any personal data. They were initially made of bronze, a 95 percent copper alloy. On average, a quarter-cup should be adequate. Soak your pennies for five minutes in vinegar to dissolve any copper oxide . [2] 3 Now simply apply the paste to the penny wherever you want it to brighten up. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. You must remember to use these at your discretion. CoinsForSale.com charges a 5 percent selling fee and no listing fee. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This is a simple, inexpensive method that works well on pennies that arent too tarnished. Keep reading below for the best methods for safely cleaning your wheat pennies at home. I go from light cleaning, to using soap and water, to using olive oil. Instead, dip a soft-bristled toothbrush into the vinegar solution and scrub the coins with it. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. It may take a couple of applications, so dont be afraid to try this method a few times to get out those tough stains. So at the very least you need distilled water as a working medium. Dissolve 1 tsp (7 g) of table salt in a bowl with of white distilled vinegar. Soak your quarters in lemon juice. There are many methods you can use at home to clean your wheat pennies, and other coins you have found, safely and carefully. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). You can also opt for durable plastic holders, which can be square or round. Stir the mixture to dissolve the salt. Fisher F22 Review Let them air dry or wipe them with a soft, microfiber cloth. Other coins are molded from different metals, so the solution may not work as well on them. Ensure you rinse all the vinegar off the coin once it is cleaned. First, gather your supplies. Soak your pennies for five minutes in vinegar to dissolve any copper oxide left on them from handling before you start scrubbing them with toothpaste or soap. Mix cup vinegar with 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl that is non-metallic. Removing the copper oxide by cleaning will give your penny a brand-new look. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. But do notenothing is 100% safe or 100% fool proof. When you put your pennies in a vinegar and salt mix, the vinegar and salt react together and remove the copper oxide. If youre having trouble getting rid of the tarnish on your copper penny, rubbing alcohol might be the trick you need. Ammonia works well for removing rust from copper pennies, but it can also damage the surface of the penny if not used properly. Be patient and try not to get frustrated. After 5 minutes, wash the solution off the coins with warm water, since if its left on too long it can damage them. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 1 How do you clean old copper coins without damaging them? Remove tough tarnish on coins by soaking them in hydrogen peroxide or . Its important to note that cleaning tarnish off valuable or rare coins can greatly affect their value. But, if you are in doubt about how to clean your pennies, it is a good idea to leave them alone or consult a rare coin specialist before you begin the cleaning process.