What are some effective ways to clean a penny?

Answer 1

This info came from the site listed below:

Clean up your copper pennies (or any copper object)

We recently came across a two-inch souvenir copper penny we bought a long time ago, and found it had tarnished badly. We'd been successful before in soaking old pennies in cola to restore their shine. The tarnish is a coating of copper that has combined with the oxygen in the air. The phosphoric acid in the cola bonds with the copper to remove the coating. But the Coke just didn't do it for us this time - too much tarnish.

These web sites suggest that acid + salt make a more powerful remover:

http://www.cruftbox.com/cruft/docs/cleaningcopper.html
http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/polishingpennies.htm

So we soaked the big penny in a bowl of lemon juice mixed with a big spoonful of salt. This is a much more interesting experiment than the cola version, because you can see bubbles released and the color of the lemon juice darkening as the chemical reaction proceeds. The cola's color and fizz make all that invisible. But even left soaking overnight, the penny wasn't new and shiny again.

So this morning we tried hot sauce - the main ingredients are vinegar and salt. Wow did it work - we could see the penny brighten before our eyes.

Cautions: If you try this experiment, make sure to protect your skin and eyes - those hot peppers can pack a nasty sting. Also, the penny's surface is a little pitted now - but we're not sure if it was already like that or if the cleaning did it. We don't recommend experimenting on anything valuable.

Answer 2

The suggestions listed above will work. However, if your coin is a collectible:

You should not clean your coins. Most coin collectors see cleaning a coin as the equivalent of stripping down antique furniture and refinishing it.

When cleaning, the surface metal of the coin is often stripped. Anything used to scrub the coin will leave scratches (even 100% pure silk will leave hairline scratches). Most cleaning products will have some type of reaction with the coin's metal and the surface metal can also be removed in this manner.

Your best bet is to leave the coins alone. Cleaning the coin will leave traces - which can be found by the knowledgeable collector - who in turn will not buy the cleaned coin. Also if you ever wanted to send your coin into a grading company, they can recognize signs of cleaning and will send your coin back in a "cleaned" slab (also called a "body bag" in the coin world) - which is usually a greatly decreased value.

If you absolutely must must must clean your coins do not use the method described above as it will react with the metal in your coin. Use 100% acetone (do not use fingernail polish remover!). It must be 100% pure because other additives will react with the coin metal. Place your coin(s) in the solution for several minutes (do not leave in for long periods of time). Rinse your coin(s) in distilled water. Next remove your coins and either pat dry with a soft cloth or allow the coin to air dry (air drying is better as you don't risk scratching the coin with the cloth). NEVER scrub your coins!

I would still advise you to leave your coins as they are. They may not be bright and shiny but that is what most collectors prefer.

Answer 3

Its the acidic content of the vinegar inherent in ketchup. Its a perfect acid that does no longer consequence the copper content of older pennies (present day pennies are made out of zinc with a coating). So a vinegar answer (as used interior the previous days...) is a huge way of removing grunge from a penny.

Answer 4

Ketchup

Answer 5

As I recall, Coke will clean a penny.

You may want to check it, each day.

Answer 6

I used to soak them overnight in Kool-Aid.

Navy "Kool-Aid", better known as "BUG JUICE" was even better! We often used ot to clean copper and brass.

Answer 7

copper cleaner works wel

Answer 8

Try jewerly cleaner.

Answer 9

Soak it in coke for a while.

Answer 10

soak any copper in ketchup