How to Clean Coins

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Over the years coins can accumulate dirt, germs, corrosion, and other gunk, which removes the natural lustre from the coin and makes them visually unappealing. Because of this, you may want to clean your coins to try to restore them. As a warning, if you own collectable, proof, uncirculated, or high-grade coins, cleaning them will reduce their value,^{[1]
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Research source} and damaging a coin can hurt the value so badly that it will be worth only as much as the material that it’s made of.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Washing Coins

1
Hold the coin under warm water. Doing this will allow your faucet to remove initial dirt buildup. The faucet should have enough water pressure to get the job done, so avoid any add-on to increase the pressure, like a jet. You only need to hold a coin under the faucet for about one minute on each side. Once you are done place them aside on a paper towel or rag.
- All coins can be cleaned with water. However, copper coins react to more things than nickel or silver, and will therefore usually exhibit more environmental damage. This makes them harder to clean with just water.
- Make sure to plug the drain before cleaning coins in your sink to avoid a coin from slipping out of your hands and into the drain.
- Handle each coin separately so the faucet can hit each coin directly.
2
Place the coins in a solution of dish soap and water. Create a solution in a small bowl mixing water from your faucet and dish soap and dip each coin in the bath individually. Put the coin between your index finger and your thumb and softly rub dirt from the face of the coin. You should see the dirt begin to come off.
- If you have a particularly dirty coin, you can allow it to soak in the solution.
- A non-abrasive liquid solvent like distilled water and a weak soap will have enough cleaning power to clean your coins, and does not contain acids that can corrode them.
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3
Brush the coins with a soft-bristled toothbrush or a paper towel. Brush your coins while they are still in your soap and water solution. Keep brushing until the face of the coin turns shiny again. Rinse the coin often to avoid any visible scratches left over from loosened dirt. Doing this to valuable or antique coins can cause tiny scratches that reduce the value of the coin.^{[2]
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- When you are done scrubbing, make sure you do a final rinse of the coin.
- Make sure to not rub the coin too hard. Concentrate on a small area and brush lightly.
4
Dry off the coins with a towel. Dry off each coin with a towel and store them in a dry place. Make sure that each coin is free of moisture before you put them away to avoid eroding the coin over time. Your coins should now be shiny and have a good lustre.
- Using a cotton free cloth won’t leave a residue.
- Patting the coins will allow you to avoid creating micro-scratches with the material you are wiping it with.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Soaking Coins

1
Create a coin bath made of isopropyl alcohol and salt. These chemicals are abrasive and acidic and will clean your coin of any built up dirt. To make your coin bath combine a cup of over-the-counter isopropyl alcohol and two tablespoons of table salt in a bowl. Mix the solution and place your coins in it. Let your coins soak for anywhere from two hours to a week, depending on how dirty your coins are.
- Isopropyl alcohol is a universal solvent and will dissolve things that regular water cannot, like non-polar compounds.^{[3]
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- Isopropyl alcohol has a strong scent and is flammable. Make sure to open a window when you are soaking your coins.
2
Rinse the coins over your sink with distilled water. Tap water has chemicals like chlorine that will erode your coins over time. Rinsing them with distilled water after washing them will ensure that any leftover chemicals will be rinsed off.^{[4]
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- Distilled water is water that has had all contaminants filtered out.
- You can buy distilled water at a supermarket.
3
Dab the coins with a cloth and allow them to air dry. Turn them over and repeat the process. Avoid stacking your coins right after they are dry to ensure there's no remaining moisture. Allowing moisture on the coin can damage it over time.
- Extreme temperatures can affect the patina of your coin. Avoid putting heated air on them while they dry.
- If there is any cotton or dust left over from patting your coins, blow on the coin to remove it, not canned air.
4
Store your coins in acid-free plastic folders at room temperature. Common storage materials like paper, cardboard, and some plastics can damage a coin over time. Avoid any coin holders that contain polyvinyl chloride, or PVC as it contains chemicals that can hurt your coins. Coins can be damaged by extreme heat or cold, so it’s good to keep them in a room temperature area with low humidity.^{[5]
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- Don’t store your coins in a place where they can fall over, like a high, unsturdy shelf.
- If you want to put your coins on display, use a two pocket container made of Mylar, a polyester made specifically to store coins.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Cleaning Collectible Coins

1
Go to a professional. You should always consult with a professional coin grading service before you clean your collectable coins. Cleaning collectable coins can significantly reduce their value, and in fact, sometimes coin “toning” or the discoloration and patina caused by exposure to air can actually add to the coin’s overall value.^{[6]
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Research source} For that reason, you shouldn’t be cleaning valuable or antique coins.
- When you are handling antique coins, always hold them on the edge and not on the coin's face. Oils and fingerprints can hurt a coin's value.
- There is standardised grading for coins, so even the smallest scratch from wiping one off can significantly reduce its value.
2
Apply a thin layer of Vaseline with a cotton swab. Use a dedicated lint-free cloth and lightly dab the coin until the Vaseline is removed. This is a way to pick up any unwanted dirt or dust, without damaging the value of the coin. When doing this, be careful, and use a magnifying glass.
- You can use a q-tip or a very soft non-synthetic brush to apply the Vaseline.
- Do not put too much Vaseline on the coin. The trick is to put on the thinnest layer possible.
3
Put coins in an acetone bath for 5 seconds. Leaving any acetone on your coins can add a brownish haze to them and reduce their cost significantly. It's imperative that you immediately rinse your coins with distilled water and get all of the acetone off the coin before allowing it to air dry. Do not wipe or rub your antique coins. Because acetone is a solvent and not an acid, it will not affect the value of your coins unless they are exposed to it for a prolonged period.
- Acetone is flammable. Wear powder-free gloves if you decide to use this chemical.
- If you are using a jar of distilled water, line the bottom with a napkin so that your coins don't get scratched by hitting against the inside of the jar.
- Use 100% acetone. Other products that contain acetone will also contain other chemicals that can destroy the value of your coin.
4
Store your collectable coins in 2x2 hard plastic holders. You may store your 2x2 plastic holders in a binder to display all of your coins. Hard plastic is better because it is more sturdy and will prevent your coin from being damaged. The most important thing is that the containers are air-tight and that the coins will not be exposed to the environment around it.
- Make sure that you remove any plastic that contains PVC plastic. Buy coin flips that use Mylar flips because PVC can damage the coins over time.
- Keep your antique coins away from staples or other metal.
- Do not use paper. It contains sulphur and can turn your coins black.

Community Q&A

Question

How do you clean coins that have oxidized?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Before you do anything, remember that you should never clean coins that you think may be collectible as this can greatly devalue them. If this isn't an issue, then for oxidized pennies, you can soak them in 1/4 cup vinegar mixed with 1-2 teaspoons of salt for a few minutes. Just be sure to rinse off the vinegar with water after you've soaked them, since any remaining vinegar residue could cause the coins to oxidize again.
Question

Can Coca Cola clean a coin?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Yes, Coca Cola contains phosphoric acid, which can help remove oxidation or dirt from coins like pennies. But never clean a coin yourself if you think it may be valuable and there are many, much less sticky cleaners out there that will clean coins as well or better!
Question

Can you clean coins with vinegar?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

First, if you think your coins might be of any value, do not clean them at all, since you can possibly damage them by soaking in cleaners like vinegar. If you want to clean the coin for some other reason, vinegar should work fine. First, rinse your coins in some cold water to get rid of any dust or grime on the surface. You can also use a toothbrush to remove surface gunk if you wish. Then mix together 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1-2 teaspoons of salt in a bowl that can hold all your coins. Submerge your coins in the solution for a few minutes, rinse them in warm water to remove any vinegar (which could corrode the coins if left on them) and then polish them clean with a cloth or paper towel. If this isn't enough you can try repeating the process and soaking the coins for a little longer.