How to Clean Old Coins Without Damaging Them (2024)

Ifyou’re into scavenging forold coins, chances are you’ve stumbled upon some worn-out ones. You might beeager toclean them but worried about potential damage.

Well, there’s good news! We’ve got some do’s anddon’ts tohelp you clean your precious metal treasures without anymishaps. Let’s dive into how you can successfully clean your old coins.

Cleaning orNot?

Before cleaning anold coin, it’s important toconsider ifit’s collectible. Ifyou’ve got ahistorical gem like theMonroe Half Dollar, forinstance, it’s probably best toleave itasis. Cleaning might domore harm than good, removing its original finish andcausing discoloration. You definitely don’t want todevalue your investment.

The upcoming tips oncleaning old coins without damage are handy, but remember they’re more forcoins you’re not planning tosell forprofit.

How toClean Old Rare Coins Without Messing UpTheir Value

Just give them agood rinse under water, that’s it! Ifyou’ve got avaluable collectible coin, play itsafe andlet apro appraise andclean it.

But hey, ifyou’ve got some old coins that aren’t worth much (or you’re not sure), you can try cleaning them athome. Just use stuff like vinegar, baking soda, orwater, depending onthemetal. Make sure not todamage them though!

How toGently Clean Coins With Vinegar, Lemon Juice, Baking Soda, andSoap

Here’s theultimate coin-cleaning hack you can try athome tospruce upthose non-collectible orvaluable coins. Just follow thesteps below, andyou’ll have that old, oxidized penny looking fresh innotime!

Materials needed

  • Distilled white vinegar (or fresh lemon juice)
  • Salt
  • Shallow plastic container
  • Cloth orpaper towel
  • Baking soda
  • Dishwashing soap
  • Toothbrush

Step 1 Mix itup

Mix together 1cup ofwhite vinegar (or lemon juice) with 1tablespoon ofsalt inajar. Stir until thesalt isall dissolved.

Step 2 Fill aplastic bin

Goahead andpour themixture into theplastic container. Make sure there’s enough liquid sothat when you place thepennies onthebottom, they’re completely submerged. Ifnot, simply add more ofthecleaning mixture.

Step 3 Soak coins

Put thecoins into theplastic bin, making sure they don’t touch each other. Give itabout 15minutes.

Step 4 Wipe coins

Take out thecoins andgive them awipe with acloth orpaper towel. They should look all shiny. Ifthat stubborn layer ofbrown oxidation doesn’t budge, pop thecoins back inthecontainer andlet them soak foranother five minutes.

Step 5 Scrub coins with baking soda

Want ahands-on way toclean coins? Give this method atry:

  • Mix abit ofwater with atablespoon ofbaking soda tomake apaste.
  • Grab anold toothbrush andgently scrub each coin with thepaste.
  • Rinse thecoins tounveil their shiny surfaces. Enjoy thesparkle!

Step 6 Clean coins with dish soap

Ifyour coins are still dirty, here’s what you can do:

  • Fill upaplastic container with warm water, around 1inch deep.
  • Add asquirt ofdishwashing liquid andgive itagood mix tocreate some bubbles.
  • Toss thecoins inandrub each one until they shine bright.
  • Rinse with warm water andlet them dry.

Tada! Good asnew!

How toClean Old Silver Coins Safely

Toclean old silver coins, there’s anifty trick: grab some aluminum foil andanelectrolyte solution.

Wrap thecoin infoil andplop itinto abowl with baking soda andwater orsalt andwater. Let itsoak forafew minutes, then carefully unwrap. Voila! Your silver coin will shine bright like new, nodamage done.

It’s thefastest, safest way tobring back thesparkle. Silver coins tarnish with moisture orair exposure, but electrolytes have themagic touch toremove that tarnish without harming themetal.

And hey, with silver’s demand ontherise, it’s always good toknow thebest way tokeep those coins gleaming!

How toClean Old Copper Coins

Cleaning old copper coins isabreeze. All you need isalittle H2O. However, it’s crucial toheed this advice: opt fordistilled water instead oftap. The reason being, tap water often contains chemicals that could potentially harm these precious relics.

Torestore ancient corroded copper coins without causing them harm, simply submerge them inabowl ofhot distilled water overnight. Come morning, remove thecoins from thebowl andallow them toair-dry.

This method reigns supreme when itcomes tosprucing upantiquated copper coins. The use ofanyother cleaning agents ishighly discouraged. Let’s delve into science, shall we? Oxidation iscopper’s innate defense mechanism. When copper isexposed totheelements, itdevelops acaptivating azure patina, serving asasafeguard against further damage. Stripping away this protective layer would leave thecopper vulnerable andbereft ofits natural defenses.

How toClean Old Coins with co*ke (if you’re feeling adventurous)

When itcomes tocleaning dirty coins athome, Coca-Cola provides anoption. This isbecause co*ke contains phosphoric acid, which reacts with metal oxides due toits acidic nature.

Toclean your old coins using co*ke, simply fill abowl with itandallow them tosoak. Itisimportant toexercise caution andnot let thecoins soak fortoo long, asfizzy soda has thepotential todissolve metals.

Itisrecommended toperiodically check onyour coins every 15minutes orsotoensure that thecorrosion isbeing removed effectively.

How toClean Coins with Hydrogen Peroxide (unsafe forold coins)

Hydrogen peroxide isafantastic solution forremoving dirt from coins while also sterilizing them. Simply place thecoins inabowl andensure they are completely covered with hydrogen peroxide. Allow them tosoak forafull 24hours. Afterward, rinse thecoins with water andgently dry them using acloth. This method will restore thecoins totheir former glory, leaving them clean andpristine.

How toClean Coins with Ketchup

Don’t dothat. It’s ridiculous.

How toKeep Your Coins Clean Longer

  • Handle coins with care. Always grip them between your thumb andindex finger while handling.
  • Protect your hands. When dealing with collectible coins orafter cleaning them, wear gloves toprevent smudges andfingerprints. The natural oils from your skin may corrode thecoins.
  • Ensure dryness. Moisture can cause discoloration, while saliva can leave stubborn spots that are hard toremove.
  • Store properly. Use holders that are acid-free andPVC-free tosafeguard your collectible coins. Acid andPVC can both harm thecoins, with PVC potentially leaving asticky, slimy green coating onthesurface.

How to Clean Old Coins Without Damaging Them (1)

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  • How toSell Coins onOnline Coin Auction
  • How toClean Old Coins Without Damaging Them
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How to Clean Old Coins Without Damaging Them (2024)

FAQs

How to Clean Old Coins Without Damaging Them? ›

Add a small amount of water to a tablespoon of baking soda to form a paste. Apply the paste to each coin using an old toothbrush and scrub gently. Rinse the coins to reveal the now-shiny surfaces.

Is it better to clean old coins or leave them dirty? ›

Cleaning old coins might seem like a good way to revitalise the appearance of a treasured item, but could in fact reduce a coin's value significantly, and should be avoided. Particularly in the case of old precious metal coins, cleaning them is most definitely not recommended!

How do professionals clean old coins? ›

The coin is dipped into a dilute acid solution that removes the oxidation from the coin along with a small amount of metal. Overdipped coins result in loss of luster which lowers the coin's grade and appeal. According to author Thomas E. Hudgeons Jr., this is the safest way commonly found coins are cleaned.

What is the best thing to clean old coins with? ›

Wash each coin gently with a soft toothbrush before rinsing and drying it. Scrub low-value coins with baking soda and vinegar, lemon juice and salt, or ketchup to break apart tarnish. Remove tough tarnish on coins by soaking them in hydrogen peroxide or cola. Alternatively, dip each coin in a commercial cleaner.

Does vinegar damage coins? ›

It can remove stains and tarnish and won't damage your coins' surface.

Do old coins lose value if cleaned? ›

Don't clean your old coins

Cleaning coins takes away from their value, he said. “It gives the coin an unfair advantage on other coins … it will be a coin that is not natural. The coins that will bring your premium are the coins that are natural,” Zeitouni said.

Why do coin collectors hate cleaned coins? ›

Cleaning a coin improperly can reduce its market value by various percentages based on the coin in question.

What liquid cleans pennies the best? ›

Copper oxide dissolves in a mixture of weak acid and table salt-and vinegar is an acid. You could also clean your pennies with salt and lemon juice or orange juice, because those juices are acids, too.

How long to leave coins in co*ke? ›

STEP4 - Pop your coins into your glass of co*ke. STEP5 - Sit back and wait but you should be able to see a difference in the colour of your coins within about an hour.

How do you clean and store old coins? ›

Gently. You can deal with surface dirt by submerging the coins in warm water (distilled or deionized) and liquid dish soap (something free of additives like perfumes and dyes). Later, rinse them in clean water and pat dry with a lint-free, non-abrasive cloth.

How do you clean coins without hurting the value? ›

Fill a plastic container with distilled water and stir in the mild hand soap in which you will soak the dirty coins for 10 to 15 minutes. After this, take the coins out, lay them on a clean, soft cloth, and use the old, soft toothbrush to scrub each coin gently.

Can you use Windex to clean coins? ›

Soap and Water - This is generally the only way to clean silvered and silver-plated coins, without damaging the silver. Ammonium - Windex works fine. This will clean the coin without damaging the silver.

What liquid cleans coins the best? ›

The salt and acetic acid in vinegar do the trick. Hot sauce, like Tabasco or taco sauce, also will remove the oxides off pennies. As in ketchup, salt and vinegar are both in hot sauce. co*ke and off-brand colas will quickly remove the tarnish.

How do you clean old coins that have been in the ground? ›

Place your coins in a bowl of distilled water and leave for a few hours to let the surface grime soak. Once ready, take a nail brush or a toothbrush and some running water and gently wipe over the coins, removing as much dirt as possible.

Does co*ke clean old coins? ›

Our cola contains phosphoric acid which is why cola is acidic. The acid reacts with the oxide rusty coating that has covered our coins and returns them back to almost as good as new.

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