Is it OK to clean old pennies?

According to coin experts, cleaning any potentially collectible coins might cause them to lose value. Using chemical cleaners or scrubbing the coins could leave scratches and marks that will be easy for a skilled appraiser to pick up on.

How do you clean old pennies without damaging them?

Place your coins in a bowl and pour enough white vinegar to cover the coins. Let the coins soak for at least 30 minutes but no longer than overnight. Remove the coins and gently scrub the residue with the toothbrush. Rinse the dirt off with water and dry with a cloth.

Why shouldn't you clean coins?

The abrasive product can leave scratches or hairlines on the coin, as well as destroy the luster of the coin; in many cases a coin that has lost its luster will rarely be worth more than half its original uncleaned value.

What do you do with dirty pennies?

Take the coins out and sprinkle some baking soda over them; then use a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush them clean. Rinse them out thoroughly with hot water; using tongs or gloves to hold them to avoid burning your fingers. Place them on a soft, cotton towel and leave to air dry.

Why does cleaning coins decrease value?

They can remove some of the original finish or tone and even cause scratching, so they are viewed as a major negative in the world of numismatics. Polishing or rubbing coins can cause unnatural shine or other damage, also reducing the value of your coins. Cleaning is a factor in coins not qualifying for grading.

How to Clean a Coin Correctly

Is it worth it to clean old coins?

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!

Can you clean coins without losing value?

According to coin experts, cleaning any potentially collectible coins might cause them to lose value. Using chemical cleaners or scrubbing the coins could leave scratches and marks that will be easy for a skilled appraiser to pick up on.

Why does Coca Cola clean pennies?

The soda cleans the pennies because it contains phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid breaks down the copper oxygen compound and causes a new layer of the copper to be exposed.

Can vinegar damage coins?

Acid based cleaners will eat away at a coin's surface diminishing its value. According to research professor Vinod Patel, washing coins with natural white vinegar and iodized salt in distilled water is a non destructive way of cleaning coins.

Why do pennies turn black?

When oxygen binds with copper, they form a new molecule known as copper oxide. Copper oxide is brownish or sometimes black in color (depending on other things in the penny's environment). This is why most pennies you see look dirty or tarnished—it's not actually dirt but copper oxide that makes them look so dull.

What is the best way to clean a penny?

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.

Can you tell if a coin has been cleaned?

Judge the age and consistency of the color, its depth and evenness. The underlying luster should be undisturbed and in a perfect cartwheel pattern, this being especially visible about the obverse stars. Look for hairlines or other imperfections that may indicate the coin was cleaned at some time in its past.

Can I clean coins with water?

The method of cleaning depends on the type of coin. For older, condition-sensitive coins, a gentle bath of water and mild hand soap will suffice. For coins that don't have collectible value, you can use sand, olive oil, and even isopropyl alcohol to get the job done.

How do you clean a 100 year old penny?

Clean old coins with vinegar.

Let the coin soak for a few minutes. Then grasp the coin by its edges, pull it out of the vinegar, and rinse it clean with distilled water. If the coin is still tarnished or dirty, try brushing it gently with a soft toothbrush. Be careful not to scratch the surface of the coin, however.

What is a 1944 penny worth?

According to the NGC Price Guide, as of February 2023, a Wheat Penny from 1944 in circulated condition is worth between $7500 and $33500. However, on the open market 1944 STEEL Pennies in pristine, uncirculated condition sell for as much as $200000.

Are there rare pennies?

The world's rarest and most coveted pennies are valued at more than $100,000 and some even go for $2 million. Rarity is a significant factor in determining a penny's worth. The condition of the coin is another. But demand is the factor that drives coin values the most.

Will vinegar destroy a penny?

Will vinegar destroy a penny? It turns out that vinegar is an acid, and the acid in the vinegar reacts with the salt to remove what chemists call copper oxide which was making your pennies dull.

What happens if you leave pennies in vinegar for too long?

Don't soak the pennies for too long.

After a few minutes, the same reaction that dissolves stuck-on grime can begin to eat away at the copper. This may cause the pennies to give off an odd metallic residue, staining your hands or the container they're in.

Does baking soda damage old coins?

Since it was first produced and sold in the United States in the mid-1800s, baking soda has been a popular product with many useful purposes. One of these is to clean certain valuable items in a safe, effective way. As for whether or not baking soda damages silver coins, the short answer is typically no.

Does Toothpaste clean a penny?

Don't use toothpaste – Toothpaste is extremely abrasive. It can make your coins appear shiny, but cause significant damage to the surface. Don't use ketchup – You might have learned in science class that dipping a penny in ketchup can restore their shine.

How can I make my pennies shiny again?

Vinegar is a very weak acid on its own, but mixing vinegar and salt creates a slightly stronger acid that will eat away all the copper oxide, and leave you with a nice, shiny penny!

Can lemon clean pennies?

Pennies are made out of a metal called copper. The copper mixes with oxygen, the same gas that we breathe. This cause something called oxidation and makes the penny look dirty. Lemon juice has acid in it that removes the dirty color or oxidation and makes the penny nice and shiny again!

What years of pennies are worth money?

Does Coca Cola clean coins?

Yes, that refreshing can of Coke that you like to drink by the pool can also clean coins. Coke's phosphoric acid can clean the oxides that cause tarnish and corrosion.

Can water damage coins?

Though pennies will develop the worst patina from their exposure to flood waters, remember that other coins have a copper core that shows enough to cause them to develop this patina, as well.