Cleaning Wheat Pennys

Vinegars are all slightly different. All contain about 4% Acid. Salt is NaCl and the Cl is also corrosive to Copper. Rubbing a coin with anything is as good as saying goodby to that coin. Might as well use a wire wheel on a bench grinder. If you want, try using a auto car cleaner/polisher. They will take off all the dirt and make the coin look like a proof. And also, make it worth about what is says on the coin for face value.

I agree that you should not use anything acidic on a coin or rub a coin, even with a microfiber towel. Do not use the vinegar and salt, like the others have said. Do not use e-Z-est coin cleaner on copper. It will turn your copper pink. Other so called "coin cleaners and jewelry cleaners" will damage your coin from what I have seen. It is best to leave the coin as is.

I don't even like to handle copper coins at all. If I do have to handle them. I wear latex gloves with white cotton gloves over them. A fingerprint on a copper coin can often become permanently etched on the coin. So handle them as little as possible and only by the edge with a gloved hand. I know this sounds overboard, but you want to protect your collection as much as possible.

I know that everyone says not to clean a coin. Would using an ultrasonic cleaner be an acceptable method that would not cause damage?

Also, I saw this article that mostly deals with silver coins with PVC tarnish. http://earlyus.com/art005-pvc.pdf is that method still an acceptable method for silver coins? and would it work for copper? or would it leave an unnatural color like e-z-est does to copper?

I know there are so called "curating" method and "conservation" method services that are offered. How do these guys do their work on coins with out leaving hairlines or other signs of "cleaning"? They claim the work is undetectable by the major grading houses?

Olive oil (all oils) are insoluble in water. A water rinse will not remove the surface oil. To properly remove oil you must use xylene.... or another non-polar, organic solvent.

Olive oil contains organic acids and many other impurities. If left on the surface, even in trace amounts, verdigris will eventually form. Copper and acid do not play well together and I don't ever recommend using acidic solutions on copper.

Right, excellent advice!





Not generally acceptable. However, sonication can be very useful on highly encrusted coins where the potential for damage is not as important as helping a heavily corroded coin. Richard (CC forum) has demonstrated the proper use of a sonicator in a thread here. He proved it can be very useful! In general, for most people, I do not recommend sonication as it can damage the surfaces.




Blue Ribbon is no longer made or sold. Using acetone is by far the best way to remove PVC residue from coins and is the defactor standard today. The conservation process using acetone in itself does ZERO damage and will not change the color. However, the hydrochloric acid in the PVC residue WILL damage the surfaces, just as shown in the link.




I think you're referring to NCS. Their methods are proprietary; however, experienced conservationists can theorize. For example, I'm positive they use a lot of in-house prepared acid/thiourea dips for conserving silver coins. A lot of their work comes out pretty much undetectable....they definately do not leave hairlines! The are the best in business and there's a reason they call themselves a conservation service and not a cleaning service.

There are MANY NCS conserved coins in NGC and PCGS holders today. If you didn't know, NCS and NGC are one in the same.

Why both? Wouldn't one or the other do just fine?

I metal detect alot and the wheat pennies I find are in really bad shape, so sometimes I use a little bit of baking soda and water and rub the coin in between my fingers. I only really do it to get the dirt off and personal preference. NEVER to try and get back the mint luster.
I would much rather have a cleaned common date Wheat penny with no dirt than a circle of dirt.

BadThad, thank you very much for all the helpful information. Also, I didn't know that NGC & NCS were one in the same. However, I do now. Thank you for your insight and help.