Question, Is Acetone The Best Way To Clean A Lincoln Copper Cent?

It may take 12-24 hours depending what substance is on there in an acetone bath. If it is more organic like sugar/food basic, gunk, then it is a shorter soak. Paint, superglue or other petroleum product may take the longest to loosen even.

Soap and water, even a mild detergent is still loaded with adverse additives, as is tap water, that will usually only remove oils and gunk, not stuck on crap.

@moxking, I promise you my friend I'll post pics on a different thread tomorrow!

If the coin is BU, then it would not be wise to alter the surface on the coin. If the coin is circulated, then the gunk can be cleaned off around the devices with a mineral bath (to soften the grease) then what I use is an old very soft tooth brush. Be careful when pieces of the debris of grease comes off around the devices. Chances are there could be sand in that gunk, that could scratch the surface of the coin. Again, only on circulated coins. Never use this on a BU coin or a proof coin. Even a toothpick can scratch a coin.


Never try this one a valuable coin. Always practice on a circulation coin to get the technique down. If you are dealing with a valuable coin, I wouldn't do this. Best to leave a valuable coin alone. Better to have a lower grade, than to have a cull coin that reduces the value a lot more. Practice first on a circulation coin before attempting this on a coin you want to keep. When using a brush, I try to work at different directions to loosen the unwanted stuff from the devices. Keep in mind that mineral oil will not take out stains, nothing will remove carbon spots so this is just to loosen stuff off the devices. When in doubt, don't do it. You can ruin the collect ability of your coin for the future for that coin.

Don't forget to practice on some dirty junk coins first to get the technique down first.

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