How to Clean a Copper Coin with Baking Soda

Cleaning copper coins at home

There are often cases when a valuable antique coin does not have any damage, but there are a large number of dark spots and other contaminants on it. Such a coin can be returned to its normal state if you approach the cleaning process correctly. If you are interested in cleaning copper coins, then this article is for you.

Methods for Cleaning Copper Coins

At the moment, there are a number of methods for cleaning copper coins, each of which has its own advantages and is suitable for a specific situation. Here are the main ones:

• Dry cleaning;
• Mechanical cleaning;
• Cooking;
• Electrolysis.

Let's take a closer look at each of these methods and their features.

Dry cleaning

Dry cleaning of coins is one of the most effective cleaning methods, however, it may not be used in all cases. Dry cleaning involves the use of substances such as ammonia, soda, soap, acid, washing powder, detergents and much more.

The easiest way to dry clean coins is to clean the coins in warm soapy water, which is suitable for any coins. If the contamination is more serious and the ancient coins cannot be cleaned simply with soapy water, then you can try to do this with a detergent or remove the blackness with laundry soap.

In order to achieve the desired result, you should keep the coins in the solution for at least several hours, if they are not very dirty, but if the pollution is severe, then they should be kept in the solution for at least a day. However, it is not always possible to cope with contamination of coins using soap or detergent; for example, these substances are unlikely to help against green deposits, so more effective methods must be used.

Cleaning coins with baking soda

If you are interested in the question of how to clean an antique copper coin that is very dirty, then one option may be to use soda. Cleaning a copper coin using this method is quite simple; you need to form a slurry by mixing one spoon of soda and a small amount of water, then apply the resulting substance to the product. After holding the coin in this state for some time, you should clean it of the pulp using a regular brush.

Cleaning with soda can be used both independently and after acid cleaning of the coin.

Mechanical cleaning

In order to clean an old copper coin using the mechanical method, you need to use items such as brushes, cloths, drills, needles and much more. Cleaning with this method is quite simple, but usually labor intensive. In addition, there is a risk of damaging the product, so cleaning using this method should be done with the utmost care and caution.

Boiling down coins

In cases where it is necessary to clean copper coins at home that are seriously contaminated, the boiling method is often used.

It’s quite simple to do: place a few coins in a pan with hot oil, which need to be cleaned and cooked for about 10 minutes.

After this time, you need to remove the coins and wash them thoroughly with a brush and soap, making sure to remove any remaining oil. Then, you need to boil the coins in distilled water.

The method is quite effective, it gives the coins shine and makes them much cleaner, but it has a number of risks, for example, during the cooking process, the noble patina, which is very valuable, comes off from the coins. That is why many do not recommend using this method for especially valuable coins.

Electrolysis

When asked how to clean a copper coin, many respond by suggesting using the electrolysis method. On the one hand, this is the most effective way to clean coins, but at the same time it is the most dangerous, so before using it, you need to weigh all the risks.  

The essence of the method is that a current is supplied to a slightly salted water solution in which the coin is located. When using this method, it is necessary to follow all safety rules, since here it is necessary to work with current, which always has a certain danger. Therefore, it is important to use protective gloves and goggles.

Some tips and features for cleaning copper coins

When cleaning copper coins, as with any other metal, it is very important not only to clean the coin, but not to harm it. Almost all existing cleaning methods can harm the product if not used carefully. In order not to harm the copper coin during the cleaning process, a number of nuances should be taken into account.

Over time, a layer of patina forms on the surface of a copper coin, which is quite valuable. If a copper coin does not contain corrosion on its surface and has a uniform film of patina, it is better not to take risks and not clean such a coin, as there is a high risk of harming it.

The fact is that the patina protects the coin from corrosion, so if you remove it during the cleaning process, it can lead to big problems in the future. If such a coin has traces of touch or any impurities on its surface, you should simply wash it with soapy water.

 A cleaned copy of your collection in this way will delight you with its pleasant appearance and noble patina.

If your collection contains coins that have been corroded, then it is best to clean them using a chemical method, using substances such as soda or citric acid.

We hope you now know how to clean copper coins at home, and also know what to clean and how to reduce the risk of damage to the coin during the cleaning process.

Source: http://HozInfo.ru/hozyajke-na-zametku/chistka-mednyh-monet-v-domashnih-usloviyah

How and with what to clean a silver coin without spoiling it

The rules for cleaning silver coins at home require a competent choice of products and compliance with the sequence of actions. Heavy contamination is not a common occurrence, but in most cases it is possible to restore the original appearance of the surface of coins without turning to professionals.

Cleaning silver items, including coins, should be carried out taking into account certain features of the process:

• Before cleaning, the quality of the material is assessed, since high-grade silver is used for large coins, while small ones are minted from low-grade silver.
• Items should be cleaned slowly so as not to injure the surface.
• Always, after the products are washed, regardless of the product chosen, they should be dried with cotton pads and polished using a piece of natural suede. This gives silver its natural, beautiful shine.

You can clean silver coins yourself either at home or with special products, which you need to know how to choose correctly.

It is not recommended to clean high-value coins yourself. They are best left to professionals.

A must-see for anyone who decides to clean silver coins at home!

How to clean silver coins with home remedies

Homemade silver cleaning methods can remove moderate stains and are suitable for low-quality silver items.

Salt

Salt is a gentle agent that does not require surface friction and therefore does not injure it, but it is recommended to use it only for silver items that are not of great value. Salt will help get rid of pink plaque and impurities:

1. Salt in a bowl is poured with water in a 1:1 ratio. It turns out to be a mush.
2. The mass is laid out on foil.
3. The coin is placed in the pulp and the foil is wrapped.
4. Soaking in salt for 2–3 hours.
5. Removing the coin and rinsing it without friction in cool running water.

Do not use sea or iodized salt for cleaning. They can negatively affect silver, which contains significant impurities.

Vinegar

Acetic acid for cleaning silver is used only if there is no need to preserve the patina, or if it is completely absent. It is not essence that is used, but acid with a concentration of 6 or 9%. The product helps against dirt and oxides:

1. The coin is evaluated for patina and the importance of preserving it.
2. Next, rinse with cool water and dry with a soft cloth.
3. A cotton pad is soaked in vinegar.
4. The coin is cleaned with a damp disc until the dirt is removed from it and it begins to shine.
5. Rinsing the coin in clean water.

To help vinegar cleanse dirt better, you can warm it up slightly, but not too much.

Only regular table vinegar is used. Apple or something else that has its own color will not help solve the problem. Silver coins are cleaned in the same way with citric acid.

Toothpaste

For cleansing, use a white paste without abrasive crystals or bleaching effect. It helps well against blackness and simple dirt. The cleaning process is quite lengthy:

1. Rinse the silver coin with clean water.
2. Rub with paste and leave for 30 minutes.
3. Use a moistened cotton pad to wipe the paste off the surface.
4. If all dirt has not been removed, then you should lubricate the surface of the coin with the paste again and immediately begin cleaning it with a cotton pad.
5. Rinsing the coin under running water.

The method is gentle, and in case of urgent need, it can be used to clean even expensive products, although this is not advisable.

How to clean silver You will learn: how to clean any silver product using home methods (7 effective ways); about cleaning silver with special products (3 best products); and also what to do

Soap solution

The cleaning agent can only be used in cases where it is known that the coins do not contain copper impurities. If it is present, then the soap will cause the appearance of green oxides. Soap can clean only minor stains:

1. Laundry soap is grated.
2. Dissolving the shavings in a small amount of warm water.
3. The product is placed in the solution and left for 60–90 minutes, depending on the degree of contamination.
4. Cleaning the surface with a soft toothbrush.
5. Rinsing coins with clean water.

Only laundry soap is suitable for such cleaning. Before immersing the coins, it must dissolve completely in water so that the pieces do not stick to the surface of the object.

Ammonia with soda

When cleaning silver coins with ammonia, blackness is removed from their surface, which is particularly resistant:

1. Ammonia (10% ammonia solution) is mixed with baking soda in a 1:1 ratio.
2. The pulp is applied to the coin.
3. The surface of the product is wiped with a soft cloth.
4. The coin is washed with clean water.

If the contamination is not severe, then you can simply wipe the product with ammonia in which a soft cloth is moistened. To get rid of the green coating, place the coin in ammonia for 15 minutes and then wipe it with a cloth.

Cleaning with special products

There are products that are designed specifically for cleaning silver and are completely safe for coins. With their help, you can put even valuable silver coins in order on your own.

Silbo

German quick-acting silver cleaner. Cleansing occurs in 8 minutes or less:

1. A silver coin is placed in a strainer.
2. Place the item in the cleaning solution.
3. Leave for 5–8 minutes.
4. The coin is washed in clean water and dried.

The product is also good because it forms a protective film on the surface, which prevents corrosion in the future.

See also about cleaning coins with Silbo wipes.

Leuchtturm

Removes dirt and oxides:

1. The coin is placed in the cleaning solution.
2. Keep the item in the product for 5 minutes.
3. Wash the coin and dry it.

This type of cleaning works very carefully, without damaging the surface of the product. Can be used for washing other metals.

Shine Coins

The product helps in cleaning silver coins not only from dirt and oxides, but also from black deposits:

1. Protective gloves are worn.
2. A soft cloth is moistened with the cleaning solution.
3. The coin is wiped for no more than 1 minute.
4. Rinsing the item with running water and drying.

Cleaning will eliminate stains, even if they are old and have not succumbed to other compounds.

Asidol-M

It will clean a silver object from grease and plaque, but it will not be able to cope with serious problems.

1. The composition is applied to the surface with a cotton swab or brush.
2. The item is left to lie for 1 minute.
3. The silver product is cleaned with a soft cloth and washed.

When using any of the listed compositions, all actions should be performed while protecting your hands with rubber gloves. These products are quite harsh on the skin.

How not to clean silver coins

Not every composition is suitable for cleaning any silver, and if chosen incorrectly, it can damage the coin. Before using the product, you need to determine whether it is truly suitable for cleaning silver coins:

• Baking soda. It should not be used for cleaning, since, being an abrasive, it damages the surface, leaving a grid of tiny scratches on it, which can cause coins to lose part of their value. Expensive collectible items cannot be cleaned this way.
• Acids. They are dangerous for metals, including silver, since acid damages the patina; if it does not exist, then such compositions can be used for cleaning.
• Soap solution. Not aggressive or abrasive, it does not mechanically injure silver during cleaning, but it provokes the appearance of green oxides on it if the composition contains not only silver, but also copper.

When cleaning silver items, it is not recommended to use the following compounds:

• cleaning powders for plumbing - they are not only strong abrasives, but also have an overly aggressive effect and irreversibly damage the metal;
• Dishwashing detergents - such compositions are not able to cope with contamination, but can easily lead to the appearance of silver oxidation.

Methods for cleaning silver products are selected for each specific case, taking into account existing rules. Sometimes especially valuable silver coins are not cleaned at all, since even the slightest damage will immediately affect the price.

Cleaning coins Cleaning silver

Source: https://you.cleaning/chistka/kak-pochistit-serebryanuyu-monetu

Cleaning copper and silver coins with vinegar, soda and salt at home: description of methods - Website about

Many collections contain good coins (without mechanical damage), but with dirt or dark spots. The problem can be solved in various ways to eliminate external defects. We'll talk about them in this article.

Types of coin cleaning

Depending on the degree of contamination, characteristics of the material and other factors, it is necessary to decide on the appropriate method. Among the main types of coin cleaning are the following:

Cleaning with warm soapy water is suitable for most metals. You can consolidate and enhance the effect obtained with any dishwashing detergent; ordinary laundry soap will also give a good result. Coins with minor stains should be soaked in the resulting solution for 2-3 hours. Coins with heavy deposits can be kept in the prepared liquid for about a day.

How to clean a coin with soda

How to clean a coin with vinegar

Cleaning with vinegar or citric acid is suitable for hard metals. A teaspoon of soda is added to the vinegar solution and the liquids are mixed. Coins are immersed in the resulting bath and left there until the stains disappear, and then treated with soap, warm water and a soft brush. If the dirt is not washed away, the procedure is repeated.

It is not advisable to use this method for coins made of gold, silver or copper.

Cleaning coins by electrolysis

Electrolysis is the most dangerous, but also the fastest method of eliminating defects. Cleaning is done by applying current to a lightly salted solution of water with a coin placed there. We will talk about this method in more detail at the end of the article.

Ammonia as a coin cleaner

Cleaning with ammonia is suitable for items made of silver, pure copper or alloys containing copper. The coin is dipped in ammonia for the time required to achieve the effect, then removed and washed. The room in which such cleaning is carried out must be well ventilated.

Mechanical cleaning

Boiling down coins

When cooking, the coin is processed in a boiling liquid; you can additionally use oil (vaseline or olive).

Several coins are placed in a pan with hot oil for 10 minutes (it is more convenient to clean in a special lattice box on a chain). After cooking, you need to wash the products with a brush and soap and remove any remaining oil by thoroughly boiling the coins in distilled water.

After cooking, the specimens acquire radiance and shine, but a noble patina disappears from them, giving the products additional value. It is better not to expose rare coins to such influence.

Rules for cleaning gold, silver and copper coins

The choice of the optimal method is made taking into account the specific properties of the metal. Cleaning carried out in the absence of the necessary knowledge and experience will not give the coin its original appearance, but will significantly damage it. For example, mechanical impact using acidol or jewelry paste leaves scratches on products and helps erase small details of designs .

Cleaning gold coins

Gold coins do not require aggressive cleaning. If dirt appears on the products, it will be enough to wash them with warm soapy water, rinse with water and dry. You should not rub gold coins vigorously, since even an ordinary cloth leaves small scratches on the precious metal .

Cleaning silver coins

Choosing the appropriate cleaning method for silver items depends on the fineness and degree of oxidation of the metal .

High-grade silver coins can be cleaned by placing them in a solution of ammonia (10% ammonia and 90% water) for an hour or in a soda solution (30 g of soda per 100 ml of water) for several hours.

The process will speed up if the liquid is brought to a boil several times and the oxidized areas are treated with a soft brush.

High-grade coins with minor traces of oxidation are best cleaned with a mixture of toothpaste, ammonia and baking soda . The resulting mass should not contain abrasive particles. The coin should be covered with the mixture and rubbed with your fingers or a brush.

Trilon B solution is suitable for cleaning low-grade silver coins . When the green layer disappears from the surface of the coin, you can continue the process using a special mixture for silver of a certain standard.

Cleaning Copper Coins

Copper products are susceptible to the formation of a patina layer on the surface. If there are no signs of corrosion on the coin, and the film is uniform, then it is better not to risk it and not to clean the coin. Patina protects the metal from corrosion and gives the coin a noble appearance. To remove traces of touch and grease, the product can be washed in warm water.

Cleaning bronze coins

Bronze products are cleaned according to the same principle as copper ones. But you need to take into account that ammonia changes the color of bronze . The metal may turn brown or even black. The shine of a bronze coin can be easily restored by applying toothpaste to its surface and washing it in warm water. After cleaning, you need to dry the items by wrapping them in two layers of soft cloth and paper napkin.

Sulfuric and nitric acids should not be used to clean copper or silver coins as they destroy fine details of the design.

Coin Cleaning Tools and Supplies

In addition to the above methods, there are others. Tools that are suitable for cleaning:

• toothbrushes of varying degrees of softness;
• wooden toothpicks;
• brush with natural bristles;
• plastic dishes, tweezers;
• reagents (soap, distilled water, soda, linseed oil and vaseline oil).

It is not recommended to clean rare and valuable coins yourself - professionals will do a better job. The following cleaning methods are suitable for dug metal. The goal is to maintain the patina when cleaning, removing all unnecessary oxides. Before processing, coins are washed with soap.

The Best Safe Way to Clean Coins

The simplest and safest method is using laundry soap . Boiling water is poured into a hermetically sealed plastic container and grated 72% laundry soap is poured.

When the solution thickens, coins are placed in it. After a day or two, the coins are removed and wiped with a toothbrush with trimmed bristles. The procedure is repeated until the desired result is achieved. Some oxides can be carefully removed with a wooden toothpick.

The disadvantage of this method is that it takes a lot of time, but its undoubted advantage is that the excess layers are removed carefully and gently.

Clean with caustic soda

Exposure using caustic soda is a very fast method, but is not suitable for all coins . Both products with a relatively flat field and those with an uneven thin film can be cleaned well.

When preparing caustic soda solution, safety precautions must be observed. Dissolve the granules (1 sachet per 500 ml) only in distilled cold water, take the coin with tweezers and be sure to work with gloves.

The product is immersed in the solution for 10 minutes . Then washed with water. After this, the softened oxides can be easily removed with a brush.

If during the cleaning process the oxide on the product turns blue or green, the process must be interrupted immediately.

Cleaning Copper Coins

Careless cleaning of a copper coin can cause chips and pits to appear on its surface. Depending on the type of corrosion, the appropriate method of exposure is selected.

The reddish coating can be removed with a five percent ammonia solution or ammonium carbonate. The coin should be kept in the ammonia solution for no more than 1-2 minutes. Green plaque can be removed with a solution of citric or acetic acid.

The yellowish coating is dissolved with a 10% acetic acid solution.

After cleaning the coin using any of the above methods, it must be boiled in distilled water . After several boils, you can check whether the coin is completely clean by dropping a 1.7% solution of silver azone into the water. If after this the water remains clear, then the cleaning process must be completed.

After cleaning, the product must be thoroughly dried. You can place the specimen in a special drying cabinet for two hours or dry it in acetone and then in alcohol (no more than an hour).

If the natural patina on a coin cannot be preserved, an artificial one can be applied to give the item an attractive appearance. Per liter of distilled water, add 50 g of copper sulfate and 5 g of potassium permanganate. The resulting solution is heated to 80-90 degrees. Coins are placed in the heated liquid.

Next, you should turn the coins over from time to time and wait for the desired color to appear. After the procedure, the coins need to be dried and coated with a 1:1 mixture of alcohol and benzene to protect them from corrosion.

You can also read about artificial patina in the article “Beware of fakes! Or, how to determine and verify the authenticity of a coin based on special features"

Electrochemical cleaning

Electrolysis is a quick and effective way to remove dirt, but its use is associated with some of the dangers inherent in the operation of any electrical device.

The device should be used in a well-ventilated and lit area.

Before carrying out the process, be sure to wear protective gloves and goggles .

When using electrolysis, the risk of spoiling a coin increases significantly (compared to other methods - several times). Assembly requires a power supply with a voltage of 6-12 volts .

The plugs are cut off and the wires are divided into two parts. The ends of the wire are cleared of insulation. The copper strands must be twisted, soldered, or attached to metal clamps.

Next, take a shallow plastic container and fill it with saline or soda solution (1 tbsp per 0.5 l).

Turn on the power supply. The clamps are held at isolated places at a distance from each other (if they come into contact, a short circuit will damage the power supply). The clamps must be immersed in a container with a solution. On one of them there will be hissing and gas release - this is “+”.

It needs to be connected to a coin, and the second clamp (respectively “-”) is connected to a small metal object (for example, a spoon or a key).

The second option is a reverse connection. The positive terminal is connected to a metal object, and the negative terminal is connected to a coin. The reverse connection gently cleans the coin and does not harm its metal core.

Depending on the amount of plaque and the degree of contamination, the cleaning process takes from several minutes (if “+” is connected to the coin) and from 40 minutes to 4 hours (if “-” is connected).

Having finished cleaning, you should turn off the device from the network, remove the coin from the solution and clean it with a brush and a small amount of liquid soap. To remove special, complex contaminants, the procedure will have to be repeated. The solution will become dirty after some time and will need to be replaced to perform repeated electrolysis.

Summing up the topic of cleaning

There is no way to clean coins that would allow them to return exactly to their original appearance, but with due diligence, the condition of coins can be significantly improved. The safest option is to use a soap solution.

More serious stains may require soaking coins in the solution for a long time. Sometimes you have to wait several weeks for results.

When soaking for a long time, the solution must be replaced with a new one, and the coin itself must be periodically removed and the softened layers of dirt removed from it. This cleaning method is ideal for gold coins.

After the procedure, the product is dried and wrapped in a soft cloth. Mechanical cleaning is also considered a relatively safe method, but is absolutely not suitable for soft metals that are easily scratched.

The task is not to completely spoil the coin and not to deprive it of its noble patina. Some specimens are better not to be cleaned at all, but simply washed. It is recommended to practice on the simplest coins before starting work. It is imperative to follow safety regulations (chemical cleaning methods can be hazardous to health).

Source: https://knaschool50.ru/tehnika/chistka-mednyh-i-serebryanyh-monet-uksusom-sodoj-i-solyu-v-domashnih-usloviyah-opisanie-metodov.html

Cleaning copper with citric acid - Metalist's Handbook

Cleaning coins with citric acid is carried out if there are various contaminants on the surface of the product that could not be removed in a soap solution. Coins made of copper and silver are subjected to this treatment. They are easy to clean; oxides and serious contaminants can be removed from their surface.

Benefits of citric acid

Mechanical cleaning of coins is considered the most effective; it helps to remove any dirt from the surface of the banknote. But if you don’t have the means to give the coin to a jeweler or there are other reasons, you can try cleaning the coin at home using citric acid.

This processing has a number of advantages:

1. Helps eliminate oxides.
2. Gets rid of heavy dirt.
3. Not capable of harming metal.

Lemon acid

The advantage of citric acid is that it actively interacts with dirt particles and oxides, entering into a chemical reaction with them. At the same time, having reached the metal, the acid practically ceases to act. As a result of cleaning, you can achieve a good result. But acid is still an aggressive compound. Therefore, you should not keep coins in a citric acid solution for a long time, otherwise stains may appear on their surface.

Therefore, only those collection exhibits that are not very expensive should be processed. It is better to give expensive coins to jewelers; they will help clean them of dirt and oxides using mechanical cleaning. Collectors do not recommend risking valuable specimens.

How to clean copper?

Cleaning of copper coins is preceded by soaking in a soap solution. If after this procedure the oxides and dirt on the surface of the copper do not disappear, you should resort to radical action. For the procedure you will need:

• cotton buds;
• toothpicks;
• "lemon";
• water;
• dishes;
• wooden spoon or tongs.

The procedure begins by preparing a solution: citric acid crystals are dissolved in warm water, stirring them with a spoon. There should be about 50 ml of water in the container, the solution is prepared in the ratio: 3 parts water and 1 part acid.

The coin is immersed in water and dirt is removed from its surface using a cotton swab and toothpicks. You can remove the product from the water and try to remove oxides and dirt with a cotton swab dipped in the solution.

If the contamination does not respond, then you can repeat the procedure, but after some time. As a rule, copper is easy to clean, oxides and impurities are removed from the surface, but if this does not happen and green spots remain on the metal, you can try to remove them using a cotton pad or swab soaked in a solution.

But here it is important to know when to stop: acid can cause pink spots to appear on the coin, which will have to be removed in another way.

That is why masters advise not to be zealous and to clean only inexpensive exhibits of the collection with acid.

Copper oxidizes upon contact with moisture, so this metal should be protected from water. After cleaning is completed, you need to rinse the coin under a stream of cold water and wipe it with a suede napkin.

Two more secrets:

1. Acid removes green oxides better.
2. The solution can be changed during processing.

After cleaning, you need to wipe the product dry, which will help determine the effectiveness of the procedure.

Cleaning coins with citric acid

Oxides are easily removed from the surface of copper, but lemon peeling can remove or damage the patina. To restore it, you need to keep the copper on the kitchen grate for several days after cleaning. As a result of the procedure, the patina will look natural. This recovery method is considered the most effective.

How to clean silver?

Cleaning silver coins can be carried out in several ways; it helps to remove dirt of varying degrees of complexity from the surface of the product.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bam1IE5TRy0

Processing methods:

• boiling with citric acid;
• soak;
• partial processing.

Boiling is the most difficult but most effective method, according to experts. You should first try to clean the coin using other methods; if the resulting effect is not satisfactory, you can resort to boiling.

Source: https://ssk2121.com/chistka-medi-limonnoy-kislotoy/