The (Rotting) Circulation Penny Experiment

So, after a failed first attempt a few years ago, I re-did my penny experiment.

Aim: To see how the steel pennies held up in various liquids over time.

How: Scratch the copper layer of the coin along the shield edge (Simulating a circulated coin) Submerse the coins in the various liquids and monitor their condition over time.


I'd virtually forgotten about this, until my old lady was complaining of a nasty niff coming from my room... Still haven't found the source, but did come across this experiment.
So, the 10 liquids I tested were...

1) Diet Irn Bru
2) Alcohol Hand Sanitiser Gel
3) 80% Pure Lemon Juice
4) Miltons Steriliser
5) Olive Oil
6) Double Concentrate Orange Squash
7) Salt Water
8) Sugar Water
9) Tap Water
10) Distilled Vinegar


I actually used double the coins, the first one was glued upright in the small container, then the next (scratched one) was glued horizontally on top.

(The in-the-tub pics are at 11 months [48 weeks] and the last picture is after a quick scrub)

1) Diet Irn Bru




2) Alcohol Hand Sanitiser Gel

(I had to keep replacing this, as even in a 'sealed' tub it was evaporating, so after cleaning the gunk off to see the coin, I topped it up, covering the coin again)



3) 80% Pure Lemon Juice




4) Miltons Steriliser




5) Olive Oil




6) Double Concentrate Orange Squash




7) Salt Water




8) Sugar Water




9) Tap Water




10) Distilled Vinegar





The other non-scratched penny didn't fair well either...



And then there's this one, which I assume is from the Lemon Juice (Both Distilled Vinegar coins were accounted for)
but this happened when I was cleaning them off.




The Group as a whole