Best Coin Cleaner

mamun | Posted on November 13, 2021 |

Collectors understand the importance of keeping their coins safe. Many people try to remove bacteria, filth, rust, and other impurities from corroded coins.

It isn’t easy to clean coins with homemade or commercial treatments. It’s easy to ruin an ancient coin by accident. It is not always required to clean an ancient coin. Coins, whether used daily or collected, are susceptible to deterioration. Cleaning them with basic cleaning products is straightforward. With our basic guide, cleaning ancient and common coins is simple.

Before you wash the coins, make sure you test them. If you buy something, make sure you read and follow the instructions.

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When to Clean a Coin?

Cleaning antique coins with a “patina” is not recommended because the patina adds to their value. Patina is a protective layer that develops over time on bronze, copper, and silver coins. Depending on the metal, it might be greenish, brown, or somewhat purple. Patina develops as a result of rusting over time. Coins that display signs of age and have been around for a long time are valued by collectors; in fact, many collectors will not purchase coins that clearly show signs of cleaning.

However, there are other factors to consider while deciding whether or not to clean the coins. For example, we may scrape them or wear away the coins’ metal with the things we use. It is recommended to clean the coin if it is only suicidal because of manipulation and the dirt is not attached.

Soap and Water Should be Used to Clean the Coins.

Those who decide to clean the coins usually use soap and water since it is a low abrasive method and it is an easy way to clean them:

Fill a bucket with hot water and add some dish soap.
Stir the water so that it mixes well with the soap.
Put the coins in the bucket without being piled up on top of each other.
Wait between half an hour and 40 minutes.
Take the coins out of the bucket and remove the rest of the dirt and moisture with a cotton ball or absorbent kitchen paper. Note: in the case of silver or gold coins, it may be good to use an old toothbrush to scrub them and remove any remaining dirt. If you are not sure if the coin’s material is gold, we will show you some tricks to learn how to identify it.
If they are not yet clean enough, repeat the process one more time.

Alcohol and Salt can be Used to Clean Coins.

This method can leave the coins very clean. It is surprising how salt and alcohol act on the metal, cleaning it. Follow the following steps:

Three tablespoons of salt and half a glass of liquor should be in a bucket.
To dilute as much salt as possible, stir the alcohol using a utensil.
Clean the coins by dipping them in the alcohol mixture and salting them.
You should soak dirty coins for several days if they are filthy. Several days should be sufficient. One day maybe enough if the coins are not very dirty.
Rinse your coins with distilled water to remove any remnants of the mixture in which they were submerged and ensure that the coins are as clean as possible. Distilled water also does not contain chlorine so this method will be most effective.
Dry your coins well with absorbent kitchen paper or cotton ball.

Clean the Coins with Vinegar

Vinegar is an excellent complement to cleaning, and in the case of cleaning coins, it can also help us a lot since it helps to remove rust:

Open the cold water tap and without rubbing the coins, let the water pressure wash away dust and dirt.
Add equal parts vinegar and hot water to a bucket.
Put the coins in the bucket.
Wait half an hour.
Take the coins out of the bucket and rinse with cold water.
Use a cotton ball or absorbent paper towel to dry the coins.

General Tips for Cleaning Coins

Do not clean those coins that may be of value to collectors.
Do not use any product to clean coins. If you decide to use a cleaning product that we have not recommended here, buy it in a numismatic store.
Be careful not to rub the coin with materials that can scratch them; you should use absorbent kitchen paper or cotton or let them air dry as long as you have rinsed them with distilled water, free of chlorine.
If you decide to brush the coin, do it gently.
Be careful with blows. When you handle a coin, put a towel underneath so that it will not be damaged if the coin falls.

Tips on How to Keep Coins

Once you have the coins clean, you should try to preserve them as best as possible to avoid cleaning them again or doing them as few times as possible. To keep your coins in good condition, follow these tips:

Go to a numismatic store and buy something that allows you to store the coins orderly. Numismatic accessories are usually made of suitable materials so that the conservation of the coins is optimal. The coins will be protected against blows, and you can also classify them. There are several options: albums, plastic sleeves, cardboard, trays, etc.

Store your coins in a moisture-free place. Sometimes taking them to the storage rooms is usually a bad idea since they are usually placed in humidity. The humidity deteriorates the metal with which the coins are made. It is best to keep them in a dry place.

Lacquers: if you have new coins, the use of lacquers can help you preserve them for many years, protecting them from oxidation.

Cleaning old Coins

To do a good cleaning of old coins, you have to be cautious. It is important to preserve the patina of old coins, as it greatly influences their value. If you have doubts, always consult a specialist to determine what value your coin has and if it should be cleaned.

To check from your own experience, here we offer you this quick guide:

Make a solution of distilled water with mild hand soap and let the coins soak. It is recommended to test them in the solution for a few minutes in the beginning, and if there is no damage, they are left for longer.

Remove the coins and place them on a clean, soft cloth.

With the help of a soft bristle brush, gently brush the coins.

Soak the coins in a plastic container (other materials can scratch them) with distilled water for five to ten minutes. This way, when it dries, there will be no water stains.
Let dry naturally.

How to Clean Roman Coins

To learn how to clean Roman coins, you can follow the tips described above. If the dirt is very stubborn, you can let them soak for longer. However, it would be best if you remembered that Roman coins could be precious, so it is advisable to seek professional assistance when in doubt.

Make a warm soapy water solution.
I moistened an unused or soft-bristle toothbrush in the solution.
Gently brush both sides of the coin.
Rinse with lukewarm water.
Wipe dry with a clean, dry cloth (no rubbing).

Cleaning Silver Coins

To clean silver coins, you have several options. On the one hand, you can immerse them in natural lemon juice for five minutes or replace them with white vinegar. It is recommended to run an initial short-duration test on a coin to verify that it does not cause any damage. If you use soapy water, always use distilled water, as tap water can damage them. Enter this article to discover other options on how to clean silver.

Cleaning silver, Roman, or other metal coins is easy when we have the right methods. We hope these tips have helped you learn a little more about cleaning old coins. If you have gold coins, this article on how to clean gold can help you.

Frequently Asking Questions

How do coins get cleaned by professionals?

Using distilled water and a few detergent drops, the coins are cleaned using a vibrating container. Coins will lose value if they are cleaned with acidic cleaners.

What is the best way to clean coins at home?

Sprinkle baking soda over the coins and brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush. To prevent your fingers from being burned, use tongs or gloves to rinse them thoroughly with hot water. Pat them dry with a soft cotton towel.

Is vinegar capable of damaging coins?

Baking soda and vinegar are great for making science fair volcanoes, but they won’t enhance the value of your coins. Similarly, it can completely remove the original patina from the coin, obliterating its value, just like the other cleaning brews mentioned here.

How legal is it to clean coins?

Chapter 17 of Title 18 of the United States Code details the punishments for altering, defacing, mutilating, impairing, diminishing, falsifying, scaling, or lightening coins.

Does cleaning silver coins damage them?

Leave the coins to soak for a few hours, turning them now and then. Silver-plated coins can only be cleaned this way (pure silver is harder to clean). Water with chlorine will discolor silver-plated coins.

Final Verdict

It’s challenging to find the time and energy to clean your coins after a long day at work. We have a solution for you, thankfully! Cleaning up is a piece of cake with our best coin cleaner on the market today. Combine everything in one of these containers with water or vinegar and set aside 24 hours before rinsing off any dried residue from your coins’ surfaces. It doesn’t get any more straightforward than that.

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