This post proves pennies add up

[JimmyCT]

I decided to purchase a two barrel tumbler and clean up my pennies I have acquired with the Minelab Equinox. To my surprise, when the coins cleaned up, I found quite a new Pennies from Canada, IH pennies, several hundred Wheat pennies and untold amounts of clad pennies.

 

[fwcrawford]

That is quite the collection of pennies Jim!!
I bet you are glad to finally get them all cleaned up.

 

[Ted S]

Jimmy...What did you use in your tumbler to clean them? I quite a few to clean but I only have a single barrel tumbler...

 

[still looking 52]

Nice haul, your going to need a wheel barrow to get all those pennies to the bank.

 

[The Lost Ring]

Crazy collection. What did you use for cleaning?

 

[Chris(SoCenWI)]

Jim,

I'm tumbling right now. Don't think I'll find any more coins in 2021, unless I locate my flux capacitor.

It's pretty difficult to get deeply corroded copper to come out nice, like the picture of your IHs. I've found if hydrogen peroxide doesn't do it not much will.

Chris

 

[kaolinwasher]

I still have about 10lb of them , thinking of making copper spear points of them

 

[JimmyCT]

Since I am new at cleaning coins with a tumbler, I attempted to do so a couple different ways.
At first I used water, white vinegar and salt along with aquarium gravel. (I kept the water level just above the gravel / coins then added salt and vinegar.) I would run the tumbler for an hour then change out the water and refilled with the same mixture. I did this three times. This method removed a ton of crud off the wheaties and regular pennies.
I also used straight vinegar and salt with no water. This mixture didn't make much of a difference, so I went back to water, White Vinegar and salt.
I then used 2 lbs of 1/8" stainless steel ball bearings for a 4th run on the wheat pennies. Next, I filled the container with water(just over the stainless steel ball bearings and coins) and added a few drops of Dawn Dish detergent. I then let it run for a good hour. These pictures are the results. I feel the 4th run with the stainless steel media is a good way to end the cleaning. As you can see not every coin comes out nice. I may need to give it more time in the tumbler to get the stubborn coins clean.

 

[JimmyCT]

That is quite the collection of pennies Jim!!
I bet you are glad to finally get them all cleaned up.

I will never let clad coins build up this much ever again. Maybe I'll sprinkle them all over your favorite hunting spots This should slow you down

 

[JimmyCT]

Nice haul, your going to need a wheel barrow to get all those pennies to the bank.

I will have to return them in multiple trips to the nearest coinstar

 

[jim tn]

50 or so pennies in a rock tumbler barrel with a cup of pea gravel, 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar, 2 table spoons salt and tumble for 50-60 min. Rinse off in a colander and lay coins on a towel and blot dry. Put them in coin wrappers, take to the bank and use the cash as necessary.

For clad coins do the above with white vinegar rather then apple cider.

Coinstars reject to many coins and usually charge a fee. I have no problem with my bank taking my cleaned and rolled coins. HH jim tn

 

[JimmyCT]

50 or so pennies in a rock tumbler barrel with a cup of pea gravel, 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar, 2 table spoons salt and tumble for 50-60 min. Rinse off in a colander and lay coins on a towel and blot dry. Put them in coin wrappers, take to the bank and use the cash as necessary.

For clad coins do the above with white vinegar rather then apple cider.

Coinstars reject to many coins and usually charge a fee. I have no problem with my bank taking my cleaned and rolled coins. HH jim tn

Jim,
Thank you for the recipe !

 

[jim tn]

You are welcome JimmyCT. I've tried many different ways of cleaning coins over the years and that mixture works as good as any and better then most. I FORGOT TO MENTION, MAKE SURE COPPER CENTS DON'T GET MIXED IN WITH CLAD. JUST ONE CENT CAN PUT A REDDISH TINT ON A BATCH OF CLAD.

I clean my cents and clad about every three months or so. This frequency typically adds up fo $65. to $75. and the cleaning can be accomplished in a afternoon on a rainy day and the amount doesn't overwhelm a bank teller. In my case, I separate the wheat cents from the Memorials as I have a guy that pays me 3 1/2 cents apiece for wheats. He knows I check the dates on them as our club has wheaty bingo and I do keep any semi key dates I may find. Dug, they aren't worth much of anything, anyway. Don't know what the fellow does with them, but I am glad they are getting put to some kind of use. HH jim tn

 

[Ted S]

Interesting tips! Thank you! I have some corn cob media that is used to clean brass for ammo reloading. Anyone ever try that?

 

[moreb]

Interesting tips! Thank you! I have some corn cob media that is used to clean brass for ammo reloading. Anyone ever try that?

I use corn cob after I run them through ceramic. Corn cob will turn zincolns into oversized dimes after a couple of days. Takes the copper flashing right off.

 

[Ronstar]

Jim, I have the same tumbler through Harbor Freight. I notice that using the same basic recipe that the lids start to bulge and I have to stop and release the pressure (usually a couple times). Do you have the same experience? Also it is hard as hell to get that lid off too…….

 

[JimmyCT]

Jim, I have the same tumbler through Harbor Freight. I notice that using the same basic recipe that the lids start to bulge and I have to stop and release the pressure (usually a couple times). Do you have the same experience? Also it is hard as hell to get that lid off too…….

Hi Ron,
I never experienced what you have with lids bulging. To remove, I use a flat head screw driver by lifting straight up with the blade. I then move a little ways and lift straight up again. I keep repeating this and the lid releases. Being left-handed, I lift up with the screw driver blade and hold down the container with my right. This works extremely well for me.

 

[JimmyCT]

You are welcome JimmyCT. I've tried many different ways of cleaning coins over the years and that mixture works as good as any and better then most. I FORGOT TO MENTION, MAKE SURE COPPER CENTS DON'T GET MIXED IN WITH CLAD. JUST ONE CENT CAN PUT A REDDISH TINT ON A BATCH OF CLAD.

I clean my cents and clad about every three months or so. This frequency typically adds up fo $65. to $75. and the cleaning can be accomplished in a afternoon on a rainy day and the amount doesn't overwhelm a bank teller. In my case, I separate the wheat cents from the Memorials as I have a guy that pays me 3 1/2 cents apiece for wheats. He knows I check the dates on them as our club has wheaty bingo and I do keep any semi key dates I may find. Dug, they aren't worth much of anything, anyway. Don't know what the fellow does with them, but I am glad they are getting put to some kind of use. HH jim tn

By accident that did happen to some of my dimes and quarters

 

[saltersnatch]

Dishwasher gel works good

 

[Odanscoils]

I decided to purchase a two barrel tumbler and clean up my pennies I have acquired with the Minelab Equinox. To my surprise, when the coins cleaned up, I found quite a new Pennies from Canada, IH pennies, several hundred Wheat pennies and untold amounts of clad pennies.

Awesome
Congratulations.