Enjoy! References. These coins range in value from a few cents to a small fortune, if you, Read More How to Clean Wheat Pennies Safely and Without DamageContinue, ABOUT|AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE|PRIVACY POLICY|TERMS OF USE. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUbe88W78I0&feature=youtu.be&t=13, https://sciencebob.com/clean-pennies-with-vinegar/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mMp2OYpCq8&feature=youtu.be&t=27, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHZSYR463uw&feature=youtu.be&t=41, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS9-A1TO67c&feature=youtu.be&t=45, https://www.pennycollector.com/cleaning.html, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/shine-bright-like-a-penny/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7cfVkadI_A&feature=youtu.be&t=174, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7cfVkadI_A&feature=youtu.be&t=928, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUPuRLcm7WY&feature=youtu.be&t=516, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUPuRLcm7WY&feature=youtu.be&t=542. 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 you have a collection of copper pennies, chances are that theyre not looking their best. Rubbing the surface of a coin can damage it, even if you cannot see it. "Knowing how to safely clean copper is big time helpful. Apply the paste with a microfiber cloth and rinse it off with water. Soak for 24 hours. Pennies are made from highly reactive metals like copper or copper alloys, so it is only normal for them to get corroded with time. One of the most important aspects of cleaning old coins is to know the value first. 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. It might even be a good idea to stay away from even hiring a professional service to clean them for you. Cleaning in small batches is a better option. By using our site, you agree to our. The right materials will effectively clean your pennies and will also be safe for your hands. Rinse the coin very well under warm water. If pennies are collectibles, then cleaning them may reduce their value. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Vinegar and salt are the best methods of cleaning your pennies. [5] The salt and vinegar in the ketchup will remove tarnish from the penny. Aside from white vinegar, there may not be a more versatile household cleaning agent than baking soda. 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. But, when you combine vinegar with other ingredients, it will become a cleaning agent, not a tarnishing agent. Some other options to use in place of vinegar include orange or lemon juice. The concept is the same as white vinegar and salt. Mix your hand soap in with the water, creating a soapy mixture. When you put your pennies in a vinegar and salt mix, the vinegar and salt react together and remove the copper oxide. For a safer way to remove stubborn debris and make a coin shine, rub it gently with a little bit of vegetable oil. Rinse your pennies well with water; otherwise, if any of these cleaning agents remain on the coin, the coin will turn blue-green. There are countless things that it can be used for, cleaning old coins and even jewelry among them. Start with a mixture of warm, soapy water when cleaning silver coins. There are coins worth thousands upon thousands of dollars, all contingent on the condition of the coin. If you do not sell your coin, you do not pay. I hope you enjoyed this article and have learned more about how to clean wheat pennies! You might have to use multiple methods or go back and forth between methods until you find the one that works best for you. The more contact the coins have with one another the more damage they take on. Copper coins often turn a muddled brown color, and these marks can be cleaned off with salt and a mild acid like white vinegar. 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. In that event, you would want to avoid anything highly abrasive that could damage the surface of the coin. Baking soda and vinegar have proven to be one of the most effective ways to clean tarnished coins. Step 2 Add a teaspoon of salt to the bowl full of vinegar, and stir the mixture until the salt is completely dissolved. Pennies are made from highly reactive metals like copper or copper alloys, so it is only normal for them to get corroded with time. You may also have luck selling them online. The Garrett Ace Apex is one of my favorite metal detectors for coin shooting. Like vinegar, citrus juice is acidic and wears off copper oxide on coins. Or in layman's terms, by generating microscopic bubbles between a hard surface and a softer material, and allowing them to catastrophically collapse. Since all alcohol is neutral (having neither acidic or alkaline charges) it will only remove ceraint oil base soils. Nearly all metal detectors will be able to find coins in the right conditions. 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). Here are a few different methods that you can use to get those pennies clean. 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 are various other methods to clean your pennies. 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. The advantage is it will not cause any decrease in numismatic value, but there are better options for cleaning materials. Use a stronger acid like ketchup or cola to strip away the green patina that forms when copper is exposed to salt and water. You like wouldnt need the professional cleaning. ", "It is so amazing, the power of baking soda and vinegar.". Alicia holds a CPA designation and a Bachelors degree in Commerce and Finance from the University of Toronto. You will end up with irreversible damage to the coins. White Vinegar One of the most recommended cleaning solutions for wheat pennies is white vinegar. For tips on how to shine your coins with baking soda, read on! As for what is best to add and enhance the cleaning action, I'm not sure. 1 How do you clean old copper coins without damaging them? 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. Dont make the mistake of using something meant for regular coins on something older and more condition sensitive. Use a soft cloth to rub the paste on the surface of the copper. Its a very interesting question and a great DIY project. Its found naturally in wine, and it works by breaking down the copper oxide coating on your pennies. The first step to cleaning a copper penny is soaking it in vinegar. Let us move on to how to clean wheat pennies you intend to keep or sell yourself without any type of professional grading service. This should be enough to get them clean. Stir the mixture to dissolve the salt. Let them sit for a month though you may need to let them go for as long as six months. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Mouthwash not only helps with dental health but can help you clean up dirty coins. If youre more of a do-it-yourselfer, try using a basic household cleaner to start. That way, if the cleaning method damages the coin, youre not going to be upset about it. Never rub or scrub coins which have numismatic value. As you can see, these materials are very cheap and easy to find anywhere. Be gentle: A penny is a delicate coin and you dont want to scratch it up in the process of cleaning it. There are a variety of cleaning methods for wheat pennies. Last Updated: November 9, 2022 Pennies are normally made of copper, which is a shiny, bright metal, and more recently Zinc. You can also find protective books which have individual sleeves for each coin. Drop your coins into the mixture and let them sit for about 5 minutes. Exposure to air leads to the formation of copper oxide. By using our site, you agree to our. Just make sure that you gently apply the olive oil and you can help prevent tarnish over time. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Let the coins sit in the mixture for about 10 or 15 minutes so that the soap can break down the grime. Soak the coins in the lemon solution for up to one hour. If they look clean enough, use a soft cloth to dry them. Mix a teaspoon of salt into the liquid by stirring until it is dissolved. For others, coins can be collected throughout the years, some of which become quite valuable. Place your pennies in the vinegar or the lemon juice. Paper Towels This process can get a bit messy. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. To clean your copper coins, start by adding some vinegar or orange juice to a small bowl, and stirring in 1 teaspoon of salt. Modern Coin Mart is another site for selling coins. Copper is a soft metal, so copper coins are prone to degrading over time. Let them soak for a while. They will, in fact, devalue. 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. SALT AND VINEGAR EXPERIMENTPulire le monete di rame in 1 minuto con sale e acetoMusic:"Fluffing a Duck" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creati. Coins made of nickel and silver will be easily cleaned; however, coins made out of copper will be harder to clean as copper reacts to more materials than other metals. Gently scrub them with either a soft toothbrush or your fingers. Signs of cleaning can be evident in many ways and often affect the value of the coin. 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. Retrieve the coins from the vinegar and apply a few teaspoons of baking soda to each coin. The soap should help keep the coin safe while you gently scrub it. To clean softer or more valuable coins, your best bet is to lightly rinse them in warm water, then pat them dry with a microfiber cloth. The best way to clean pennies is to never ever clean them. In many cases, cleaning a coin can lower the value of the coin as a collectors item. 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. Put the coin in the bowl and slowly rub the coin with your finger from both sides. Ketchup is composed of vinegar, salt, and tomatoes. 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. Fill the bowl with enough lemon juice to cover the quarter. If you have recently gone metal detecting and found several wheat pennies, what do you do with them now? For coins that dont have collectible value, you can use sand, olive oil, and even isopropyl alcohol to get the job done. Start with two tablespoons of baking soda, mixing it with water into a bowl. The coins should be dipped in that bowl for at least five minutes. The presence of salt and vinegar as its ingredients explains why this method works. Make a bath using a cup of isopropyl alcohol combined with two tablespoons of salt. The citrus juices are acidic, and mixed with salt, can remove corrosion and debris from wheat pennies. Finally, take the pennies out and rinse them off using distilled water. Repeat this process as many times as necessary before allowing the coins to air dry. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Soak coins in warm water mixed with liquid dish detergent to clean off light dirt and grime. Use Water Sometimes the simplest methods are best. Anyone can use this simple technique. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Wheat pennies are a relatively common find when metal detecting. This means distilled water. Be patient and try not to get frustrated. Create a mixture using -cup vinegar of lemon juice and a teaspoon of table salt together into a bowl. Clean at your . So my suggestion would be to take a random corroded penny that you dont care about, and try this cleaning method. Rinse off any excess liquid with water and set aside to dry. It can even be used as a metal polishing solution. Brighten old, dark pennies in seconds! He has a hefty collection of wheat pennies that hes found with various techniques. 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! In a small container, place a small amount of table-salt (1 gram is plenty). So if you leave your hand in the ultrasonic cleaner long enough, it will "clean" the flesh from your bones. Coins / February 17, 2021 by Walt / Leave a Comment. 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. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. 2 Pour a few ounces of vinegar into a shallow dish. Baking Soda And Vinegar Great For Science Fair Volcanoes But Not For Enhancing Your Coins Value. Elias Weston is a Cleaning Specialist and the Founder of Seatown Cleaners in Seattle, Washington. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Dip one penny halfway into the liquid. What is the formula for calculating solute potential? When a coin is submitted to be examined by the experts at PCGS, signs of cleaning can be evident in many ways. Soak your penny in the vinegar for a minimum of 30 minutes. Mix cup vinegar with 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl that is non-metallic. Some wheat pennies found can be worth a small fortune. Submerge the coins in a shallow bath of vinegar and let them soak for at least an hour. For coins that are not terribly valuable, you can clean them yourself with little to no worry. How do you remove green corrosion from copper coins? You can use your finger or an exceptionally fine brush to remove any stuck-on dirt. No scrubbing necessary at all. If you want to use tartaric acid on your pennies, all you have to do is dissolve some crystals of it in warm water. There is one important thing to note, though. You may want to try using some non-abrasive cleaners (like vinegar) if youre worried about removing any patina on your coinand always keep in mind that these cleaners are only meant as a starting point! Rubbing alcohol can be used to clean pennies and other copper coins, as well as other metals. 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. 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. A professional coin valuer will notice these minute scratches on the surface from cleaning. Under Water 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. Wait about five minutes and check your pennies. Water is one of the best and safest ways to clean your wheat pennies. Stir until the salt dissolves. Remember, you can always try cleaning a coin again, but you cant reverse mistakes. Steel pennies were abandoned the following year, and brass pennies were introduced. The vinegar poured into that bowl should be enough to cover those pennies. 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. Start adding your pennies into the solution, but dont throw everything inside at once. It may take a few treatments, so work gradually and wash the coins off each time to avoid damaging them. Wearing gloves will help protect your skin from the cleaning solution. Subscribe To Me: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=TheBoxUnboxed https://twitter.com/TheBoxUnboxed Use Promo Code TBU for 10% off GFUEL http://www.gammalabs.net Use Promo Code TBU For 5% off Custom Pc's at http://lostlegionpcs.webs.com/ Use Promo Code tbu for NoScope Gaming Glasses or use the link below https://www.noscopeglasses.com/demon-glasses?tracking=tbu On average, a quarter-cup should be adequate. Place your pennies at the bottom of the cup or glass so that they are not stacked on top of each other. Rinse and dry: After scrubbing, rinse in warm water and dry the copper with a lint-free dishtowel. Just make sure you keep the rubbing to a minimum. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. All items are affected by the passage of time, and coins are no different. 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. Step 2: Sprinkle Baking Soda. There are many options for selling wheat pennies. So how do you safely store your wheat pennies? Very old or dirty coins require the extra effort. Method 1 Removing Dark Spots with Vinegar Download Article 1 Pour 14 cup (59 mL) of white vinegar into a small bowl. According to renowned numismatists, Ivory soap, and water is the safest way used in cleaning steel pennies. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. A common ingredient in DIY eco-friendly cleaners, the acetic acid in white vinegar can help wear away the contamination on your coins. The best method for achieving that is with salt and vinegar. The Nokta Makro CF77 Coin Finder is another great detector for coin shooting. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 438,144 times. This eliminates the possibility of abrasions to your investment. 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. Ammonia is another option that can be used to clean copper pennies. Everyday change can be cleaned in just about any type of way. This article has been viewed 438,144 times. 290K views 3 years ago In this video you will find a simple but very effective method of cleaning old coins. Kids Metal Detectors Then mix gently until the salt totally dissolves in the lemon juice. If the coins still look a little dull, try treating them with more paste. Mix your hand soap in with the water, creating a soapy mixture. Can I use isopropyl alcohol to clean the coins? This detector works very well in areas with high soil mineralization. Different types of coins require different cleaning solutions, so ask an expert if you are not sure. What are ultrasonic cleaners when it comes to cleaning copper coins? If this does not bother, you and you simply want to restore the coin for yourself you can use a baking soda paste. Most wheat pennies that are not extremely rare will sell for at least 3 to 5 cents at most coin dealers. Repeat, as necessary. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. My dad has collected coins my entire life. Ultrasonic cleaners work by microcavitation. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Just remember to rinse the pennies thoroughly after all cleaning methods. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Mix 3 parts baking soda with 1 part vinegar. Whether its a regular penny or a wheat penny, hopefully youve found this article to showcase a helpful method on how to clean a corded penny. Plain tap water is a good options, if you know your water is not corrosive or hard. Removing the copper oxide by cleaning will give your penny a brand-new look. Remove the coins and dump out the lemon solution, and then pour the olive oil and one teaspoon of lemon juice into the container. For preservation purposes, most collectors recommend against treating collectible coins. Thats not necessarily to say the material so much as the purpose of the coin.