Pencil Eraser for Cleaning Pennies. Soak your penny in the vinegar for a minimum of 30 minutes. This detector works very well in areas with high soil mineralization. They are too harsh and abrasive to clean wheat pennies with. If you dont see any results after trying a method for a few minutes, move on to something else. Step 3: Add Tarnished Silver Coins. Dip one penny halfway into the liquid. How to clean a copper penny? Next, mix baking soda and water into a thick paste and rub this paste over the penny using your fingers. Come Clean About Cleaning Your Coins - PCGS Drop your coins into the mixture and let them sit for about 5 minutes. Rinse with freshwater and let air dry. After learning about how to clean a copper penny in this article, you should be able to do it well and keep your coin looking better for longer. When a rare coin is found, it is often submitted to professionals, such as those at PCGS, or Professional Coin Grading Services. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). 3 Ways to Clean Old Coins - wikiHow Of course, there are other ways to clean corroded 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. Enjoy! Copper, silver, nickel, and gold coins should strictly never be cleaned. Wash each coin gently with a soft toothbrush before rinsing and drying it. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Dish soap is also a good and very gentle way to clean coins. These cookies do not store any personal information. You can clean as many pennies you want with a single pencil eraser. I go from light cleaning, to using soap and water, to using olive oil. Even more importantly, understand how the condition impacts the value. Rubbing alcohol can be used to clean pennies and other copper coins, as well as other metals. Clearing away the dirt now makes the coin look clearer once you add the oil to it. 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. EBay, one of the most popular online auction sites, charges a 10 percent fee plus listing fees. If you do use an abrasive like vinegar or salt, make sure that you dont rub the abrasive in as it could scratch up the surface of the coin. This process only works in fluid. Wheat pennies are a relatively common find when metal detecting. Then, rub a small amount of vegetable oil onto each side of the coin to loosen stubborn dirt. 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). We all enjoy the metal detecting finds we discover, and sometimes, even pennies fall into that category. Newer coins, such as relatively shiny pennies, tend to dull a little when washed in acid. How to Clean Copper Naturally So It Looks Brand-New - Real Simple Cleaning Copper With Ketchup: Ketchup can be used to clean a variety of copper products. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Dont make the mistake of using something meant for regular coins on something older and more condition sensitive. 5. Vinegar and salt. Most wheat pennies that are not extremely rare will sell for at least 3 to 5 cents at most coin dealers. Be sure to check with a professional before cleaning a corroded coin that may have significant value. 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! 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. Soak the coins in more salt and vinegar if they still look dirty. Approved. Basically, it all depends on why you are getting your pennies cleaned in the first place. The soap should help keep the coin safe while you gently scrub it. Drop your coins in a bowl and cover them completely with olive oil. 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. Science Activity: Turn Old Pennies Bright and Shiny! | Exploratorium Fill up two plastic containers with distilled water and a tablespoon of mild hand soap. The concept is the same as white vinegar and salt. Copper, silver, nickel, and gold coins should strictly never be cleaned. Many people think that a shiny coin will be worth more than a tarnished, old looking coin. When a coin is submitted to be examined by the experts at PCGS, signs of cleaning can be evident in many ways. Cleaning and polishing rare and old coins can devalue them. How do you clean old pennies without damaging them? How to Clean Coins | Should I Clean My Coins? Just remember to rinse the pennies thoroughly after all cleaning methods. How to clean old coins without any damage - YouTube They were initially made of bronze, a 95 percent copper alloy. Hold it there for about 10 seconds, then pull it out. Its a very interesting question and a great DIY project. The amount of vinegar used to clean the pennies depends on the number of coins you wish to clean. Lightly rub the ketchup into the coin with a soft toothbrush, then rinse off the ketchup. 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. You do not want to leave behind any residue that may further degrade the pennys condition! This should be enough to get them clean. Very old or dirty coins require the extra effort. It removes various materials including organic material. 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. This means distilled water. This detector uses 5 frequencies simultaneously or it can use them individually. Mix equal parts distilled water and lemon juice into a container. [1] 2 Add enough acetic acid (vinegar, white vinegar is most recommended) to moisten the salt into a paste. If you dont have vinegar on hand, filtered tap or distilled water can be used as a substitute. Silver dollars, or any collectible silver coin, should only be cleaned under certain conditions. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Wet the penny with warm water until its thoroughly dampened (but not dripping). Step 4: Add More Baking Soda & Hot Water. The good news is that there is a solution available no matter what type of coin. Drop the pennies into the mixture for about 5 minutes. You must be gentle. How to Clean Coins Without Devaluing Them - ManMadeDIY Remember to not use tap water because the chemicals are bad for the coins. Stir until the salt dissolves. Every cleaner is thoroughly vetted and every cleaning is backed by a 100% money-back guarantee. How To Clean Old Coins (Hint: Don't!) - Vintage Cash Cow Blog This article has been viewed 438,144 times. There are many options for selling wheat pennies. 6 Can hydrogen peroxide be used to clean coins? I would not do any cleaning at all. In that event, you would want to avoid anything highly abrasive that could damage the surface of the coin. Let them air dry the rest of the way. Press ESC to cancel. (So before you start using baking soda, vinegar, toothpaste, or ketchup to clean your coins at. The coins should be dipped in that bowl for at least five minutes. Many professional coin collectors and coin valuers recommend leaving the coins as they are. Any attempt at cleaning a coin can reduce its value. With over 17 years of experience, Alicia specializes in creating a healthier, green alternative to chemical-based cleaning products and services. 7+ Useful Ways to Clean Copper Pennies - Tips Bulletin Please do not clean collector coins, I don not take responsibly of any damage done. Clean copper coins in a vinegar and salt solution. Avoid rubbing where possible as they can scratch and damage the coins surface. 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. 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. Rinse the coins with fresh water after 24 hours and let them air dry. Wait a few minutes, then check on the quarter. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Again, cleaning corrosion off wheat pennies can harm the value significantly. You can also try using a damp cloth with baking soda, which will help loosen any stuck-on dirt without damaging the coins surface. 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! This natural acid can be used to clean coins, pots and pans, and more. Finally, take the pennies out and rinse them off using distilled water. They include: As you can see, these materials are very cheap and easy to find anywhere. Again, if you have hard or corrosive water, go with distilled water. 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. Youll be surprised at what works and what doesnt! Vinegar is a great cleaning agent because it will remove the copper oxide thats on your pennies. If there are stubborn stains that dont seem like theyre budging, try scrubbing them vigorously with steel wool while theyre still wet; this should do wonders when trying to remove stubborn grime from coins like pennies made out of zinc (which often have dark spots). This is a simple, inexpensive method that works well on pennies that arent too tarnished. Coins / February 17, 2021 by Walt / Leave a Comment. Rinse the coin very well under warm water. If needed, use a soft towel or soft-bristled brush to scrub the coin. 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. Never rub or scrub coins which have numismatic value. When you handle your coins, wear cotton, Nitrile, or latex gloves, and handle the coin only by the edges. Wipe down the surface of your penny with another clean cloth or paper towel until all dirt has been removed from its surface. Do I need to add liquid to it? Step 6: Rinse Silver Coin With Cold Water. Believe it or not, you can clean copper coins using yet another household item: ketchup. only use vinegar to clean a corroded penny, Metal Detecting in Massachusetts: Laws, Tips and Beaches, Metal Detecting in Pennsylvania: Tips, Tricks, and Laws to Know. Place your pennies in the vinegar or the lemon juice. What do you see? Modern Coin Mart is another site for selling coins. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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! Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 438,144 times. % of people told us that this article helped them. Clean copper coins in a vinegar and salt solution. How To Clean Old Copper Coins Without Damaging Them Do not rub them or the dirt and debris on them can scratch them and ruin the value. So, in this article, Im going to explain to you exactly how to clean wheat pennies safely and effectively! The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. They must all lie flat at the bottom of the container. How to clean copper pennies - YouTube One of the main reasons for pennies becoming dirty is their continual circulation among people. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Your email address will not be published. Use household cleaners: Basic household cleaners like baking soda, vinegar and salt will work wonders for your copper 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. 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. You want something a bit more gentle for silver coins but you will need a heavier abrasive for your copper pennies. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Stir the mixture to dissolve the salt. Do not clean these valuable pennies on your own, and if you do, only use distilled water. It may take a few treatments, so work gradually and wash the coins off each time to avoid damaging them. Keep in mind that adding more salt to the solution makes it stronger. 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. With your paper towel, clean the pennies carefully and watch how they start getting clean and shiny. For instance, use a small applicator to "paint" only the heads for an unusual "cameo" effect. Clean them off using distilled water and soap, using an old toothbrush to scour them clean. How To Clean A Copper or Zinc Penny - Coin Collecting! You can use lemon juice to clean copper pennies, but youll want to work in a well-ventilated area when you do. Cheap Metal Detectors 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. For older, condition-sensitive coins, a gentle bath of water and mild hand soap will suffice. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. When they start to look cleaner, remove them from the bowl. If you do not sell your coin, you do not pay. Make a bath using a cup of isopropyl alcohol combined with two tablespoons of salt. The application of taco sauce is another simple method of cleaning these pennies. 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). Place the quarter you want to clean into a small plastic bowl. They can clean your coin if it has PVC residue, dirt, debris, adhesive, tape reside, copper spots on gold, or toning issues. If you decide to clean your wheat pennies, make sure you start with the least invasive cleaning method first. How to Clean Wheat Pennies Safely and Without Damage, How to Clean Corroded Pennies Safely and Effectively, How to Clean Gold Jewelry With Vinegar Without Any Damage. Step 2: Sprinkle Baking Soda. Simply run the water over the coin, or let it soak in the water. Be extremely gentle! They can eliminate or reduce the effects of outside contaminates that have caused issues with your coins. [5] The salt and vinegar in the ketchup will remove tarnish from the penny. In 1909, a new design featuring President Abraham Lincon was introduced. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. One of the simplest ways to clean coins is by using distilled water and a soft towel. Top 7 Ways to Ruin Your Coins - The Spruce Crafts wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Finally, dry your coins with a microfiber cloth to get rid of excess moisture. Remove tough tarnish on coins by soaking them in hydrogen peroxide or . For tips on how to shine your coins with baking soda, read on! Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Your fingers contain oils, acids, and minuscule pieces of grit that will adhere to the surface of the coins and cause them to discolor or suffer microscopic scratching. 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! 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. How do you clean old coins without damaging them? Pull the coins out of the liquid and gently wipe them with a paper towel to break apart the tarnish and dark spots. One good option is the traditional 2 by 2 cardboard and mylar protective sheaths. How to Clean Pennies with Vinegar: 11 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. wheat pennies found can be worth a small fortune. Lemon juice is acidic and can cause damage to the skin if inhaled or spilled. The soap should help keep the coin safe while you gently scrub it. Instead, dip a soft-bristled toothbrush into the vinegar solution and scrub the coins with it. Metal Detector Reviews (for anyone), Garrett AT Pro Review Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Garret ACE 400 Review Use a small plastic container full of hydrogen peroxide. The method of cleaning depends on the type of coin. Its best to wear rubber gloves when handling the ketchup and penny because they can both leave your hands stained red if you arent careful! 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. As you can see, these materials are very cheap and easy to find anywhere. Make sure they are not directly on top of each other. This way, you should not have to worry about cleaning them on a regular basis. If you have questions, always seek the help of a professional coin cleaner and coin grading service. How to Clean Wheat Pennies Safely and Without Damage - Discover Detecting Split your coins into three categories: showing good detail, showing some detail, and showing no detail. Cleaning in small batches is a better option. Let them air dry or wipe them with a soft, microfiber cloth. How to Clean Old Coins | Coupon Codes Soak the coins in the lemon solution for up to one hour. Even if they appear corroded and lacking shine or have a tarnish on them. After a good shake, take the coins out and rinse them off. To clean a copper penny, squeeze out a small amount of tomato ketchup onto the face and back 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. For a more gradual treatment, leave the coins out of the bowl. There are coins worth thousands upon thousands of dollars, all contingent on the condition of the coin. Wheat pennys face value is 1 cent, but every single one of them is worth more than face value, regardless of condition. Mix in extra salt if you wish, but keep a close eye on the coins to avoid damaging them. You will not need to clean your coins repeatedly if you know the best way to clean pennies and how to preserve them properly. Anyone can use this simple technique. 1 How do you clean old copper coins without damaging 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. Remember, you can always try cleaning a coin again, but you cant reverse mistakes. With this simple technique, anyone can get their penny as clean as it once was.