Clean copper coins at home

Before cleaning is once again draw attention to the coin material is due to the fact that copper, silver. nickel and brass to be cleaned by various methods.
The most important thing when cleaning it does not hurt. Chief assistant in any business - experience. And when it is not very difficult to first attempt to achieve a good result. And when cleaning antique copper coins often lack the coin - the other to experiment. The following are the most common methods of cleaning coins at home. Not all of the following methods are safe for coins, but still below contains all known.
If the coin is valuable, but there is no certainty as a result of cleaning the it is better not to clean at all or go to a professional.
Clean copper coins soap
Perhaps the safest way to clean coins for. The main drawback - the time to clean up the coins may take several months (and possibly years). The essence of the method lies in the fact that the soap solution as an alkalescent environment slowly and gently enough copper oxide dissolves in the surface of the coin.
Preparation of a soap solution
In order to prepare a solution which will clean the copper coins (other items made of copper coated with oxides) have to soap (better economic or baby) Grate and brew boiling water. An hour later - two solution begins to thicken and take the consistency of ketchup or toothpaste.
Actually cleaning processes
Immersed in the prepared solution for one coin to before they slezhatsya bottom cans they were uniformly coated with soap. Coins remain in solution at least a day, and can be a week. Next coin and gets rinsed with warm water at the surface of the coating peeled off from the cut-off toothbrush for rigidity pile. If Green were the process must be repeated. The soap solution can be used several times. Usually the first time a coin is not clean off. At best, the cleaning takes a week for which the coin has to get out of soap 3-7 times. There are dense oxides that are cleaned within six months.
After the coin is completely cleaned of oxides it should be cleaned with soda of the same toothbrush, it is necessary that on the coin was not left a white film of soap, which gets into the pores and spoils the appearance.
![]() ![]() ![]() | Two pennies in 1901 were cleaned with soapy water. Total time soap was about a month. |
![]() ![]() ![]() | Two pennies in 1882 were cleaned with soapy water. Oxides bvli less strong than in the first example and to clean for 10 days. |
Against this, in principle, and can finish, but can even slightly improve the appearance of the coin. To do this, rub the coin on a woolen cloth or felt. After this treatment, the relief of the coin will be more clearly traced.
And at the very end before being sent to an album can be a coin to rub Vaseline. It's a little more to improve the appearance and to some extent will preserve value.
Clean copper coins citric acid
Citric acid copper is highly destructive and reagent before using it is very much to think about. As a result, not only can not improve, but also greatly worsen the appearance of the coin and its value. At the same time for cleaning silver coins citric acid - one of the best options.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Kopeika 1875 before chisktkoy citric acid looked quite ordinary, but the Processes cleaning can hardly be called such, the coin was virtually wiped out in a few minutes in the acid. |
Clean copper coins smelling salts
The method is brutal for copper coins, as well destroys the surface. But in the case when the coin is unevenly covered with a very strong green oxide that does not take soap ammonia may be applicable.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | This penny 1903 was otchschena 10 imnut. The result is certainly not perfect, but for what were quickly removed very stable oxides. |
The very process of cleansing is that the coin is completely immersed in alcohol nashatryrny kept there another minute, then take out the clean toothbrush. Since ammonia corrodes oxides very quickly the coin better dstavat and cleaned more often, as is each time to put it on the opposite sides.
Electrolysis
Cleaning copper electrolysis is only possible when the coin is not severely damaged, and the oxides are not corroded coin in deep caverns. This requirement is due to the fact that when cleaning the electrolysis of all the flaws show up very brightly on the coin.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Two pennies in 1924 were cleared by electrolysis. As the electrolyte solution of baking soda it was used as a source of power - the charger for the car battery (12V, 2A). Cleaning time 5 minutes. |
Electrolytic cleaning technology is that the coin is attached to "-" (negative) of the constant current source to the "+" (the anode) is attached or graphite element or any object of the same material as the coin itself. Next, an anode and a cathode immersed in the electrolyte and the applied current. As the electrolyte solution, you can use baking soda in water (2 tablespoons per liter). The cleaning process takes several minutes to hours depending on the size of the coin, its state and power source current.
Varenna copper coins in soda
Suffice it quick and easy cleaning copper coins appliances. The name itself is almost completely describes the technology. Copper coins are boiled in soda solution in water. The solution is quite concentrated: 3-5 tablespoons of baking soda to half a liter of water. The solution should cover the coins by 2 cm. It is necessary that the coin did not seem out of the solution during the cleaning process. Self cooking is continued for 30 minutes. Then get the coins out of the solution and clean the toothbrush with the gruel of the same soda.
Shoe uksom
Acetic acid, as well as any other suitable for cleaning copper coins. A limitation of the application is that this method damaged patina and open cavities and other unevenness on the coin box. For cleaning use vinegar solution in water 7-20% strength from any grocery store.
Shoe Trilon-B
Trilon-B (disodium edetate) is a special cleaner designed to make the most of insoluble metal salts soluble. Thus, with the surface of the coin in a solution of Trilon-B easily washed oxides and patina. Trilon-B well cleans coins covered with uniform oxides. But if the oxides on the coin has a different structure as a result of cleaning on some of the coins are cleaned to a shine, while others persist oxides, in which case one has to resort to artificial patination after cleaning.
The main advantages of cleaning Trilon are:
- Trilon not destroying metal coins, as can the acid and alkali;
- high speed cleaning - cleaning of copper coins in a few minutes, in severe cases, a couple of hours.
Mechanical cleaning
Mechanical cleaning is a special process in which the recovery of coins coin rather than cleaned and cut or reduced in the oxide layer. For such readings decisive factor is the experience and hard work of the master. Very primitive technology can be described as follows:
- The surface of the coin and cleaned obezsolivaetsya stubborn dirt in distilled water;
- All oxides including loose strengthened by surface impregnation synthetic resin (paraloid B72);
- With knives, chisels, brushes, needles of varying hardness wizard removes from the surface of all that he considers unnecessary. Due to the consolidation of unstable areas, they do not fall and can be aligned with the main field of coins and no cavities are left. All work is performed under a microscope.