How to clean coins at home 10. How to clean coins yourself? Effective methods and tips

In order to correctly and effectively clean rare old coins, found or purchased from someone, you need to figure out what they are made of. Some alloys cannot withstand abuse, so if you clean your coin incorrectly, you risk ruining it altogether. And it is impossible not to clean them, because sometimes, over time, coins become very dirty, overgrown with rust and plaque, which makes their appearance not very attractive. Fortunately, today there are many ways to clean coins from any alloy at home. Of course, it is possible to have your coins cleaned by professionals, but you will have to pay a certain amount of money for this.

It’s easier to just stock up on the necessary substances and clean your coins at home. And we will tell you how to do this in our article. You can find additional information in the video, which is also presented in the article.

Silver Cleaning silver coins is relatively easy, as silver is a fairly durable material.

• But, nevertheless, you should not throw a handful of silver coins into the first acid you come across to celebrate. Here you need a certain algorithm of actions, and you also need to know what to mix with what in order to achieve a positive effect. One of the most effective and simple ways To clean silver coins, use regular soda and citric acid. To begin, the coins should be placed in a mixture of citric acid and water for twenty minutes. Then take some baking soda and dilute it with water to make a puree mixture. You need to clean the coins with it until all the dirt disappears.
• After this, the coins must be rinsed in clean water. If you want to clean coins from green spots and streaks , then sulfuric acid will help you with this. It must be diluted in cold water, then put coins there and leave them there for a while. During the process of acidifying them, you will need to arm yourself with rubber gloves and remove the coins from the solution, immediately cleaning them with a soft brush.
• After this, the coins will need to be rinsed in clean water and wiped dry with a clean cloth. ammonia. To do this, put the silver in alcohol for one minute, then wipe it with a soft cloth. If not all dirt has been removed, you can repeat this procedure up to three times. After this, you need to rinse the coins in water and then let them dry.

Copper

Cleaning antique copper coins at home requires great care. The fact is that under the influence of corrosion, cracks and depressions may appear in the coin, which begin to destroy the product from the inside. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully examine the coin for the presence of such depressions, and then begin the cleaning process.

We must warn you that not all methods are effective. It all depends only on the degree of contamination of the coins, and on how carefully you work with them. Remember, you need to clean copper coins properly.

• If the coin is covered red coating, then you can clean it as follows: take out a 5% ammonia solution, then dip coins in it for no more than 2 minutes. After the plaque has come off a little, the coin should be rinsed with water and wiped dry.
• From green Plaque on copper coins can be removed using a solution of citric acid. Dip the coins into the solution for a minute or two, depending on the degree of contamination, then rinse with clean water and dry.
• Raid yellow Colors on copper coins can be cleaned using a solution of acetic acid, in which the coins should be left for a few minutes.

After you have gotten rid of the dirt, you need to boil the dirt that has ingrained into the coins by throwing them into boiling distilled water. When the coins are cleaned, they will not have the most beautiful appearance, because they should also be coated with a patina, which will give them shine and smoothness. You can apply it in the following way: mix 50 grams of copper sulfate with one liter of distilled water, then add another 5 grams of potassium permanganate. The resulting mixture must be heated to 90 degrees, and then put the coins there for a few minutes. Turn the coins regularly so that the patina lays down more evenly, and when the desired result is achieved, you need to thoroughly dry the coin. Then cover them with a special protective coating, which can be found in the store.

Copper Soviet coins from the USSR era can be cleaned using electrolysis. But here you need to be extremely careful and follow safety rules. So, we clean a copper coin by electrolysis: to do this, you need to find a small glass container into which you need to fill with water and put the coin in. You also need to lower a stainless steel spoon there, but in such a way that it does not touch the coin. Now you need to find the clamps, as well as any network adapter. We attach one of the clips to the spoon, the second to the coin, after which we attach the free ends of the clips to the wire of the network adapter. We plug the adapter into the network, after which the electrolysis process begins, as a result of which all plaque begins to be removed from the coin.

Bimetallic

The difficulty of cleaning modern bimetallic coins is that they contain alloys of several metals, which significantly complicates the process of cleaning such products.

• But difficult does not mean impossible, so there are still ways to clean such coins. The first and easiest way to clean bimetallic coins at home is with an ordinary toothpaste . Just apply a little toothpaste to an old toothbrush, which should be soft, and then start cleaning the coins in warm water. The result will be noticeable immediately.
• The coins may tarnish a little during this cleaning process, but they will be perfectly cleaned. In order to restore the coin to its former shine and beauty, it must be lowered into a solution of ordinary alcohol and formic acid
• . It is recommended to keep coins in this solution for no more than five minutes, after which they must be rinsed in warm water and wiped with a clean cloth. Another remedy that will help us clean bimetallic coins ourselves is a well-known drink Coca Cola . Coins should be left in this drink overnight, and in the morning, rinse them with cold water and wipe dry.

If they are not cleaned enough, the procedure can be repeated until you achieve the desired result.

Nickel and bronze

Cleaning nickel and bronze coins usually does not take much time and is relatively simple compared to cleaning other types of coins. The first way to clean bronze and nickel products at home is as follows: : mix salt and, after which we send our coins into the resulting solution. It should be clarified that bronze coins are cleaned much faster than nickel coins. After you have removed the coins from the solution using tweezers, you need to rub them firmly with a regular pencil eraser. If the result is not entirely satisfactory, then the procedure must be repeated.

Bronze coins can be cleaned using a product such as Trilon B. To do this, you need to take any glass container, pour a little powder into it, fill it with boiled water, and then throw coins in there. They should remain in this solution until you see that they have been cleaned sufficiently. After this, carefully remove them from the Trilon solution, rinse in cold water and wipe dry.

Royal

You can clean ancient royal coins in this way: Use a coarse grater to grate a piece of laundry soap, then pour water into the soap shavings so that they dissolve. The royal copper coin must be dipped into this solution, and after quite a while a large number of After some time, it needs to be removed, cleaned with a soft brush, and, if necessary, left in the solution again for a while. After you are satisfied with the result, the royal coin should be rinsed in clean water and wiped dry.

Over time, all coins begin to develop rust, and many collectors find it important to clean their coins to maintain their presentable appearance.

To clean coins at home, you need to follow all sorts of rules.

Cleaning your home is simple and easy for everyone to do.

You can also rely on professionals to clean coins made from more expensive metals, which are coated with an oxide layer and require proper experience.

If you clean coins yourself, you must use the best cleaning products.

• Copper
• Lemon acid;
• Vinegar;
• Ethanol;
• Electrolysis;
• Soap solution;
• Boil in baking soda;

Trilon B;

Since the coins may be old, it is permissible to use the above methods, but very carefully.

If ingrained green dirt has accumulated on a coin, then the safest method is to leave the coins in kefir for three hours or soak them in a soapy solution using baby soap.

Boiling in baking soda can also provide a good clean. Add 5 tablespoons of soda to 1 liter of water and boil the coins for about 30 minutes.

A fairly effective method is cleaning with Trilon B. The use of Trilon B does not destroy the metal and allows you to quickly clean it of various contaminants. After this cleaning, artificial patination should be done.

Bronze

There are several ways to clean bronze coins:

• Lemon acid. The coins are immersed literally for 15 minutes in 30% acid with water (3:7).

After immersion, the coin may acquire pink color, but don’t panic, this reaction is quite predictable between acid and bronze, so after two weeks the color will appear as before.

• Laundry soap. Rub the soap on a coarse grater, add hot water (1:8), mix. The coins are placed for approximately two weeks.

This is enough to attack the patina with alkali. If there is a small amount of dirt remaining, you can wipe the coin with a regular rag. The method is used only if the coin did not initially acquire a green coating.

• Boiled oil. Bring vegetable oil to a boil, put a coin in it and boil for 5 minutes over low heat.

After boiling, the metal must be washed and placed in ammonia.

The best way to start is to test this method over a less valuable coin, otherwise the more valuable one may deteriorate.

Use a spoon and tweezers when using hot vegetable oil. Be sure to wipe the coins with a dry soft cloth or napkin.

Bimetal coins

The processing of bimetallic coins is carried out very carefully so as not to further damage the structure of the coin and its peculiarity.

• Vinegar 9%;
• Whitening toothpaste.

The coins are placed in a jar and filled with vinegar in such an amount that will cover the coins.

Coins should not remain in the jar of vinegar for more than two minutes.

We take out the contents and only after 10 seconds we clean it with a toothbrush with a small amount of toothpaste without unnecessary effort. We wash off the particles of dirt and paste, wipe with a napkin or a dry, soft cloth.

Folk remedies for cleaning coins

There are various cleaning methods that are used at home:

• soap solution using baby or laundry soap, this method is suitable for absolutely all types of coins,
• boiled vegetable oil,
• aqueous solution with ,
• oven cleaning products.

Before resorting to such actions, you need to know what metal the coin is made of or consult with professionals to select a cleaning agent.

Chemicals

Chemical cleaning is a popular method for restoring coins.

Involves the use of various reagents, such as: acids, baking soda, ammonia, washing powder, toothpaste and other products. If possible, you can use a solution of hydrochloric acid with clean water without impurities.

Simply dip a coin into a jar of acid and any accumulated dirt or plaque will come off.

Once the procedure is completed, you should wash them with alkali, so that the reaction is stopped completely, dry with a regular cloth or dry napkin.

The alkali is a soda-based solution.

Drying coins after cleaning

After which it is necessary to dry in acetone, then in ammonia after 1 hour.
For drying, it is advisable to use a thermostat, that is, a special drying cabinet, keeping the coins there at a temperature of up to 100 ° C for no more than 2 hours.

So that those that show at least some signs of bronze disease are immersed in a humidifying chamber.

If copper coins have an unpleasant shine, then you can artificially create a patina from light to dark color, it must be diluted with 1 liter of liquid, 50 g of copper sulfate and 5 g of potassium permanganate.

The solution is heated to 80°C, coins are dropped into it and held until a certain color is obtained.
After drying the coins, they are covered with a protective layer of paraffin.
Another method is a solution of polybutyl methacrylate 5% in acetone, a mixture of benzene and alcohol (1:1).

Expensive coins should not be stored in heaps, but in special trays with compartments and collection albums for coins. This is how coins can last for a long time.

Precautions when cleaning coins

To clean coins, chemical compositions require a clear determination of the alloy from which the coin was made.

As a precaution, the coin should be cleaned of dirt, but you should not resort to thorough scrubbing of dirt, as coins may contain abrasives that can subsequently damage the surface.

It is enough to dip coins into the water and wash off the remaining dirt. Cleaning of coins is required to avoid re-staining.

After the initial cleaning, they proceed to the main one. Using tweezers, place the coins at the bottom of the jar with the solution. Take them out after 3 minutes. For example, bimetallic coins are cleaned with bleaching paste or anti-rust detergents. For a modern coin, vinegar or lemon acid cotton pads, washed with warm water and dried.

Silver coins can be wiped with a cotton swab dipped in ammonia.

When giving preference to dry cleaning, it is important to observe all precautions and its implementation. Any coin is considered valuable in its own way and it is good when there is not a trace of it on it. dry cleaning That's why avoid contamination and carefully store your collection, which will delight you for a long time.

What coins should not be cleaned?

Like all valuable coins, there are some that cannot be cleaned at home, otherwise very expensive coins may lose the part that makes them so valuable. Let's go through those categories of coins that are not necessary or even should not be cleaned at home.

The types of coins that are subjected to proper cleaning and the types of products used for cleaning were analyzed.

Pay attention to whether there are chips, deep scratches or gouges on the surface of the product, or whether there are any irregularities, since then you can just use regular rinsing under running water.

Using a soft brush, you can remove dirt and simply rinse and dry the coin. It is possible that cleaning with any reagents or abrasive substances will damage the product and make it unsuitable for collection.

Where can I go to clean my coins?

Basically, the question of where to go for coin processing appears quite often, but no one can give an accurate answer to it. If a hole appears on a coin, you can contact a jewelry workshop.

In the modern world, there are many methods for cleaning, but nowhere is it mentioned about the places where they do exactly this, so you just have to take matters into your own hands and use different ways for cleaning valuable coins.

In order not to subject old coins to frequent cleaning, you should take good care of them and preserve them. Store in a dry place and out of direct sunlight.

Try to avoid contact of coins with your hands; you should grab them by the edge. If you happen to pick it up from the front side, wash it with soap and dry it.

Proper care and careful treatment of rare coins pleases any numismatist with its grace and beauty. Old coins are passed down from generation to generation and can bring good profits.

Recommendations for storage and cleaning for beginning numismatists. Valuable coins carry their own history and, more than ever, they should not be subjected to chemical or mechanical processing without the inability to use these methods correctly.

If the coin is not very dirty, you can get by with regular washing using a soft brush. Polished coins with excellent quality and patina are not recommended for use with these cleaning methods.

Inept attempts to improve the appearance of a rare coin will definitely lead to its deterioration and the loss of the historical numismatic superiority of this item.

Cleaning and patination must be resorted to in order to improve the appearance of the coin and preserve collections of valuable coins and replace this specimen with a more improved and high-quality one.

If you have the most valuable coin, to resolve the issue of exchanging or replacing the coin, you can contact those who provide this service; they will help you not spoil the appearance of the coin and ensure its safety in the collection. If necessary, this operation will facilitate the sale of the coin on the numismatist market to ensure an improved appearance.

A distinctive form for storing coins, collectors are given this option at their own discretion and opportunity.

Try to protect coins from environmental influences. Changes in room temperature or as a result of human contact.

Many people have been and are still interested in this activity of collecting rare coins. A very long time ago there was one expression from a collector: “first you feed the collection, then this collection feeds you.”

Many connoisseurs - collectors who collect valuable coins - strive for this statement.

Hello, dear readers. In this article we will tell you what the first steps should be to clean rare coins. Most collectors learn how to clean ordinary coins on their own through trial and error. Black royal copper of frequent years is taken and dipped in a chemical product such as “CILLIT”. Some specimens are retrieved back in quite tolerable condition. Coins in the worst state of preservation, in which the patina occupies a large part, appear from a clouded solution or with the coin field completely demolished, or generally in the form of a thin circle, which remains a coin only in the memories of its unlucky owner. It is clear that a copy purchased for 20 rubles from a digger’s bucket is written off as a failed experiment and thrown away without any doubt. But with copper coin of 1902 It would be a pity to part like this. It’s even worse if it’s dipped into the wrong medium. 2 kopecks 1927, for which there were grandiose financial plans. It’s impossible to count how many valuable coins were irretrievably and thoughtlessly lost just because their former owner did not bother with the question “How to clean rare coins?”

Do you always need to clean a coin?

Inexperienced sellers mercilessly rub the cleaned coin with products that make the metal shine, or even simply polish it with felt. But regulars of the forum, instead of being delighted at the sight of a specimen sparkling in the rays of the lamp, only displeasedly remark: “You just cleaned off half the value of the coin!” Conclusion: cleaning does not always add to the price. A beautiful patina is an asset of a coin, not a drawback. Otherwise, all sorts of recipes for guidance would not appear on the Internet with enviable regularity. iridescent patina. And a polished copy will never be able to imitate the original shine of a stamped coin. It seems to the seller that now the coin should show off in the "Unc" category, and the keen eye of an expert instantly notices in the shine scratches, nicks and abrasions, which do not exist on the “Uncirculated” coin.

Condition of coins and preparation for cleaning

Let's look at an example when it was extracted from the ground rare coin. For example, 2 kopecks from 1925, which, despite the flourishing of treasure hunting, still remains an expensive acquisition. Before cleaning, it is imperative to remove foreign impurities in the form of dried dirt from the coin. To do this, the coin is kept in an ordinary soap solution. Soaked dirt should be removed carefully, using methods that will not add new scratches to our specimen. For example, a soft toothbrush coated with a toothpaste that does not contain abrasives. Rare coins should not be washed in chlorinated running tap water. It is better to stock up on either distilled or bottled water. Now you can assess the degree of safety. The higher it is, the more careful the cleaning methods must be, otherwise we will voluntarily reduce the value of our rarity.

Methods for cleaning coins

Before cleaning, it is necessary to determine the metal or alloy from which the coin was made. Cleaning tin or lead specimens will be more difficult for you, since both tin and lead are quite soft. They will be damaged by abrasive cleaning, which will inevitably add new scratches to existing ones. Aluminum is also a soft metal, but it is easy to clean. We remove the cloudy film of surface oxide with a solution that includes fifty grams of borax and five grams of ammonia mixed in a liter of water. There is no need to rinse aluminum coins after this treatment. We need to move on to direct drying. Bronze and brass coins (and the ones we mentioned above 2 kopecks 1927 made of aluminum bronze) have a fairly wide range of chemicals to bring them into collectible condition. If the coin were cheap, even the cleaning liquid used in kitchen chores would do. Nose rare coin It’s not worth the risk, but it’s better to purchase a specialized cleaning liquid.

Great care should be taken when cleaning copper coins. Firstly, when the dark or chocolate patina fades, the coin will reveal a harsh shade of red, which not everyone likes. Secondly, a strong chemical will remove not only the patina, but also the relief. Therefore, cleaning for copper is only the first stage of long work with a coin. We will have to study what means can be used to level the terrain and bring patina so that the specimen acquires a collectible appearance. If we want to improve the visual impression of a rare coin, it is worth using Leuchtturm Copper Coin Cleaning Liquid.

If we are talking about an old silver coin, then in addition to noble silver it contains cheaper impurities, due to which the coin may unfavorably oxidize. Green tones of oxides indicate the presence of copper. This greenery is removed either with five percent sulfuric acid, or take a ten percent composition of formic acid heated to seventy degrees. For violet-gray shades, use a ten percent ammonia solution, which will soften the gray-violet layer and allow it to be removed by gentle wiping soft fabric. Gold and platinum resistant to chemicals. The adhering layer of foreign impurities does not affect the metal structure and is removed after unlocking in soapy water and subsequent washing.

Cleaning the silver "Walking Lady Liberty"

Necessary tools used in the cleaning process

Rare and valuable coins require careful handling. Cleaning is a kind of stress for them, which can adversely and irreversibly affect their condition. Therefore, you should not aggravate it with careless touches. To do this, you need to choose tweezers. Numismatic tweezers come in direct and reverse types. It is worth taking care of purchasing gloves. They will come in handy after the coin goes through the drying stage. It would be extremely imprudent to leave a fingerprint on a rare coin.

And, of course, you should prepare a capsule in advance that will reliably protect ennobled coin from harmful environmental influences. You can see what numismatic tweezers and other cleaning accessories look like in our store. There is also a large selection of liquids for cleaning various metals and restoring coins.

Individual approach

A large assortment that can significantly improve the appearance of a coin is offered by many reputable foreign companies. Domestic manufacturers are not lagging behind. Despite the fact that Russian companies are not so well known in international markets, sometimes they offer products that are not inferior in results to famous brands. However, buying cleaning liquid, always read which metal (or group of coins) it is intended for. Before purchasing, make sure that an imported product with a rather high price will be used to clean a rare specimen. It is not advisable to spend expensive liquid on a handful of Soviet coins from ordinary years.

It is necessary to clean using different methods.

The most important thing when cleaning is not to do any harm. The main assistant in any business is experience. And when it is not there, it is very difficult to achieve a good result on the first try. And when cleaning antique copper coins, there is often not enough coin - another to experiment with. Below are the most common ways to clean coins at home. Not all of the above methods are safe for coins, but nevertheless, all the known ones are collected below.

If the coin is valuable, but there is no certainty as a result of cleaning, then It's better not to clean it at all or contact a professional.

Cleaning copper coins with soap

Perhaps the safest way to clean a coin. The main disadvantage is time; it can take several months (possibly years) to put the coin in order. The essence of the method is that the soap solution, as a slightly alkaline medium, slowly and quite gently dissolves copper oxides on the surface of the coin.

Preparation of soap solution

In order to prepare a solution in which we will clean copper coins (other copper objects coated with oxides), you need to grate soap (preferably laundry or baby soap) and brew it with boiling water. After an hour or two, the solution will begin to thicken and take on the consistency of ketchup or toothpaste.

The actual cleaning process

Coins are immersed in the prepared solution one at a time so that before they cake at the bottom of the jar they are evenly covered with soap. The coins remain in the solution for at least a day or up to a week. Next, the coins are taken out and washed with warm water, the plaque on the surface is cleaned off with a toothbrush with the bristles cut off for rigidity. If the green ones remain, the process must be repeated. The soap solution can be used several times. As a rule, the coin is not cleaned the first time. IN best case scenario cleaning takes a week during which the coin has to be removed from the soap 3-7 times. There may be dense oxides that can be cleaned off within six months.

After the coin is completely cleaned of oxides, it must be cleaned with baking soda using the same toothbrush, this is necessary so that there is no white residue left on the coin from soap, which gets into the pores and spoils the appearance.

In principle, we can finish here, but we can improve the appearance of the coin a little more. To do this, you need to rub the coin on wool fabric or felt. After this treatment, the relief of the coin will be more clearly visible.

And at the very end, before sending it to the album, you can rub the coin with Vaseline. This will improve the appearance a little more and preserve the coin to some extent.

Cleaning copper coins with citric acid

Citric acid for copper is a highly destructive reagent and you should think very carefully before using it. As a result, you can not only not improve, but also greatly worsen the appearance of the coin and its value. At the same time, citric acid is one of the best options for cleaning silver coins.

The 1875 penny before cleaning with citric acid looked quite ordinary, but the cleaning process can hardly be called such; the coin was practically destroyed in a few minutes in acid.

Cleaning copper coins with ammonia

The method is quite cruel for copper coins, as it significantly destroys the surface. But for the case when the coin is unevenly covered with a very strong green oxide, which does not take soap, ammonia can be used.

This 1903 kopeck was paid for 10 minutes. The result is certainly not excellent, but very persistent oxides were quickly removed.

The cleaning process itself is that the coin is completely immersed in ammonia, kept there for another minute, then taken out and cleaned with a toothbrush. Since ammonia corrodes oxides very quickly, it is better to take out the coin and clean it more often; it is also worth putting it on different sides each time.

Electrolysis

Cleaning copper by electrolysis is only possible when the coin is not severely damaged and the oxides have not corroded deep cavities in the coin. This requirement is due to the fact that when cleaning by electrolysis, all imperfections will appear very clearly on the coin.

Two kopecks from 1924 were purified by electrolysis. A solution of baking soda was used as an electrolyte, and a charger for a car battery (12V, 2A) was used as a current source. Cleaning time 5 minutes.

Electrolysis cleaning technology is that a coin is attached to the “-” (cathode) of a direct current source, and either a graphite element or any object made of the same material as the coin itself is attached to the “+” (anode). Next, the anode and cathode are immersed in the electrolyte and current is applied. As an electrolyte, you can use a solution of baking soda in water (2 tablespoons per liter). The cleaning process takes from several minutes to an hour depending on the size of the coin, its condition and the power of the current source.

Boiling copper coins in soda

A fairly simple and quick technique for cleaning copper coins. The name itself almost completely describes the technology. Copper coins are boiled in a solution of soda and water. The solution is made quite concentrated: 3-5 tablespoons of soda per half liter of water. The solution should cover the coins by 2 cm. This is necessary so that the coins do not appear from the solution during the cleaning process. The cooking itself should continue for 30 minutes. Then remove the coins from the solution and clean them with a toothbrush and a paste of the same soda.

Cleaning with vinegar

Acetic acid, like any other, is suitable for cleaning copper coins. A limitation of its use is that this method damages the patina and exposes cavities and other irregularities in the field of the coin. For cleaning, use a solution of vinegar in water with a strength of 7-20% from any grocery store.

Cleaning with Trilon-B

Trilon-B (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt) is a special cleaning agent designed to make most insoluble metal salts soluble. Thus, oxides and patina are easily washed off from the surface of the coin in a Trilon-B solution. Trilon-B cleans coins coated with uniform oxides well. But if the oxides on the coin have a different structure, then as a result of cleaning on some surfaces the coin is cleaned to a shine, while on others the oxides continue to persist, in this case it is necessary to resort to artificial patination after cleaning.

The main advantages of cleaning with Trilon are:

• trilon does not destroy the metal of the coin, as acids and alkalis can do;
• high cleaning speed - cleaning a copper coin takes a few minutes, in severe cases a couple of hours.

Mechanical cleaning

Mechanical cleaning is a special process for restoring coins in which the coin is not cleaned, but rather cut out or restored in a layer of oxides. For such a reading, the decisive factor is the experience and hard work of the master. The technology can be described very primitively as follows:

• The surface of the coin is desalted and cleaned of dried dirt in distilled water;
• All oxides, including loose ones, are strengthened by impregnating the surface in synthetic resin (paraloid B72);
• Using scrapers, cutters, brushes, and needles of varying hardness, the master removes from the surface everything that he considers unnecessary. By securing unstable areas, they do not fall through and can be aligned with the main field of the coin and no cavities remain. All work is performed under a microscope.

These 4 kopecks from 1762 were cleaned by a professional using mechanical cleaning technology. The result is simply magnificent, but such processing of the coin took a very long time (2 months for this coin) and is only relevant for rare and valuable coins.

Today we will talk about how to clean old coins. Every year they gain even more value, but the price greatly depends on the condition. Therefore, an item preserved in proper condition receives additional value. When antique coins are kept in unfavorable conditions, dirt, oxides and deposits of different colors develop. You can use special solutions that are sold in jewelry stores, but not everyone can afford it. Therefore, let's look at how to clean an ancient coin using available methods.

General information about cleaning coins

It is important to understand that not all specimens need serious cleaning; sometimes the procedure can even be harmful. It would also be good to learn to distinguish patina from oxide and plaque, since it gives the metal nobility and protects it from external factors. Every collector knows that a layer of patina is more important than a brilliant shine.

If this is your first time trying to clean old coins at home, it's best to start with the least valuable coins. If they fail, they will not be so sorry. On them, try the method that interests you. When it comes time to work at elevated temperatures, try to ensure that the transition from room temperature to high is smooth. A sudden change can damage the metal.

When you have to use a brush, it is better to use a soft one, such as a toothbrush. Do not use items with metal bristles or sandpaper.

It is important to dry properly, especially antique coins. To do this, you need to place them on a soft cloth and carefully apply it on top several times. It happens that drops of water leave their mark on antiques.

See also video: 3 ways to clean old coins at home

Starting the cleaning process

We choose a cleaning method depending on what type of dirt we are dealing with. There are chemical and mechanical, in the second option we are talking about dirt, dust, earth and other contaminants that are cleaned mechanically without the use of special means. The first method involves a certain chemical reaction that will help wash the coin from oxide, green plaque or any other.

If you have not previously worked with the methods below, carefully follow the instructions and do not overdo it so as not to damage the product. Moreover, you should not change the recipe or come up with your own.

Cleaning from contaminants

At this stage we are talking about mechanical cleaning. Depending on what kind of metal we are dealing with and how dirty it is, we choose the cleaning method:

• A soap solution can handle minor stains; use it to remove dirt using a brush or an old toothbrush.
• In difficult cases, we act depending on the composition of the coin. You can use the methods given in the paragraphs below.
• If the pattern on the surface is not visible, put it in a soap solution for 10-15 minutes. Can be used laundry soap. After this, using a toothbrush, carefully wash the coin directly in the water. Then we dry it.

How to clean a coin found in the ground

Often, when searching for old coins, they are found in the ground; such finds often resemble those from the USSR. Sometimes they lie there for years and the dirt has become so ingrained that it has become almost integral to the product. Cleaning such coins at home will be done by boiling.

You need to make a soda solution, one tablespoon of soda per glass. It is better to place the contaminated item in a sieve or something similar so that it does not lie at the bottom of the pan. Bring the water to a boil and leave to simmer for half an hour. Now turn off the heat source and let the water cool slightly. We take out the product and carefully clean it using a toothbrush or other soft brush. We carry out the procedure as many times as possible until the coin restores its normal appearance.

Cleaning with baking soda

In this case, we will clean coins from oxidation using ordinary soda, which will be used as an alkali. That is, the main task is not mechanical cleaning, but chemical cleaning. We make a regular soda solution and immerse the products there. The concentration of the solution depends on the complexity of the case; as a rule, add 1-2 tablespoons of soda to a glass of water. After a few hours, pull it out; if there is still plaque, remove it with a soft cloth and dry it.

You can make a kind of paste from soda and water. We put coins there for a certain time and periodically watch it so that the soda does not start to dry out right on the surface. After the procedure, remove and use a soft brush to clean all residues from plaque and oxide while simultaneously rinsing in water.

You can make your own cleaning products. To do this, we make a mixture of ammonia, soda and toothpaste. By closing it all in a jar it can be stored for a long time. Cleaning with its help is very simple, apply the mixture and wash with a toothbrush.

Cleaning a coin with soap

The basic method for cleaning an old coin involves using a soapy solution. We rub the soap shavings on a grater and soak them in boiling water so that a mixture somewhat reminiscent of jelly is formed. Place a coin there, cover and leave for 1-2 days. In difficult cases, add soda, 2-5% of the total mass of the solution. When time has passed, remove it. Rinse under running water and dry. Soak in alcohol and leave until completely dry.

Boiling down coins

Vaseline or vegetable oil is heated and a coin is immersed in a strainer for 10 minutes. Wash with running water and soap. Pour clean water into a vessel, immerse our coin in it, heat it to a boil and leave to cool. After the procedure, wipe the product dry.

Jewelry Cleaners

The best option for cleaning an old coin at home is a jewelry cleaner. It can be purchased at jewelry stores and workshops. This could be a napkin or solution. In the first case, you need to wipe the surface of the product. In the second, immerse the coin there for 5 minutes.

It is better to entrust valuable coins to professionals. It would be a shame to ruin an antique due to your own incompetence. The workshop will not only clean it, but also polish it and may apply an additional layer of protection.

Cleaning depending on alloy

The most common coins are:

• Gold;
• Silver;
• Bronze;
• Copper.

Depending on the metal, the cleaning method is determined. More details about each can be found in the relevant articles on our website.

Pure gold

Coins made of gold are surprisingly easy to clean. To do this, you can use one of the methods below:

• Make it in a glass soapy water and add 10 drops of ammonia. Place the product there for 10-15 minutes. Wipe dry.
• To bring back the shine to gold, cheap and effective means there will be onion juice. Using a soft cloth, rub the surface of the metal with it and leave for several hours. Rinse under running water and wipe dry.
• In stores you can buy a special paste for laundering gold.

Laundering silver

Silver coins are durable, so they are much more difficult to damage. It is not recommended to use baking soda with this metal. At first it will cope with its task, but over time micro-scratches may form. So how to clean silver?

• The easiest way is with toothpaste (or powder) and a brush. Apply the product to the surface and scrub until it returns to its normal appearance.
• Make a solution of citric acid in a ratio of 1:3. We put our coin collection there and leave it for 10 minutes. Take it out and clean it with a toothbrush.
• Sometimes, to restore shine, simply immersing it in ammonia for 2 minutes is enough.

Cleaning bronze

If there is no damage, oxide or any plaque on the surface, then it is treated mechanically using soap solution. In other cases, we resort to one of the methods below.

• As in the case of silver, we make a solution of citric acid, but this time you will need a 1:2 ratio. Place the product there for 10 minutes, rinse and wipe dry. The color may change slightly, but after a few days everything will return to normal.
• An excellent method for cleaning antique gold coins is to use vegetable oil. With its help you can not only restore the appearance, but also add an additional protective layer. To do this, you need to bring the oil to a boil and gently lower the coin there for 5 minutes. Remove and immerse in ethyl alcohol for the same amount of time. Rinse and dry.

Processing copper coins

On copper coins, not only oxide is possible, but also yellow, white, red and green patina.

• If the coin is covered with a red layer, a solution of ammonium carbonate or 5% ammonia will help. Immerse the item in the solution for 5-10 minutes, wipe well and dry.
• The above-mentioned citric acid in a ratio of 1:10 will help with green.
• Regular table vinegar will help remove yellow stains. Dip a coin into it for 5-10 minutes, wipe and wipe dry.
• The easiest way to wash off the white coating is to simply take distilled water and immerse dirty copper coins in it for several days. Remove and wipe with a soft cloth.
• In particularly problematic cases, use Trilon-B.

Another way to clean copper coins in the video: