Cleaning your old coins with gentle dish soap and water can loosen some of that built-up dirt. Fill a small plastic container with warm water, add a few drops of mild soap, immerse the coins, and rub with your fingers or a soft toothbrush to clean.
Pour your coins into one bowl and fill with cold water until the money is well covered. In the other bowl, pour about 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Dip the toothbrush into the bowl of baking soda and scrub the coins. The baking soda should remove any dirt and grime and won't scratch the metal.
However coins will often have on them built up dirt and grease. This may get into the nooks and crannies of the coin. To remove this type of build up you can use a weak detergent solution with a soft cloth (Clux Wipe or similar will do the trick) to take this material off.
Distilled water is recommended as tap water contains chlorine. The coin is dipped into olive oil which according to Hudgeons, works best for common copper or bronze coins.
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.
This is never advised for the general public. There is no benefit to attempting to clean a collectible coin. Copper never re-tones to its original color and look anyway. Put down the polish before you destroy something historical and throw away a fortune.
It is best not to clean rare coins as removing the patina can significantly reduce the value of them. For this reason, most coin hobbyists almost never clean their coins. In fact, 99% of coins do not increase in value after you clean them, but many will be greatly devalued.
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.
Coke and off-brand colas will quickly remove the tarnish. Just don't drink the coke afterward. Coke contains phosphoric acid that cleans the oxides. Try a variety of citrus juices to see which works best or simply let your pennies soak in lemon juice.
Wet the affected coin with clean tap or distilled water, roll in baking soda, then gently scrub with a soft toothbrush. Rinse the baking soda and debris off with more clean water, and repeat the steps if necessary.
Cleaning an old coin would remove the patina or toning that helps make it even more unique and visually appealing. Removing this effect can significantly reduce the value of the item. The other main reason you shouldn't clean old coins is that you can easily damage them.
A new $2 coin commemorating the end of the Vietnam War has skyrocketed in value and is now selling for up to $1,200 online. The Royal Australian Mint released two $2 coins earlier this month to commemorate 50 years since the end of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War.
The vinegar and salt mixture dissolves the outer layer of dirt. Flip the pennies over and wait another 30 seconds. Then remove them, rinse them with water, and dry. Now you have two clean, shiny pennies!
Use Hand Sanitizer
This buildup causes the metal to tarnish and can increase the amount of wear and corrosion on the face of the coin. The more the face of the coin is handled, the more subdued the features will become. Hand sanitizer will remove the bulk of those troublesome oils.
Make sure your coins have been cleared of all dirt, debris and other objects prior to visiting the kiosk to ensure a successful transaction. Items like food, screws, dirty or sticky coins and other objects will jam the machine.
Due to its mild abrasiveness, it removes stuck-on particles and will polish most hard substances, including coins. You can clean most coins using baking soda and water alone; however, you should note that cleaning old coins may decrease their value.
Collectible or valuable coins should not be cleaned as cleaning almost always reduces their value and rarely improves their grading. Though it may seem that a bright, shiny coin would be more appealing to coin collectors, the truth is most prefer coins to possess their natural color.
Brasso is a metal cleaner that some people will already have on hand for other home applications and it is definitely the quickest and easiest method to clean pennies.
Don't clean your coins! Not only does this cut their value by as much as half (or possibly even more), but it will be an immediate deal-breaker for many dealers who would've otherwise wanted to buy your coins if only they were left in their original condition.