How to clean old coins at home

Many of us keep ancient coins at home, which grandparents and great-grandfathers collected in the collection. But over time, metals are exposed to air, dust, light, and lose their original luster. To prevent this from happening, coin collectors recommend storing coins in special albums with individual pockets, but in no case in a bank or piggy bank.

But from time to time to carry out the purification still have to. And we will tell you what to do to keep the coins as long as possible.

Do I need to clean the coins

If your collection does not represent special value, and you do not prepare it for sale, you can clean it as often as you like. As for the valuable and rare specimens, here experts convince the owners not to commit independent actions.

Ancient coins can be much more expensive if they have natural traces left by time. In addition, the metal for a long time lost its strength and when cleaning can begin to disintegrate.

Modern coins in the manufacture are covered with a protective layer that protects against external influence, and independent manipulations with cleaning agents will destroy it.

In the event that you still want to return a decent look to precious coins, then seek help from specialists. They will advise you the best and safest option.

How to clear bronze coins

If your coins have no obvious external defects, are not covered with rust, are not damaged by oxide, then it is enough to wash them in warm soapy water. In other cases, you can try several proven methods:

1. Lemon acid. Dilute the acid in warm purified water in proportions of 1 to 2 and lower the product for 10 minutes. Then rinse the coins with running water and dry. After purification, the metal may acquire a pink tint, which will disappear after a few days.
2. Coins covered with particles of dirt without corrosion and plaque, it is easy to clean with soap. Grate it and stir in water until completely dissolved. The proportions are taken at a rate of 1 to 8. Keep the coins in the solution for 7-10 days, and then rinse in clean water. If the dirt remains, it will be easily removed with a cloth.
3. To not only clean the coins, but to give them shine and an additional protective layer, vegetable oil is used. It must be put on the fire and let it boil. Then, with the help of tweezers, lower the coins into it and allow to “boil” for 5 minutes. After this product must be moved to ethyl alcohol for a few minutes.

Any metal products should be dried very carefully. To do this, use a soft cloth or paper towel. Do not leave coins to dry on their own, water can harm them.

How to clean copper coins

Copper cleaning should be treated responsibly. If you choose the wrong way, you can damage them.

How to clean copper coins:

1. Red spraying is cleaned with 5% ammonia or ammonium carbonate. Dip the coins into the liquid for a couple of minutes, then rinse and wipe with a cloth.
2. Green plaque is removed using diluted citric acid in proportions of 1 to 10.Dip the coins into the solution and pull out after 5 minutes.
3. The yellow layer is dissolved in ordinary vinegar. Coins should also be kept in it for about 5 minutes.
4. Strong contamination can be cleaned with Trilon-B, a special agent for the removal of insoluble metal salts.
5. White plaque on copper products is cleaned with distilled water. Dip the coins into it for several days, and then wipe it with a cloth.

It is better to entrust the elimination of heavy pollution to professionals. In the jewelry workshops, specialists carry out mechanical cleaning, which will help give the products a beautiful look.

Silver coin cleaning

Silver coins are stronger than copper ones, so cleaning them is much easier. Still, there are certain rules that will help preserve their appearance for many years:

1. Some self-taught people are advised to clean the coins with soda, but this is not recommended, because over time this method will cause a lot of micro-scratches. It is better to take a toothpaste or tooth powder and gently wipe the product with them until it is completely clean.
2. The solution of citric acid, which is prepared in proportions of 1 to 2.5, does not harm silver.Dip a coin into it, and after 10 minutes, remove and gently brush with a soft toothbrush.
3. Ammonia will help to clean silver products even faster. It is enough to lower the coin for 1-2 minutes and remove.
4. If silverware is clean enough, but you want to give it shine, then use table vinegar. For this you need to wipe the coins with a cloth with a heated solution.

If you do not trust folk methods, a special tool is sold for you in jewelry stores, which is suitable for both jewelry and silver coins.

How to clean coins of gold

Gold coins covered with dirt or traces of oxide are quite easy to clean at home:

1. Take a glass of soapy water, stir in it 10 drops of ammonia and place coins in it. Keep them should be no more than 15 minutes.
2. Onion juice helps to restore shine. Wipe the product with it, leave it for several hours, then rinse well and dry with a soft cloth.
3. For the same purpose, sweetened water is used. It is prepared at the rate of 1 teaspoon of sugar for one glass of purified water. Dip the coins for 2-3 hours in this liquid, and they will shine like new ones.

Both for silver and for gold, special cleaning products are sold in stores. For this metal, a special paste based on petroleum jelly or oil is used.

As much as you would like to give the coins a beautiful look and shine, do not use questionable cleaning methods. These include tools for plumbing or dishes, especially when used simultaneously, boiling, mechanical stress. In order not to spoil the precious products, it is better to ask for help from specialists.

Video: 3 ways to clear old coins