How do I clean old coins?

Question

my husband has a box of old coins, mostly wheat pennies and mercury dimes, a few buffalo head nickels and old silver dollars from as far back as 1922. I need a easy way to clean and store these can you help? I think his oldest is a 1909 wheat penny, could this collection be worth anything, it's priceless to him.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Believe or not, ketchup is the best cleaner for pennies. Ketchup has also worked for silver coins as well, for me anyways.

Put the pennies in a flat glass pan and squirt ketchup to cover and coat each penny. Leave on for 20 minutes or so. Wash and rinse.

You don't want to use abrasive cleaners at all.

You can get coin folders at any hobby shop. Go to the library or look online at coin websites to find out the value of your penny.

If you go to a coin shop, don't bring your coins at first, just browse at the coins they are selling. You can checkout the values from looking at their asking prices.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

good advice thank you!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

Do NOT clean your coins.
Cleaning can destroy any value they have.

You can obtain plastic sleeve for storing coins at at coin or stamp collecting store. They are pretty cheap. Alternatively, you might look on eBay.

But please do not clean your coins. The risk of damaging them is much greater than it is worth.

Answer 3

soak coins in Lemon Juice for a few mins,, then polish,, this can remove years and years of stains and wear,, feel free to research it,, the acidic properties of the Lemon Juice can eat away most things on coins,,

Answer 4

My friend has an antique store and they use a baking soda and vinegar paste.

Answer 5

try baking powder in water or concentrated lime water...hope it works..

Answer 6

Don't clean them. Any substances put on the coins takes away from their value. Take them to an appraiser or coin dealer. Keep them in a good holder and keep your fingers off the face of the coins

Answer 7

Dip it in a mixture of vinegar and salt. But PLEASE try this with a regular dirty coin first, because I don't want it to ruin your coins. I know it works, but just be on the safe side.

Answer 8

Try dumping them in vinegar for a few hour (sometime it may take days)

Answer 9

lemon juice and a touch of salt

Answer 10

at school (years ago) we put a coin in cola for a couple of days and it came out shiny... depends how important it is to you! try it with a scruffy old penny!

Answer 11

Don't try to clean the coins. Leaving as they are, will make them more valuable.

Answer 12

agree with p.m.

Do NOT clean your coins.
Cleaning can destroy any value they have.

Answer 13

Don't clean them -- it diminishes their value.

Answer 14

The only way to safely clean them is soak in olive oil. It takes about a week or two, but that is the only SAFE way to do it. Never use cleaners as the coins will lose their value.