advice on cleaning old copper penny

[bookemdano]

Recently found a 1796 liberty cap large cent and would like to clean it, but at the same time do not want to damage it. I have heard white vinegar and salt, also soak in olive oil... anyone out there who might help I would much appreciate. The coin has some dirt and patina,

 

[saltersnatch]

i use olive oil for my indians and it works great. i would think vinegar would damage the coin and take away the natural look of the coin. I've used vinegar to bring out the date on my no date buffalos
but it pretty much ruins the coin's natural look as it pretty much eats away the surface of the coin. Anywho good luck. Salter

 

[frozentundra]

Definitely olive oil.

I have had my 1818 Large Cent soaking for about 3 months.

When I found it, it was so encrusted I couldn't tell what it was. Now, I can see every detail, stars, Liberty, hair chords.

It is the best form of cleaning, it will just take time. Let it soak for a few months and you will be amazed.

 

[goldnugget]

I am currently testing 5 prescription bottle with different coins in Simple Green and Oop's. I have alot of Crusted beach coins and I didn't write on the label which Solution was in the bottle. I think it was Simple Green and it worked Great..If not, it was not showing any reaction, I just walked by and shook the plastic Cointainer for about a week. Amazing I just rinsed the coin and the water tonight and Bingo it was clean I an currently soaking some of my lastest beach Finds about 10 Large cent-2 Flying Eagle cent and a couple Reale's. The Shield Nickel and the V-Nickels also came out Great. I will be uploading pictures soon titled When your Hot your Hot Part 2, Check Part 1 sometimes on different boards . I also found over 30 Flat Buttons, Key Hole covers ,etc

 

[VanningtheUSA]

A little tooth paste ( the one with out the whitening strips) and a soft tooth brush will do it. Hope it helps.

 

[LipCa]

Of course you've ruined the coin for grading purposes using any of the methods.

 

[ecdonovan10]

The obvious, don,t clean with anything other than soap and water unless you are sure it is not valuable. This is for all you coin collectors who cringe when this is talked about. Now for metal detectorist the answer is after trying to ID your find realize that any cleaning will not help the value. Most (99%) of the finds I have ever made are not worth selling, then go from there. My favorite cleaning method on copper is peroxide in a microwave safe dish, heated for 1 minute. Remove from microwave and put coin in, now watch. The more fizzing you get the more it is being cleaned. After it has slowed remove and try a soaked tooth pick on the crustier spots. You may repeat this, remove coin before reheating, as many times as you want. I usually stop after I can ID the coin and get a good idea of the date. Then I wash in soap and water. After drying I like to coat it in Renaissance wax to keep it from oxidizing quickly again and bring out the detail a little. Some use plain lip balm instead. This also works well on buttons when carefully done.

Ed D.

 

[saltersnatch]

It really doesn't matter if you clean a dug coin as it pertains to grading. If you clean it, it is gonna say cleaned, if you don't it will say environmental damage. The question wasn't about grading, it is safe to assume most know that cleaning a coin isn't good to do on key date or valuable/rare coins.

 

[bookemdano]

Thanks for all the input guys...I currently have it soaking in olive oil, my thoughts were... there is nothing in oil that could damage it so I opted for the olive oil advice. Not sure what it would grade at, probably pass it down to my grandson anyway. I am thankful for this forum and the knowledge gained from all your post, happy hunting all... It's all about the joy of the hunt and the anticipation of whats hiding in that next plug.

 

[kingingkunsan]

The obvious, don,t clean with anything other than soap and water unless you are sure it is not valuable. This is for all you coin collectors who cringe when this is talked about. Now for metal detectorist the answer is after trying to ID your find realize that any cleaning will not help the value. Most (99%) of the finds I have ever made are not worth selling, then go from there. My favorite cleaning method on copper is peroxide in a microwave safe dish, heated for 1 minute. Remove from microwave and put coin in, now watch. The more fizzing you get the more it is being cleaned. After it has slowed remove and try a soaked tooth pick on the crustier spots. You may repeat this, remove coin before reheating, as many times as you want. I usually stop after I can ID the coin and get a good idea of the date. Then I wash in soap and water. After drying I like to coat it in Renaissance wax to keep it from oxidizing quickly again and bring out the detail a little. Some use plain lip balm instead. This also works well on buttons when carefully done.

Ed D.

+1 what he said.

 

[goldnugget]

Some of my June 9,2013 Beach Coins, the 5th picture is a Mexico Real. I am trying a new tripod this week and beats holding the camera by hand trying to get a close up of coins. I will be posting more under When your Hot your Hot Part 2 on the Forums

 

[michael NY]

I have used olive oil on large cents in fact a pair I dug sat in olive oil for over year the look great today. Nice find congratulations.

 

[oneguy]

Anyone know the best way to clean junk clad/pennies for re-circulation? Tumbler....????? Thanks!

 

[scottso]

I use boiling hydrogen peroxide

 

[goldnugget]

I use a Tumbler, try to separate Zinc Cent from all your clad, but then I don't care because I'm going to unload all the coins when I buy something and pay the sales tax. I use Liquid Dawn in my tumbler with Great Results

 

[IOWAOPIE]

Bar keepers friend in liquid format. works awesome on cleaning clad pennies. put a drop on penny place penny between finger and thumb, work it around a bit and out pops a shiny new looking penny. My 8 year old son just did 391 pennies so he could take them to the bank. he also accidently did my 1926 wheat and it looks brand new also. not orange like some cleaners make them. The rest of the clad we throw in a tumbler for a while. Also our tumbler is a old printer we stripped down and reused.