how to clean copper pennies without damaging them

The citrus juices are acidic, and mixed with salt, can remove corrosion and debris from wheat pennies. Finally, dry your coins with a microfiber cloth to get rid of excess moisture. The vinegar poured into that bowl should be enough to cover those pennies. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. The aluminum foil is key to the reaction which removes the tarnish. You can also clean pennies with a combination of salt and lemon juice or salt and orange juice. You can clean as many pennies you want with a single pencil eraser. 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. Coins Metal Detectors Even more importantly, understand how the condition impacts the value. Keep in mind that this is more of an abrasive than even the sand method and can do serious damage without the proper care. Numismatists and some coin collector organizations may offer these services. In fact, 99% of coins do not increase in value after you clean them. Pat the coin dry. Enjoy! If there are still some stubborn stains on your pennies after rinsing them with water, try using baking soda next time instead; this should help get rid of those stainsand if not then maybe some hand lotion would help soften up those stubborn spots too! Pennies have been around since the late 1700s in the United States. So my suggestion would be to take a random corroded penny that you dont care about, and try this cleaning method. That is because ketchup has vinegar in it, which is naturally acidic. In this video I clean three old worn large cents. 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. You want something a bit more gentle for silver coins but you will need a heavier abrasive for your copper pennies. Believe it or not, you can clean copper coins using yet another household item: ketchup. Wipe down the surface of your penny with another clean cloth or paper towel until all dirt has been removed from its surface. Caution: blood plasma counts as a fluid. Hydrogen peroxide can be an effective way to clean your coins. Add distilled water and a small amount of dish soap to your shallow bowl. As a general rule, make the paste at a ratio of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rinse with warm water and dry thoroughly. Scrub low-value coins with baking soda and vinegar, lemon juice and salt, or ketchup to break apart tarnish. The concept is the same as white vinegar and salt. If you need to remove dirt from your coins, remove the worst of it with a tooth pick. They can clean your coin if it has PVC residue, dirt, debris, adhesive, tape reside, copper spots on gold, or toning issues. Cleaning Copper With Ketchup: Ketchup can be used to clean a variety of copper products. One of the simplest ways to clean coins is by using distilled water and a soft towel. Then mix gently until the salt totally dissolves in the lemon juice. [1] This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Before you begin cleaning, sort through the coins to determine which coins need the most work. Never rub or scrub coins which have numismatic value. Alicia holds a CPA designation and a Bachelors degree in Commerce and Finance from the University of Toronto. Beach Metal Detectors How to Clean Corroded Pennies Safely and Effectively, How to Clean Gold Jewelry With Vinegar Without Any Damage, How to Clean Wheat Pennies Safely and Without Damage. 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. This service does not come with a grading protection guarantee. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Water is one of the best and safest ways to clean your wheat pennies. AspenClean develops and manufactures its own line of 100% Natural, EcoCert certified, and EWG verified cleaning products. [1] Start working on the coins that need the least amount of work. Minelab CTX 3030 Review, on How to Clean a Copper Penny:10 Tips and Advices. Let them air dry the rest of the way. A common ingredient in DIY eco-friendly cleaners, the acetic acid in white vinegar can help wear away the contamination on your coins. If you are in a humid location, you can use desiccants to absorb atmospheric moisture. Let them air dry or wipe them with a soft, microfiber cloth. 3 What is the fastest way to clean copper coins? There are coins worth thousands upon thousands of dollars, all contingent on the condition of the coin. 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. Gentle dish soap, like Dawn, is a good option for getting those wheat pennies shining again. Ketchup can restore the copper glow of a penny. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Kids Metal Detectors Step-2: Mix dish soap with water in a bowl. Different types of coins require different cleaning solutions, so ask an expert if you are not sure. Last Updated: November 9, 2022 1 How do you clean old copper coins without damaging them? 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. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. 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. You can also opt for durable plastic holders, which can be square or round. Keep your coins in a stable, cool, dry location. Easy & Effective Ways to Clean Dirty Coins at Home, 10+ Ways to Clean Your Clipper Blades like a Pro Barber. For this reason, only clean coins that have little value, such as standard pennies. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. The wheat penny was produced until 1958, with a few changes along the way. Soak for 24 hours. 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. Let them sit for a month though you may need to let them go for as long as six months. You might have to use multiple methods or go back and forth between methods until you find the one that works best for you. These became known as Lincon wheat pennies. Vinegar is a great cleaning agent because it will remove the copper oxide thats on your pennies. If you feel that it needs longer, you can soak it for up to 15 minutes. Clearing away the dirt now makes the coin look clearer once you add the oil to it. 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. Be sure to check with a professional before cleaning a corroded coin that may have significant value. 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. If they look clean enough, use a soft cloth to dry them. Gold Nuggets Metal Detectors It might seem like theres no hope for your tarnished coins, but fear not! Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Newer coins, such as relatively shiny pennies, tend to dull a little when washed in acid. Aluminum Foil Any aluminum foil will do, what you have laying around in your kitchen will work great. If you have questions, always seek the help of a professional coin cleaner and coin grading service. 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. Mix your hand soap in with the water, creating a soapy mixture. 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! It only requires rubbing the penny with a pencil eraser. These cookies do not store any personal information. Apmex is a well-known auction site for coins. The best method for achieving that is with salt and vinegar. My dad has collected coins my entire life. The soap should help keep the coin safe while you gently scrub it. That means a lot more options for getting them clean enough to use again. Use a small plastic container full of hydrogen peroxide. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. "What stood out was that very common household ingredients were used.". Rinse your pennies well with water; otherwise, if any of these cleaning agents remain on the coin, the coin will turn blue-green. Tartaric acid is a weak organic acid, which means its not as corrosive to your penny as other chemicals. I know it sounds strange, but stay with me. (So before you start using baking soda, vinegar, toothpaste, or ketchup to clean your coins at. Simply run the water over the coin, or let it soak in the water. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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. For tips on how to shine your coins with baking soda, read on! By using our site, you agree to our. Lightly rub the ketchup into the coin with a soft toothbrush, then rinse off the ketchup. Soak the coins for 12 hours. They must all lie flat at the bottom of the container. You can use your finger or an exceptionally fine brush to remove any stuck-on dirt. Mix equal parts distilled water and lemon juice into a container. Hold it there for about 10 seconds, then pull it out. Mix in extra salt if you wish, but keep a close eye on the coins to avoid damaging them. You will want to use a soft-bristled brush, one that has been well worn in as well as a soft cloth. Exposure to air leads to the formation of copper oxide. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. 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. In 1909, a new design featuring President Abraham Lincon was introduced. So, in this article, Im going to explain to you exactly how to clean wheat pennies safely and effectively! 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. Next, mix baking soda and water into a thick paste and rub this paste over the penny using your fingers. From there, use your brush to gently get the grime off of the coins before putting them back into the water again. Paper Towels This process can get a bit messy. Well, the general rule is if you intend on selling your wheat pennies, you should not clean them. Get an appraisal before you clean themif you plan to sell them. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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). Drop your coins into the mixture and let them sit for about 5 minutes. Check back on them every few minutes, especially if you use a highly acidic substance like cola, to avoid damaging them. 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. [5] The salt and vinegar in the ketchup will remove tarnish from the penny. If the water is not enough, continue down the list and use dish soap. Create a mixture using -cup vinegar of lemon juice and a teaspoon of table salt together into a bowl. How to clean copper pennies using vinegar and baking soda. Hydrogen Peroxide Hydrogen peroxide can prove effective in removing various materials, including organic material. Fill up two plastic containers with distilled water and a tablespoon of mild hand soap. 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. You dont have to sacrifice the quality of your pennies just so you can have them looking good. Rinse the coins thoroughly with water to remove the baking soda and vinegar solution. Make a paste: Use a lemon juice/salt or vinegar/salt paste and a sponge to scrub the copper. Remember, you can always try cleaning a coin again, but you cant reverse mistakes. In your small container, measure in a cup of fresh lemon juice (or white vinegar) and add one tablespoon of salt to it. Step 3: Add Tarnished Silver Coins. This is a simple, inexpensive method that works well on pennies that arent too tarnished. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Pull the coins out of the liquid and gently wipe them with a paper towel to break apart the tarnish and dark spots. Wet the coin with water and roll in baking soda. First, gather your supplies. Press ESC to cancel. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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, Wheat pennies are a relatively common find when metal detecting. 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. Method 1 Removing Dark Spots with Vinegar Download Article 1 Pour 14 cup (59 mL) of white vinegar into a small bowl. For others, coins can be collected throughout the years, some of which become quite valuable. There is endless information available on the Internet about cleaning pennies, and these ideas can also be used to clean nickels, quarters, dimes, or even specifically cleaning silver coins, etc. Vinegar is a great cleaning agent because it will remove the copper oxide that's on your pennies. As you can see, these materials are very cheap and easy to find anywhere. How do you clean old copper coins without damaging them? Clean copper coins in a vinegar and salt solution. 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. The method of cleaning depends on the type of coin. Nearly all metal detectors will be able to find coins in the right conditions. Test the ketchup on a small area of your penny first before applying it in more generous amounts. 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. As for what is best to add and enhance the cleaning action, I'm not sure. Finally, take the pennies out and rinse them off using distilled water. One of the main reasons for pennies becoming dirty is their continual circulation among people. 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. Copper coins often turn a muddled brown color, and these marks can be cleaned off with salt and a mild acid like white vinegar. Repeat this process as many times as necessary before allowing the coins to air dry. What is the best solution to clean copper? In this article well take a look at the top 10 tips for cleaning a copper penny. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 60,522 times. Remember, you dont want to use anything that has abrasive qualities to them because they can scratch the coins. 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. 3. Rinse the coins with fresh water after 24 hours and let them air dry. Dissolve 1 tsp (7 g) of table salt in a bowl with of white distilled vinegar. Modern Coin Mart is another site for selling coins. EBay, one of the most popular online auction sites, charges a 10 percent fee plus listing fees. You can also use just a touch of olive oil for polishing older coins that have become tarnished. This natural acid can be used to clean coins, pots and pans, and more. Its also an effective way to remove oxidation from copper and make sure that there are no stains left behind. This way, you should not have to worry about cleaning them on a regular basis. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Let them soak for a while. If needed, use a soft towel or soft-bristled brush to scrub the coin. There is no way to clean a coin without damaging its collectible value, even wiping with a cloth causes scratches that reduce the value in the eyes of professional collectors. To clean a copper penny, squeeze out a small amount of tomato ketchup onto the face and back of the coin. Rinse the coin very well under warm water. Retrieve the coins from the vinegar and apply a few teaspoons of baking soda to each coin. Take them out, setting them on the cloth. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The key is to ensure that you dont use anything super abrasive, especially on older coins. The acetic acid in white vinegar can help remove contaminants from your coins. The Minelab Equinox 800 is another of my favorite metal detectors. It has 3 search coil options, all are waterproof. Keep in mind that adding more salt to the solution makes it stronger. As you will come to find out, there are different methods for cleaning different types of coins. Elias specializes in helping clients find cleaning services with instant booking and flexible pricing. Pencil Eraser for Cleaning Pennies. That would be true if your plan was to only use vinegar to clean a corroded penny. 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. Like vinegar, citrus juice is acidic and wears off copper oxide on coins. Anyone can use this simple technique. Signs of cleaning can be evident in many ways and often affect the value of the coin. One of the most important aspects of cleaning old coins is to know the value first. This step is basically you leaving the pennies to soak inside the salt and lemon juice solution for 15 minutes. You just have to put a thin but uniform layer of sauce on the penny and then rinse it off with water after some time. 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. There is even a high chance that you have all of them in your kitchen right now. But for coins that have collectible value, they are oftentimes worth more than their face value. Grab some past with your thumb and forefinger, rubbing it gently onto both sides of the penny.