However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. If the coins still look a little dull, try treating them with more paste. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Use a stronger acid like ketchup or cola to strip away the green patina that forms when copper is exposed to salt and water. 1/4 cup white vinegar 1 teaspoon salt A clear, shallow bowl (not metal) 2 clean steel nails A clean steel screw or bolt Paper towels Put the salt and vinegar in the bowl. No scrubbing necessary at all. If you dont have ketchup or another acid, try using a metal polish from a general store. If the water is not enough, continue down the list and use dish soap. Step 2: Sprinkle Baking Soda. Just remember to rinse the pennies thoroughly after all cleaning methods. Again, if you have hard or corrosive water, go with distilled water. Please do not clean collector coins, I don not take responsibly of any damage done. Keep in mind that adding more salt to the solution makes it stronger. This detector features multiple search frequencies and has 2 different coin modes: one for foreign coins and one for U.S. coins. In this video, I'm showing you the 2 safest methods to clean coins without devaluing them. Put the coin in the bowl and slowly rub the coin with your finger from both sides. Some of these have relatively sound science behind them, but they should be used at your own risk. Pennies are normally made of copper, which is a shiny, bright metal, and more recently Zinc. From there, use your brush to gently get the grime off of the coins before putting them back into the water again. Method 1 Removing Dark Spots with Vinegar Download Article 1 Pour 14 cup (59 mL) of white vinegar into a small bowl. This method and those that follow are going to be for everyday coins. Different types of coins require different cleaning solutions, so ask an expert if you are not sure. Dump all the pennies into the liquid. 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. Stir the mixture to dissolve the salt. How To Clean Old Copper Pennies. Brighten old, dark pennies in seconds! Its found naturally in wine, and it works by breaking down the copper oxide coating on your pennies. The presence of salt and vinegar as its ingredients explains why this method works. After WWII, the original metal composition was reinstituted and reigned until the wheat penny retired. Well, the general rule is if you intend on selling your wheat pennies, you should not clean them. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This detector works very well in areas with high soil mineralization. Pennies have been around since the late 1700s in the United States. Baking soda and vinegar have proven to be one of the most effective ways to clean tarnished coins. For others, coins can be collected throughout the years, some of which become quite valuable. The method of cleaning depends on the type of coin. One not so common cleaning method I found is using ketchup. For this reason, only clean coins that have little value, such as standard pennies. If you have questions, always seek the help of a professional coin cleaner and coin grading service. They are too harsh and abrasive to clean wheat pennies with. Vinegar and salt. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Microwaving 2 cups of water for 2-3 minutes should suffice and avoid boiling water. How do I choose between my boyfriend and my best friend? Can hydrogen peroxide be used to clean coins? The first step to cleaning a copper penny is soaking it in vinegar. 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. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Removing the copper oxide by cleaning will give your penny a brand-new look. It only requires rubbing the penny with a pencil eraser. Remember to not use tap water because the chemicals are bad for the coins. 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. In 1943, the composition changed to zinc plated steel due to the need for copper during World War II. 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. Pennies are made from highly reactive metals like copper or copper alloys, so it is only normal for them to get corroded with time. Rinse off any excess liquid with water and set aside to dry. There are various other methods to clean your pennies. This happens because the vinegar and salt dissolves the copper oxide layer of the penny. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The key is to ensure that you dont use anything super abrasive, especially on older coins. Ketchup. Mix it together and add the coins into the bowl. Safely storing your wheat pennies is critical for preserving and protecting them. You can always put them on other websites like Facebook market, but you may not reach the intended audience with that forum. This method you will help you to clean old coin properly without any damage to. NEVER drink the solution that was used to clean the pennies. In fact, I use dish soap to clean my wedding ring, necklaces, and other jewelry. If your penny is really important to you. Rinse off the ketchup and inspect the condition of your coins. Cleaning them can be a daunting task. Step 1: Line Container With Aluminum Foil. How to clean a copper penny? There are many options for selling wheat pennies. Aside from white vinegar, there may not be a more versatile household cleaning agent than baking soda. Like vinegar, ammonia has a strong chemical odor, so you may want to wear gloves when cleaning with this method. This website uses cookies to improve your experience, but you may opt out if you wish. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This natural acid can be used to clean coins, pots and pans, and more. When you put your pennies in a vinegar and salt mix, the vinegar and salt react together and remove the copper oxide. You can also use just a touch of olive oil for polishing older coins that have become tarnished. When in doubt, refrain from cleaning anything older than those. If possible, stick to water or dish soap for cleaning wheat pennies. They will, in fact, devalue. What do you see? Finally, drop the coins in, seal the lid, and shake it. 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. He has a hefty collection of wheat pennies that hes found with various techniques. You can clean as many pennies you want with a single pencil eraser. Place your pennies in the vinegar or the lemon juice. You dont have to sacrifice the quality of your pennies just so you can have them looking good. Like vinegar, citrus juice is acidic and wears off copper oxide on coins. Wheat pennies are a relatively common find when metal detecting. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This should be enough to get them clean. Soak for 24 hours. There are a variety of cleaning methods for wheat pennies. EBay, one of the most popular online auction sites, charges a 10 percent fee plus listing fees. Elias Weston is a Cleaning Specialist and the Founder of Seatown Cleaners in Seattle, Washington. The effect is immediate and obvious. Again, cleaning corrosion off wheat pennies can harm the value significantly. Clearing away the dirt now makes the coin look clearer once you add the oil to it. I usually DO NOT use water or oil, b. Make a bath using a cup of isopropyl alcohol combined with two tablespoons of salt. 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. Other Ways To Clean Copper Coins Without Damaging Them 1. If youre having trouble getting rid of the tarnish on your copper penny, rubbing alcohol might be the trick you need. As a result, the shiny bright metal develops an external layer having a dull green color. In your small container, measure in a cup of fresh lemon juice (or white vinegar) and add one tablespoon of salt to it. One of the main reasons for pennies becoming dirty is their continual circulation among people. It is always at the discretion of the buyer whether the minute scratches and damaged caused by cleaning is an issue. The safest way to clean a coin is to send it a professional. If you need to remove dirt from your coins, remove the worst of it with a tooth pick. 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. The concept is the same as white vinegar and salt. Hydrogen peroxide can prove effective in removing various materials, including organic material. If you are planning to keep the coins for your own collection, you may certainly clean them as you see fit. Dish soap is also a good and very gentle way to clean coins. Approved. Wipe down the surface of your penny with another clean cloth or paper towel until all dirt has been removed from its surface. 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. I hope you enjoyed this article and have learned more about how to clean wheat pennies! Do not clean these valuable pennies on your own, and if you do, only use distilled water. They include: Fresh lemon juice Salt White vinegar A toothbrush Baking soda A small container A paper towel. Put your solution and a small bit of sand into a watertight jar. 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. How to clean green corroded copper coins Mix cup vinegar with 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl that is non-metallic. How do you clean old coins without damaging them? Dont make the mistake of using something meant for regular coins on something older and more condition sensitive. This is the important part: rinse with distilled, not tap water. With your paper towel, clean the pennies carefully and watch how they start getting clean and shiny. Monitor coins carefully and rinse them with clean water as soon as possible. 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. This article was co-authored by Elias Weston. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This website uses cookies to improve your experience, but you may opt out if you wish. Pat the coin dry. Step 4 Now take out the pennies from that mixture, and wash them in water. [1] Start working on the coins that need the least amount of work. Gold Nuggets Metal Detectors This way, you can take any preventative measures necessary to clean the coins and retain their value. Even more importantly, understand how the condition impacts the value. If you had a rare coin you had cleaned too harshly, and wanted to have it valued, it would reduce the coins value. Continue to slowly add water to the baking soda until it takes on the consistency of paste. Experts can always tell if a coin has been cleaned improperly. The acid from the ketchup can help to deal with oxidation as it forms on your coins. Wait about five minutes and check your pennies. You can use lemon juice to clean copper pennies, but youll want to work in a well-ventilated area when you do. [1] 2 Add enough acetic acid (vinegar, white vinegar is most recommended) to moisten the salt into a paste. Do not rub them or the dirt and debris on them can scratch them and ruin the value. 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. 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. You may not see these changes with your naked eyes if you clean carefully, but they are there. You can use your finger or an exceptionally fine brush to remove any stuck-on dirt. Dissolve 1 tsp (7 g) of table salt in a bowl with of white distilled vinegar. Other coins are molded from different metals, so the solution may not work as well on them. Make sure to use small, circular motions. The citrus juices are acidic, and mixed with salt, can remove corrosion and debris from wheat pennies. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. "Knowing how to safely clean copper is big time helpful. 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. They must all lie flat at the bottom of the container. As you will come to find out, there are different methods for cleaning different types of coins. If I must choose a cleaning method, I will choose distilled water. Baking Soda And Vinegar Great For Science Fair Volcanoes But Not For Enhancing Your Coins Value. If you have recently gone metal detecting and found several wheat pennies, what do you do with them now? Use a small plastic container full of hydrogen peroxide. Step 4: Add More Baking Soda & Hot Water. After applying, give it a couple of minutes and then rinse using distilled water. Make sure that any cleaner you use is rated to clean pennies prior to 1982. This is usually only a concern for industrial levels of exposure. So if you leave your hand in the ultrasonic cleaner long enough, it will "clean" the flesh from your bones. If the quarter is clean, rinse it off with distilled water. 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. Once youve removed the coin from the coke, gently rinse it under cold running water. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). 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