Cleaning Coins, Properly

So back to my question - Any advice on how to do it safely?

Splatto, you can try a distilled water soak. Also, I'm not sure if you can get pure acetone where you are (not fingernail polish) but you could also try that.. it will remove anything organic and not harm the coin. Search the forum for "acetone", there is a lot of good information and advice on it. One thing to remember is to respect the chemical - gloves, no open flame, etc (more on that in the threads you'll find searching, too).

neweden, there are ways to do it safely and not harm them. There are definitely more wrong ways, and it is indeed usually best to leave them be, but if you just have to have the gunk off there are things to try.

Good luck splatto, let us know how it goes.

This topic is one I'm interested in too. That box of coins my neighbor sold me had a lot of dirty coins. I had to keep washing my hands. I have a large soft paint brush (like pastry brush) that after I layed all the coins out on a table cloth I swept to loose debri and stuff off, but the coins were still dirty and some gunky. Makes me worry a bit about hygeine and health when I don't know if those little black pellet like things were mouse droppings too EEK People do keep containers of old pennies & coins for years and years in open containers, in work rooms, old drawers, or basements sometimes, so little critters can get in them. I really REALLY want to wash mine, but don't. Yet.

Even bank rolls coins can be very dirty. You don't know where coins have been. Maybe wearing surgical type gloves is wise when looking through coins? and mentioning they are dirty when passing them on?

By the way, I find a LOT of coins since they switched to zinc and such in the last decade or so seem to get dirtier and more stained etc than coins before then. Many have what look like finger prints or fabric texture marks. I much prefer the older copper pennies as better "keepers" of condition.

You should all check out Bad Thad's posts in this forum about VerdiCare and VerdiGone, two products he commercializes through WizardCoin I think, if you are going to clean coins.

On a second note, should you or should you not clean coins? They are your coins do with them what you like.


In this condition unless it is a megarare coin it is worthless, so what are the ethics? If you sell them or pass them on, say and state it clearly, they are cleaned. In your case it is probably a better term to say "conserved" potato potatoe.

The first step in the conservation of the aforementioned coins is correct, distilled water, room temperature and a little soap, change water every other day and gently brush the coins, a soft brush, not a tooth brush!

In regards to using olive oil-motor oil-mineral oil it is a loooong process, do not expect quick results, I insist look for Bad Thad posts.

Put a coin in a cup, add white vinegar just enough to cover the coin, sprinkle 4 - 5 piches of table salt, swiss around and the coin will be cleaned.

Some of the blacker spots may remain but will be a lot lighter in color. Most pennies will be brought back to their copper appearance..

Always try a penny that has no large value first to experiment with...Good Luck...

I'm not a fan of the vinegar approach as it can eat the enamel of the coins.
The bright red copper colour is present so that is not what I'm trying to restore. I need to remove the sticky substance from the coin

GooGone works as a decent goo remover for someone not wanting to mess around with pure organic solvents.