We clean copper and silver coins in different ways: vinegar, soda, salt and other substances

Conventional and collectible coins with pronounced pollution can be restored to its former purity and luster. The most gentle methods are cleaning coins with vinegar, soda and salt, as well as laundry soap and ammonia. Before cleaning valuable items at home, numismatists strongly recommend determining the composition of the metal and its sample. The choice of cleaning agent depends on this.

How to clean soda

A simple method that works for most low-grade silver and copper coins. Soda is used on the farm to remove various contaminants, including from a metal surface.

cleaning soda coins

Soda Cleaning Steps:

  1. Mix the powder with a little water to make a slurry.
  2. Put the mixture on the coin.
  3. Using a dense cloth or brush (you can use a soft toothbrush), wipe the metal.
  4. Wipe the coin until completely cleaned on both sides.

A softer method that can be used on silver samples of high fineness:

  1. Prepare a solution of 30 g of soda and 100 ml of water.
  2. Immerse the metal in it and wait a couple of hours.
  3. Rinse in clean water and dry.

Vinegar Method

This method is suitable for deeper contamination. Usual table vinegar is taken as acid, and soda as alkali. Acetic solution well removes the greenish and yellowish plaque on copper.

vinegar for cleaning

How to clean copper coins with vinegar:

  1. Fill a small container with vinegar.
  2. Put dirty coins in the liquid.
  3. Withstand metal for several hours.
  4. Stop the reaction by neutralizing the acid with alkali. For this, the coins are covered with gruel from water and soda and wiped with a brush, as in the first method.

purityis.decorexpro.com/en/ recommends taking care of copper coins without signs of corrosion and patina. It protects the metal from rust and gives it a noble appearance.

Coin Purity Salt

Salt complements the action of soda. If you mix the substances in equal proportions and pour them with boiling water, then immerse the coins in a solution, then after 30 minutes the result will be noticeable.

coin cleaning salt

Digestion

Cooking significantly speeds up the cleaning process. Commonly used soda solution:

  1. Mix 1 tsp. soda and 100 ml of water.
  2. Bring the solution with objects immersed in it to a boil.
  3. Hold the coins for about 5 minutes, then remove them with tweezers and evaluate the result. To do this, a piece of rags impregnated with vegetable oil and wipe the surface with it.
  4. If the first time did not work, you need to return the samples to a boiling solution and try again.

Tip
Practice low-priced copies first, and then start cleaning more valuable ones.

coins before and after cleaning

Other methods: soap, ammonia

A coin on which traces of dirt are barely noticeable is enough to immerse in a paste from laundry soap. To do this, rub the bar, the chips are mixed with water in a thick slurry. We'll have to wait 1-2 days. But after that, it remains only to remove the coin from the mixture and wipe it with a brush or a rag. Cleaning with soap is the safest way for collectors to review.

silver coin before and after cleaning

Ammonia solution is suitable for eliminating green plaque on a copper coin. It is enough to hold the metal in the solution for no longer than 2 minutes. To wash high-grade silver, ammonia, soda and soft white toothpaste are mixed in equal proportions. The composition is wiped with contaminated money, after which it is rinsed and dried.

Clean carefully. Start with the most gentle ways, connecting more effective as necessary.Substances will not be able to return the metal to its original form, but will significantly bring its state closer to ideal.

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