how to clean copper pennies without damaging them

Pencil Eraser for Cleaning Pennies. Its also an effective way to remove oxidation from copper and make sure that there are no stains left behind. 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. Some are damaged by contact with other coins, general circulation, or being buried in the ground for many years. If they look clean enough, use a soft cloth to dry them. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 438,144 times. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. 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. For many pennies, one tablespoon (15 g) of salt in 1/2 cup (4 oz) of vinegar will get the job done. % of people told us that this article helped them. References. If pennies are collectibles, then cleaning them may reduce their value. 2 Pour a few ounces of vinegar into a shallow dish. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The best method for achieving that is with salt and vinegar. Anyone can use this simple technique. It can even be used as a metal polishing solution. How do you clean old copper coins without damaging them? Soak the coins in more salt and vinegar if they still look dirty. Vinegar is most effective for cleaning copper. The wheat penny was produced until 1958, with a few changes along the way. The method of cleaning depends on the type of coin. If you are in a humid location, you can use desiccants to absorb atmospheric moisture. 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. Pull the coins out of the liquid and gently wipe them with a paper towel to break apart the tarnish and dark spots. Believe it or not, you can clean copper coins using yet another household item: ketchup. One of the most important aspects of cleaning old coins is to know the value first. Aside from white vinegar, there may not be a more versatile household cleaning agent than baking soda. 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). By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. This article has been viewed 60,522 times. 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. Step 2: Sprinkle Baking Soda. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Other Ways To Clean Copper Coins Without Damaging Them 1. Or in layman's terms, by generating microscopic bubbles between a hard surface and a softer material, and allowing them to catastrophically collapse. If you are keeping them or do not care if they are damaged, you can use methods like vinegar, peroxide, baking soda, mouthwash or even, dare I say, ketchup! But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. So how do you safely store your wheat pennies? The first step to cleaning a copper penny is soaking it in vinegar. There are various other methods to clean your pennies. Make sure that any cleaner you use is rated to clean pennies prior to 1982. But, when you combine vinegar with other ingredients, it will become a cleaning agent, not a tarnishing agent. There is one important thing to note, though. When a coin has evidence of cleaning, it is valued as Genuine-Cleaned. This means that despite the condition of the coin, it will be valued less than Fine range coins that have not been cleaned. It may take a few treatments, so work gradually and wash the coins off each time to avoid damaging them. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". For this reason, only clean coins that have little value, such as standard pennies. Just make sure you keep the rubbing to a minimum. Salt and vinegar combinations have been used to clean coins for many yearsthis method is actually on display in one of the earlier videos I shared above. It removes various materials including organic material. Dip one penny halfway into the liquid. Clean copper coins in a vinegar and salt solution. On average, a quarter-cup should be adequate. 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. 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! If it can clean oil off baby ducks, it should be able to clean your wheat pennies with very little damage! Make a bath using a cup of isopropyl alcohol combined with two tablespoons of salt. Apmex is a well-known auction site for coins. Dry them off with paper towels. Soak coins in warm water mixed with liquid dish detergent to clean off light dirt and grime. Gold Nuggets Metal Detectors 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. Dissolve 1 tsp (7 g) of table salt in a bowl with of white distilled vinegar. Can hydrogen peroxide be used to clean coins? In addition to the vinegar and lemon juice, ketchup can also be used to clean copper pennies. Pull the coins out of the liquid and gently wipe them with a paper towel to break apart the tarnish and dark spots. This detector features multiple search frequencies and has 2 different coin modes: one for foreign coins and one for U.S. coins. If you had a rare coin you had cleaned too harshly, and wanted to have it valued, it would reduce the coins value. Step 3: Add Tarnished Silver Coins. Place your pennies at the bottom of the cup or glass so that they are not stacked on top of each other. You just cant see them because they are microscopicbut your intended buyer will see them. Keep your coins in a stable, cool, dry location. Put your solution and a small bit of sand into a watertight jar. Exposure to air leads to the formation of copper oxide. Warm distilled water can be used to clean coins. Mix it together and add the coins into the bowl. Cheap Metal Detectors 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. Be gentle: A penny is a delicate coin and you dont want to scratch it up in the process of cleaning it. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. All items are affected by the passage of time, and coins are no different. The aluminum foil is key to the reaction which removes the tarnish. For coins that dont have collectible value, you can use sand, olive oil, and even isopropyl alcohol to get the job done. One good option is the traditional 2 by 2 cardboard and mylar protective sheaths. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Do not rub them or the dirt and debris on them can scratch them and ruin the value. Finally, drop the coins in, seal the lid, and shake it. PCGS offers a restoration service that can aid in cleaning your coins professionally. After brushing each penny, rinse with clean water and dry, it should be looking good as new by now. The coins should be dipped in that bowl for at least five minutes. Dont make the mistake of using something meant for regular coins on something older and more condition sensitive. 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. Seatown Cleaners offers standard, deep, and move-in/out cleaning services using green products and cleaning techniques. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. White Vinegar One of the most recommended cleaning solutions for wheat pennies is white vinegar. This technique is an easy way to clean silver coins and zinc pennies without causing damage, too. Clean at your . Most wheat pennies that are not extremely rare will sell for at least 3 to 5 cents at most coin dealers. These became known as Lincon wheat pennies. Step-2: Mix dish soap with water in a bowl. So if you leave your hand in the ultrasonic cleaner long enough, it will "clean" the flesh from your bones. For a safer way to remove stubborn debris and make a coin shine, rub it gently with a little bit of vegetable oil. If you need to remove dirt from your coins, remove the worst of it with a tooth pick. 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. Lemon juice is acidic and can cause damage to the skin if inhaled or spilled. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. 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. After applying, give it a couple of minutes and then rinse using distilled water. Fill the bowl with enough lemon juice to cover the quarter. This detector works very well in areas with high soil mineralization. Some other options include you can at least look into are: There are many rust removers you can use to clean your coins, and some of them can be very fast and effective, but that is just part of what you need. This works well because the dish soap will loosen dirt and grim, and gently lift it from the surface of the metal object. You want something a bit more gentle for silver coins but you will need a heavier abrasive for your copper pennies. Let the coins sit in the mixture for about 10 or 15 minutes so that the soap can break down the grime. Plain tap water is a good options, if you know your water is not corrosive or hard. Wait about five minutes and check your pennies. They will, in fact, devalue. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The composition of the coin, the condition of the coin, and the year of the coin all affect its value. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). You can always put them on other websites like Facebook market, but you may not reach the intended audience with that forum. Cleaning these will absolutely devalue them if they are not cleaned properlyso just be mindful of this. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. But do notenothing is 100% safe or 100% fool proof. Wheat pennies are a relatively common find when metal detecting. Mix in extra salt if you wish, but keep a close eye on the coins to avoid damaging them. In this article well take a look at the top 10 tips for cleaning a copper penny. 3. Pennies are normally made of copper, which is a shiny, bright metal, and more recently Zinc. Rinse with warm water and dry thoroughly. 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. You must remember to use these at your discretion. Cleaning them can go wrong very quicklyand who wants to devalue their newly found treasure? EBay, one of the most popular online auction sites, charges a 10 percent fee plus listing fees. 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. Can hydrogen peroxide be used to clean coins? Wearing gloves will help protect your skin from the cleaning solution. 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. Gently scrub them with either a soft toothbrush or your fingers. It is very gentle and can help reveal details on the coin surface you may not be able to see. 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. 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.

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