If the coins still look a little dull, try treating them with more paste. The Minelab Equinox 800 is another of my favorite metal detectors. Dip one penny halfway into the liquid. Should the oil start to look discolored, change it out. In fact, 99% of coins do not increase in value after you clean them. If you have a collection of copper pennies, chances are that theyre not looking their best. 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. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Next, mix baking soda and water into a thick paste and rub this paste over the penny using your fingers. After applying, give it a couple of minutes and then rinse using distilled water. 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. Beach Metal Detectors Coins Metal Detectors 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. Repeat the treatment with more oil as needed. Pennis that were made prior to 1982 had more copper in them, which can lead to a more intense reaction chemically while cleaning. These cookies do not store any personal information. Rinse off excess mustard under running water until all traces are removed from both sides before allowing them dry completely upside down so they wont lose any color fading away while drying out naturally overnight.. Cleaning and polishing rare and old coins can devalue them. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. This article has been viewed 438,144 times. Let them air dry the rest of the way. But before you start your timer, make sure none of the pennies are touching themselves. This happens because the vinegar and salt dissolves the copper oxide layer of the penny. Easy & Effective Ways to Clean Dirty Coins at Home, 10+ Ways to Clean Your Clipper Blades like a Pro Barber. Like vinegar, citrus juice is acidic and wears off copper oxide on coins. You just cant see them because they are microscopicbut your intended buyer will see them. 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. Cleaning in small batches is a better option. Minelab CTX 3030 Review, on How to Clean a Copper Penny:10 Tips and Advices. 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! Fisher F22 Review If youre using lemon juice, be sure that the penny is very well-cleaned beforehand and that its completely dry before applying the lemon juice. In many cases, cleaning a coin can lower the value of the coin as a collectors item. This technique is an easy way to clean silver coins and zinc pennies without causing damage, too. Coins generally lose value as they get cleaner. There are various other methods to clean your pennies. That is because ketchup has vinegar in it, which is naturally acidic. Experts can always tell if a coin has been cleaned improperly. Stir until the salt dissolves. Wheat pennies are a relatively common find when metal detecting. You might have to use multiple methods or go back and forth between methods until you find the one that works best for you. Place your pennies at the bottom of the cup or glass so that they are not stacked on top of each other. You can clean as many pennies you want with a single pencil eraser. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Keep reading below for the best methods for safely cleaning your wheat pennies at home. If you decide to clean your wheat pennies, make sure you start with the least invasive cleaning method first. Cleaning Copper With Ketchup: Ketchup can be used to clean a variety of copper products. Pennies are normally made of copper, which is a shiny, bright metal, and more recently Zinc. This natural acid can be used to clean coins, pots and pans, and more. We hope you enjoy these tips and find the one that works best for you! They may damage the surface of the wheat penny and devalue them. Where I live, we have acidic and hard water. Let them air dry or wipe them with a soft, microfiber cloth. The amount of vinegar used to clean the pennies depends on the number of coins you wish to clean. In this video, I'm showing you the 2 safest methods to clean coins without devaluing them. This article may contain affiliate links, How to Paint Concrete [From Preparation to Sealing], 14 Ways to Open a Stuck Jar A Helpful Guide, A Guide to Wood Finishes That Are Food Safe, How to Significantly Improve Your Charcoal Grill, How to Remove Scratches From Stainless Steel, Pickled Cherry Tomatoes are Definitely a Thing You Need to Know About. They were initially made of bronze, a 95 percent copper alloy. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. Give them about five minutes to sit, though you can go for another five if they are not quite as bright as you had hoped. Mix 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup flour and enough vinegar to make a thick paste. Removing the copper oxide by cleaning will give your penny a brand-new look. Step 5: Rub Away the Tarnish & Grime. Dump all the pennies into the liquid. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Required fields are marked *. Well, the general rule is if you intend on selling your wheat pennies, you should not clean them. Hydrogen peroxide can be an effective way to clean your coins. Alicia holds a CPA designation and a Bachelors degree in Commerce and Finance from the University of Toronto. Fill up two plastic containers with distilled water and a tablespoon of mild hand soap. 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. My dad has collected coins my entire life. You dont have to sacrifice the quality of your pennies just so you can have them looking good. For many pennies, one tablespoon (15 g) of salt in 1/2 cup (4 oz) of vinegar will get the job done. 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. If you dont have vinegar, lemon juice should work just fine. If the water is not enough, continue down the list and use dish soap. Dish soap is another good cleaning method and is very gentle. According to renowned numismatists, Ivory soap, and water is the safest way used in cleaning steel pennies. Silver dollars, or any collectible silver coin, should only be cleaned under certain conditions. Finally, dry your coins with a microfiber cloth to get rid of excess moisture. If it works for you, stick with it. Make sure that you continue to stir in the salt until it dissolves, then place the pennies in so that they are not stacked in any way. Then dip your coins in the solution and let them soak for an hour or twothe longer they soak, the more oxidation will come off. If you do not rinse all the vinegar off your wheat pennies, they may turn green or bluish green. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Those are meant to clean items like antique silver vases and your wedding ring. 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. Step 2: Sprinkle Baking Soda. You can use your finger or an exceptionally fine brush to remove any stuck-on dirt. So how do you safely store your wheat pennies? Copper, silver, nickel, and gold coins should strictly never be cleaned. Clean them off using distilled water and soap, using an old toothbrush to scour them clean. Instead, dip a soft-bristled toothbrush into the vinegar solution and scrub the coins with it. It works similarly to ketchup. Wheat pennies were made of different metals during different years depending on the need for metals. Then mix gently until the salt totally dissolves in the lemon juice. Can hydrogen peroxide be used to clean coins? Rinse off the ketchup and inspect the condition of your coins. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. 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). You can clean as many pennies you want with a single pencil eraser. In terms of valuable wheat pennies, while it can range vastly depending on the pennys condition, here are some best case scenarios in terms of value for a select few: If you happen to have one of these in your wheat penny collection, consider yourself incredibly lucky! Use a stronger acid like ketchup or cola to strip away the green patina that forms when copper is exposed to salt and water. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Submerge the coins in a shallow bath of vinegar and let them soak for at least an hour. Gently scrub the coin with an incredibly soft brush. This step is basically you leaving the pennies to soak inside the salt and lemon juice solution for 15 minutes. Soak coins in warm water mixed with liquid dish detergent to clean off light dirt and grime. Mix it together and add the coins into the bowl. There are many options for selling wheat pennies. One of the main reasons for pennies becoming dirty is their continual circulation among people. Scrub low-value coins with baking soda and vinegar, lemon juice and salt, or ketchup to break apart tarnish. Use a small plastic container full of hydrogen peroxide. So, in this article, Im going to explain to you exactly how to clean wheat pennies safely and effectively! 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. Remember to not use tap water because the chemicals are bad for the coins. This works well because the dish soap will loosen dirt and grim, and gently lift it from the surface of the metal object. 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. The coins should be dipped in that bowl for at least five minutes. In 1943, the composition changed to zinc plated steel due to the need for copper during World War II. Dont make the mistake of using something meant for regular coins on something older and more condition sensitive. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Wheat pennys face value is 1 cent, but every single one of them is worth more than face value, regardless of condition. If possible, stick to water or dish soap for cleaning wheat pennies. 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. Ketchup is composed of vinegar, salt, and tomatoes. Rinse the coins thoroughly with water to remove the baking soda and vinegar solution. Step 1: Line Container With Aluminum Foil. This article has been viewed 60,522 times. When in doubt, leave the coin as you found it. They must all lie flat at the bottom of the container. Try cleaning only a few pennies at a time. Both can damage coins easily. It has 3 search coil options, all are waterproof. As a result, the shiny bright metal develops an external layer having a dull green color. That means a lot more options for getting them clean enough to use again. The vinegar poured into that bowl should be enough to cover those pennies. 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. First, gather your supplies. Take them out, setting them on the cloth. Ensure you rinse all the vinegar off the coin once it is cleaned. Mix equal parts distilled water and lemon juice into a container. Step 6: Rinse Silver Coin With Cold Water. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Step 4: Add More Baking Soda & Hot Water. 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. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Retrieve the coins from the vinegar and apply a few teaspoons of baking soda to each coin. The citrus juices are acidic, and mixed with salt, can remove corrosion and debris from wheat pennies. Microwaving 2 cups of water for 2-3 minutes should suffice and avoid boiling water. A great way to clean coins without doing damage to them is using a bath of salt and isopropyl alcohol. 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. These became known as Lincon wheat pennies. Remember, you dont want to use anything that has abrasive qualities to them because they can scratch the coins. Different types of coins require different cleaning solutions, so ask an expert if you are not sure. Its also an effective way to remove oxidation from copper and make sure that there are no stains left behind. With -cup of ketchup, just dip your old toothbrush in and scrub the surface of the coin. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Over time, coins of all sorts can and will collect grime and gunk. If you are in a humid location, you can use desiccants to absorb atmospheric moisture. Soak the coins for 12 hours. Water is less abrasive than other cleaning methods and should clean most of the dirt and debris off your wheat pennies. Put the coin in the bowl and slowly rub the coin with your finger from both sides. Since all alcohol is neutral (having neither acidic or alkaline charges) it will only remove ceraint oil base soils. You will not need to clean your coins repeatedly if you know the best way to clean pennies and how to preserve them properly. Clean copper coins in a vinegar and salt solution. Make sure they are not directly on top of each other. 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. Gentle dish soap, like Dawn, is a good option for getting those wheat pennies shining again. Just make sure you keep the rubbing to a minimum. This detector works very well in areas with high soil mineralization. Use distilled water because chemicals in tap water may cause discoloration. References. You will want to use a soft-bristled brush, one that has been well worn in as well as a soft cloth. Continue to slowly add water to the baking soda until it takes on the consistency of paste. ", "It is so amazing, the power of baking soda and vinegar.". 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. This service does not come with a grading protection guarantee. Do not leave the coin in the ketchup for more than an hour or two as it will leave a green oxidation on the coin. I know it sounds strange, but stay with me. As you can see, these materials are very cheap and easy to find anywhere. Safely storing your wheat pennies is critical for preserving and protecting them. Baking soda and vinegar have proven to be one of the most effective ways to clean tarnished coins. Keep in mind that adding more salt to the solution makes it stronger. I would not do any cleaning at all. How do you clean old coins without damaging them? If you are not worried about damaging the coins as much, you can continue down the list and use some of the more abrasive cleaning methods. Make sure to use small, circular motions. You should also rub the coin gently to remove debris, and rinse it under the tap to wash off the oil. Enjoy! Garret ACE 250 Review Acids wear away copper, so exposing a coin to vinegar and other products can cause permanent damage. Repeat, as necessary. With this simple technique, anyone can get their penny as clean as it once was. Test the ketchup on a small area of your penny first before applying it in more generous amounts. Vinegar is a great cleaning agent because it will remove the copper oxide thats on your pennies. If you dont have a brush available, leave the coins submerged in the ketchup for at least 5 minutes. Garret ACE 300 Review These were 95 percent copper and 5 percent zing. Rinse the coin very well under warm water. Just make sure that you gently apply the olive oil and you can help prevent tarnish over time. This article was co-authored by Elias Weston. 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. How do I choose between my boyfriend and my best friend? Cool the copper: Leave the copper item in the solution until it is cool to the touch. Cleaning these will absolutely devalue them if they are not cleaned properlyso just be mindful of this. You like wouldnt need the professional cleaning. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. If pennies are collectibles, then cleaning them may reduce their value. In addition to the vinegar and lemon juice, ketchup can also be used to clean copper pennies. The concept is the same as white vinegar and salt. Use a stronger acid like ketchup or cola to strip away the green patina that forms when copper is exposed to salt and water. "Knowing how to safely clean copper is big time helpful. Water is one of the best and safest ways to clean your wheat pennies. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Rinse with freshwater and let air dry. If you are keeping them for sentimental value or for your own personal collection, you may certainly clean them. It does not store any personal data. It is always at the discretion of the buyer whether the minute scratches and damaged caused by cleaning is an issue. CoinsForSale.com charges a 5 percent selling fee and no listing fee. This way, you can take any preventative measures necessary to clean the coins and retain their value. For preservation purposes, most collectors recommend against treating collectible coins. With your paper towel, clean the pennies carefully and watch how they start getting clean and shiny. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Coins are part of most of our lives in one way or another. Its found naturally in wine, and it works by breaking down the copper oxide coating on your pennies. There are many metal detectors that are specifically for coin shooting, while others are all-purpose metal detectors. Other coins are molded from different metals, so the solution may not work as well on them. Elias Weston is a Cleaning Specialist and the Founder of Seatown Cleaners in Seattle, Washington. Even if they appear corroded and lacking shine or have a tarnish on them. For this reason, only clean coins that have little value, such as standard pennies. Make sure that any cleaner you use is rated to clean pennies prior to 1982. Hot sauce and brown colas are some other household substances that work well on copper coins. Lemon juice is acidic and can cause damage to the skin if inhaled or spilled. For coins that are not terribly valuable, you can clean them yourself with little to no worry. When they are sufficiently clean, lay them out on a soft cloth, dabbing them dry with gentle pressure. Dry the coins with a microfiber cloth to give them that extra shine! Monitor coins carefully and rinse them with clean water as soon as possible. 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. You can use lemon juice to clean copper pennies, but youll want to work in a well-ventilated area when you do. 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. If you want to use tartaric acid on your pennies, all you have to do is dissolve some crystals of it in warm water. 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. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. You can also try using a damp cloth with baking soda, which will help loosen any stuck-on dirt without damaging the coins surface. Rare coins shouldn't be cleaned as doing so could remove the value Credit: Getty. That way, if the cleaning method damages the coin, youre not going to be upset about it. Rinse them off after soaking them in vinegar so they dont reabsorb any of that dirt onto themselves! Fill the bowl with enough lemon juice to cover the quarter. 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. As for what is best to add and enhance the cleaning action, I'm not sure. A common ingredient in DIY eco-friendly cleaners, the acetic acid in white vinegar can help wear away the contamination on your coins. 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. Before we go into the process of bringing corroded pennies back to life, let us look at the cleaning materials you must have. I usually DO NOT use water or oil, b. For instance, use a small applicator to "paint" only the heads for an unusual "cameo" effect. When in doubt, refrain from cleaning anything older than those. If it can clean oil off baby ducks, it should be able to clean your wheat pennies with very little damage! Easy & Effective Ways to Clean Dirty Coins at Home, 10+ Ways to Clean Your Clipper Blades like a Pro Barber, https://www.howtocleanthings.com/how-to-clean-pennies/, https://sciencebob.com/clean-pennies-with-vinegar/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mMp2OYpCq8, https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-copper-and-brass-with-ketchup-223741, Wie man Kupfermnzen sekundenschnell reinigt, Pulire le Monete di Rame in Pochi Secondi, . WATER. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Try not to rub the coin too much with your fingers or the dirt, silt, and other residue on the surface can damage the coin. If you have recently gone metal detecting and found several wheat pennies, what do you do with them now? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Never rub or scrub coins which have numismatic value. Again, use small circular motions, scrubbing the entirety of the coin for a minute or so. Last Updated: November 9, 2022 Before you begin cleaning, sort through the coins to determine which coins need the most work. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Create a mixture using -cup vinegar of lemon juice and a teaspoon of table salt together into a bowl. Plain tap water is a good options, if you know your water is not corrosive or hard. In this article well take a look at the top 10 tips for cleaning a copper penny. If you do not sell your coin, you do not pay. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Using a soft cloth, apply your chosen cleaner to the coin and allow it to soak in for five minutes. Soak your pennies for five minutes in vinegar to dissolve any copper oxide . Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. 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. Pennies get dull and dirty because the copper in the pennies reacts with oxygen in the air to form copper oxide. For tips on how to shine your coins with baking soda, read on! What is the best solution to clean copper? Dry them off with paper towels. Some are damaged by contact with other coins, general circulation, or being buried in the ground for many years. 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!