How To Clean Coins Without Devaluing Them [DIY Hack]

[@TheFunTimesGuide]

If you enjoyed this Coin Cleaning video… check out my other Coin Collecting videos with helpful coin tips: bit.ly/CoinVideos

[@OBkrishna]

the fact that he added the bit abt the drain plug and P-trap made this prob the most genuine DIY/how-to video ive ever seen. homie covered all angles and didnt include a bunch of bs. short and sweet plus very informative. thank you OP

[@joshuamcmorrow-hernandez1364]

OB Krishna, I really appreciate your comment and feedback! I always do my best to keep things 100% real in my videos, articles, and in life! May your drain plugs always work! :-)

[@ollie9777]

how can rubbing a coin with any soft cloth be more harmful than riding around in someone's pocket or sliding around in an automobile's console?

[@CVBASEBALLCARDCOLLECTOR]

Great point

[@jamessholts3635]

If had been in someone's pocket or car it wouldn't me "uncirculated"....this is for uncirculated coins

[@ollie9777]

@@jamessholts3635 so it is ok to clean valuable circulated coins?

[@nicoletinker8081]

The point is to avoid dmaging it more

[@PocketRiches]

@@ollie9777 no! The second that coin loses its original mint luster (“cartwheel”), or develops any unnatural toning (from chemicals), it’s value is dropped by a minimum 50%-75%

[@KinsleysStuffyChannel-ge9dy]

Thank you for the good info!

[@KinsleysStuffyChannel-ge9dy]

P Trap removal can normally be done with bare hands only. Just make sure you put atleast a 1 gallon bucket underneath to catch water.

[@puccadawn4334]

Best thing I’ve ever found has been wd-40 with a jewelry lint free cloth!!

[@DominickPatrickOConnell]

I'm new to coin collecting and I am very proud to say I own a 1909 s wheat penny.... my question is what's the proper way to clean coins without taking value from them and whats the best way to store them... any help would be greatful

[@jmcmh1981]

Hi, Dominick -- Congratulations on acquiring your 1909-S Lincoln penny! That's a very nice coin and a scarce one, to boot. I've got to tell you, if it were my coin I would leave it exactly as it is. One of the only methods for cleaning a coin without imparting damage to the surfaces while minimizing any value loss is to rinse the coin off with clean water and then pat (not rub) it dry with a soft cloth. This would be most effective for removing loose or encrusted debris. Safely soaking the coin in 100% pure acetone (not nail polish remover, which often has additives) will help remove adhesives and surface residue -- but do so only in a well-ventilated area for your protection and safety. If soaking your coin in acetone, you will need to rinse it with clean water and then pat it dry. Any other cleaning methods out there will impart scratches and striations, artificially lighten the color of the coin, or otherwise alter it in a way that will drastically lower its value and collector desirability. I urge you to proceed with caution and remember that you can't really reverse any damage caused by cleaning a coin. I hope you enjoy your collecting journey and find the resources here at The Fun Times Guide KZbin channel and at The Fun Times Guide to Coins website helpful. Good luck!

[@Dima-xd3pn]

​@@jmcmh1981 Dom might have not found your comment useful but it is very helpful to me because a noticeable amount of my coins came from around the start of the 19th century to around the 1950's. A lot of them do look a little grimy and most videos I find on how to clean them are sacrilegious.

[@squishmello734]

I collect pennies an I am really proud to say that I own a 1940 pennie 😁

[@TheFunTimesGuide]

That's awesome!

[@user-sp2yu9zt6h]

i found a 1909

[@user-lx2is5tp8b]

If most of our finds are coins already out in the elements, could we use rain water to treat them by removing just the loose dirt and out tarnish, improving their appearance, but not digging deep enough to break the layer of patina, which should preserve the authenticity, and value? Or is there nothing you can do to a totally green gunk sided penny that would return it to a more recognizable fully featured copper toned version of its original self while maintaining its grade? I would think it would have to improve its grade?

[@joshuamcmorrow-hernandez1364]

Good question! The green gunk you mention is most likely surface verdigris and that could possibly be removed with hot water and some vigorous scrubbing with your fingers. But bear in mind that scrubbing can also impart hairlines on the coin, and they not only can’t be reversed but they will also cause the coin to lose its numismatic value. As for patina and “tarnish,” these are effectively the same thing. So you can’t remove one without the other. Also, you can’t really “improve” a coin’s grade, since the grade is a direct correlation to how much or little surface wear the coin has, and this is something that also can’t be reversed. While rain water could in theory be used to remove loose debris on the coin’s surface, it will not make the coin look newer, per se. Ultimately, what can’t be done using clean water or a safe immersion in acetone will usually cause alterations and impairments to the coin, all of which will lower the coin’s value. I don’t know if this is the info you’re looking for, but I hope you find it helpful.

[@user-lx2is5tp8b]

@@joshuamcmorrow-hernandez1364 is there a web site community that help newbs know if they got a good coin or not?

[@ep2307]

Put it in a hard boiled egg to get back the coating you want - same results as natural aging , simple - same , crazy - this cleaning thing is a scam

[@yvonnemckibbens1090]

So basically coins can't be cleaned safely, without devaluing!

[@user-yb9iz6oi2t]

Why don't you just line the inside of that just the very flat part with silicone rubber I don't think acetone most silicone

[@guyadkins3108]

So this is very similar to how jewlers clean antique jewelry except that they use slow low heat

[@kevinx310]

how about soap and water?

[@88GAF]

Have you tried those ultrasonic cleaners? Heard using those with a little bit of dawn removes a lot of crap but idk if it devalues it

[@lynngrimes5853]

I do have one and did try it. I don't suggest using one. U can tell that the coin has been cleaned. Never clean an old coin. It will devalue it.

[@steelemerald300]

You clean doing and not devaluing them by not cleaning coins

[@carlwheeler1783]

the hold cleaning was on a clean coin what about a penny dug up 50 years ago with dirt on it ?

[@mr.9931]

I just want a way to clean semi-common pennies to restore their shine with minimal micro scratches. In my mind, it should be possible to avoid said micro scratches if you don't scrub your coins (or use some sort of sci-fi material), and just be very careful. I've noticed that leaving coins in vinegar turns them pink with little shine, and putting the coin in the middle of a reaction with baking soda and vinegar brings the shine back with no scrubbing. If I avoid scrubbing of any kind and try these two methods, do you think I can avoid micro scratches? P.S., I have another important question. Every time I clean coins and put them in an open (or closed) environment, they immediately reoxidize. Do you have any ideas on how I can stop this? One idea I had was to use a copper sealant (such as Everbrite), but I'm not sure enough to commit. Any suggestions?

[@joshuamcmorrow-hernandez1364]

Hi, Mr.9931 -- Even if using a method that might seem physically non-abrasive, such as cleaning the coin with vinegar, bathing it in baking soda, and the like, this all still strips away the coin's patina, which is why the coin may appear brighter or shinier. The problem is this is an unnatural state for a circulated coin, and copper is especially reactive to pretty much anything in the atmosphere around it, including fumes. The patina being stripped away is also why your coins (and especially copper-based coins) seem to re-oxidize so quickly after being cleaned. Patina is essentially the coin's natural skin -- protection against further oxidation. With the patina gone, the metal will naturally want to reoxidize to form another shield of protection. There are no methods that are really safe for the coin's collectability to stop this repatination. Not to sound like a broken record (if you've seen any of my other videos or read my articles on the matter), but this is why I highly advise against any form of cleaning coins beyond using tepid water and patting the coin dry with a soft cloth to remove loose surface debris; acetone is good for removing adhesives and other surface residues. I know this probably isn't the answer you're looking for, but it's the best and safest advice from the coin's standpoint I can give.

[@baldwinfrancis4030]

Oh that's very interesting about viniger and baking soda to get back its shine... but how long sould I leave it on???

[@mr.9931]

@baldwinfrancis4030 This comment was written by me when I had poor knowledge of what makes a coin valuable. It's not all about the shine. So, my opinion to clean coins is now similar to the owner of this channel - keep calm and learn to love the patina. It's much more natural looking and chemically stable in that state, and coins don't gain much value for being "shinier", they get it from being less scratchy and worn, which is something cleaning coins only accelerates. However, I did find a way to remove the crunchy blue copper(II) sulfate that sometimes forms on copper pennies without altering the patina, and no scrubbing is needed. Simply leave your copper penny in a small cup or container filled with vinegar. The vinegar will dissolve the copper(II) sulfate and leave the patina alone in about 5 minutes. You can actually see the reaction taking place with many bubbles of oxygen floating to the surface. After the copper(II) sulfate is gone, pad your coin down with a soft drying cloth and do not scrub. Then let your coin air dry for a few minutes. Now your coin should be Sulfur free!

[@stella_11.]

Could someone tell me if this is true before I do this to my wheat penny?

[@rvalens2]

Before trying it on your wheat penny, try it on a Lincoln Memorial cent pre-1982 that is in similar condition. (Note: Some 1982 cents are copper and some aren't.) That way you can get a good idea as to what to expect. Since both pennies are made of 95% copper and 5% zinc, they will react the same to whatever cleaning agent you are using. Best of luck to you. - Richie

[@stella_11.]

@@rvalens2 thx!

[@dont.ripfuller6587]

Before you do anything to your wheat penny, You should ask yourself why are you doing anything to your wheat penny? Is it Dusty is a greasy is it dipped in melted lolipop lollipop juice? If your coin is so disgusting has to be cleaned, then it's value is probably already ruined, if it's covered in something that is easily removed like lollipop, clean pure water and a sprayer can work wonders if you immediately dry afterwards with a fan. If it's not really that dirty but it's just kind of old looking and you just want to Jack with it to be doing something, then just leave it alone. And if you're curious, get some junk copper beat up or whatever coins, 78-81 are good choices and common, and just experiment with him just ruin them do everything you think you want to try to do to a coin and see what it does to it. Scrub the hell out of it with a wire brush or a toothbrush, and then afterward you'll see how shiny an ugly they look and you'll understand why people tell you not to do that. Learning first-hand is the best way, destroying junk is far better than practicing on coins that might be worth a little bit more than a penny. Good luck and have fun

[@aamerjamal]

Can some one adcice me about this.. I want to seal my coins with mylar platic pocket.. Seal all four sides.. But to secure it for longer time i was thinking to put tiny petrolium jelly on it before seal it..or should i use other things.. Like petrolium jelly, olive oil or mobile oil? Whixh one is best bet..

[@jmcmh1981]

None! You don't need anything on the coin; adding any oils, greases, etc., will only serve to discolor and possibly corrode the coin. The U.S. Mint and many other world mints seal their coins in Mylar for display purposes and add nothing to the coins to preserve them. Coins being in a virtually airtight, inert environment and stored in a cool, dry place is the best way to take care of them. Hope this info helps.

[@mikemccabe2509]

try a soak in mineral oil, sometimes for a long period of time. But do not rub the coin when removed from oil. gently rinse with water. then dip in acetone for 10 seconds and remove and rinse with warm water a coulpe of rinses....anything else damages quality coins. If you have uncirculated stuff taht you want to simply look good, you can do other techniques with lots of vids online to explain....

[@HaitianBlue]

Is it ok to soak in hot water and dawn soap? Some are dirty and funky. I do that and pat dry, not rub.

[@joshuamcmorrow-hernandez1364]

Hot water and dish soap may effectively remove dirt and debris from the coin, but hot water and soap can permanently alter and discolor the surfaces of the coin through the higher temperatures and chemical reactions with the coin’s metal. I therefore advise against it and suggest removing what you can using only tepid water or by safely soaking the coin in acetone.

[@HaitianBlue]

@@joshuamcmorrow-hernandez1364 thank you! Water out of my tap is tepid I appreciate the response

[@daveward1484]

Acetone is extremely volatile. It should never be use in a room where there is a flame or spark potential.

[@taylordaniels5407]

Way over reaction. I use it all the time...

[@daveward1484]

@@taylordaniels5407 Just can't fix stupid.

[@Blissfulnessence]

i found a bowl of coins and they are very dirty, some are even stuck together from whatever got in that bowl! The date can't be read on most of them. Ought i to sacrifice them to see the dates?

[@joshuamcmorrow-hernandez1364]

Hi there! So, first things first, have you tried letting the coins soak for a little while in tepid water? If that doesn’t work, try letting them safely soak (in a well-ventilated place) in pure 100% acetone. These methods may prove successful before you try something more abrasive and irreversibly damaging to the coins… Good luck!

[@joshuatroutman7244]

I found a coin that is very valuable, but it was in a picture frame for like idolizing that type of coin but it had a sticky adhesive and the paper stuck to the coin. How should I get it off?

[@jmcmh1981]

Hi, Joshua! Carefully dip the coin in pure acetone (not "nail polish remover," which may have scents or other caustic agents in it) for a few moments, exercising all recommended safety procedures as stated on the container. Then rinse the acetone off using tepid running water, patting the coin dry with a soft cloth afterward. If it's just adhesive or paper, this debris should come right off without harming your coin. Good luck!

[@Stevesguitartraveling777]

If it’s very valuable, I would leave it alone. Experts at coin shop say that cleaning it out can show evidence later on and make the value less than it would’ve been when it was dirty take it to an expert first and then sell it and see what you can get but if you wanna clean it to just keep it on the shelf for yourself then go ahead and clean it but if you want to sell it, I would just leave it.

[@ep2307]

This is a joke. If you sell to a shop - for little money, i guarantee they will clean it - According to them if you pay a a shop to lean it -it is worth $, if you do the same cleaning it is worth less than half - scam

[@MrCryptoChris]

I will never use rubber gloves again while working with coins. Somehow they left fingerprints all over uncirculated s proof dimes.

[@johngerletti5284]

Did you say acitone? Hmm soft hair make up brosh. Dawn dish soap and hot water with cotton cloth.

[@guyadkins3108]

What about the method that jewlers use

[@AbstractZombie-ed8fj]

DON'T CLEAN YOUR COINS! The only time a coin should be cleaned is if you can't read the date! Cleaning coins devalues them instantly, if you have a valuable coin and clean it you automatically cut it's value in half!

[@russellhowell9854]

What about using microfiber towels? What that be safe to use?

[@joshuamcmorrow-hernandez1364]

Microfiber is indeed safer for coins than towels with broader fibers, but the key is still and always to gently PAT the coins and not rub them. Even microfiber is capable of imparting irreversible hairlines on the surface of a coin.

[@russellhowell9854]

@@joshuamcmorrow-hernandez1364 Thanks for the rapid reply.

[@TheVideoLounge]

I want to make nice and shiny a George III silver shilling for a gift, and since it's worth is only around £20 I don't really care if it's only then about £5 or something, I just don't see how doing this with a proprietary silver cleaner (ie Brasso) is going to damage this hard 200 year old coin, or am I totally wrong here ?

[@joshuamcmorrow-hernandez1364]

That coin should make a wonderful gift! It's your piece to do with as you please, but silver cleaners like Brasso are abrasive. They do their work by removing a thin layer of silver from the coin much the same way sandpaper would. Such damage is irreparable -- you can never put back that outer layer of metal, and the striations and pitting left behind may be minute but will stay there.

[@TheVideoLounge]

@@joshuamcmorrow-hernandez1364 Thanks for that info Joshua, I guess what I don't quite get is that these coins are apparently around 92-93% silver content, so it's not as if they are just plated, which of course you would be damaging by stripping off layers. I'm really not concerned about micro striations/pitting, but I guess dipping in solution rather would solve this ?

[@joshuamcmorrow-hernandez1364]

@@TheVideoLounge it's not really a matter of plating coming off, as (you pointed out) there is none of course with this coin, but rather of surface damage. I suppose if you are looking to brighten the surface of your coin, a dip is a less-abrasive solution than something like a silver polish. Dips can also be unpredictable and sometimes reveal streaking or other imperfections that natural toning is hiding. Best wishes whatever route you take!

[@TheVideoLounge]

@@joshuamcmorrow-hernandez1364 Cheers 👍

[@ep2307]

Clean with baking soda and a rag and vinegar

[@ronweldon5892]

I would think Dawn dish soap

[@user-vw3ci6ig2b]

USE CLR

[@salehbogary]

i do not clean coins

[@manuelmancia8197]

does this method work w coins from the 1960’s-1980’s

[@joshuamcmorrow-hernandez1364]

Hi, Manuel -- Water and acetone processes will work well for most types of coins, bearing in mind that the result will NOT necessarily be in changing the color of the coin or making it appear lighter but in removing surface dirt/debris and/or residue from adhesives and the like. Good luck!

[@joshuamcmorrow-hernandez1364]

Hi, Manuel -- Water and acetone processes will work well for most types of coins, bearing in mind that the result will NOT necessarily be in changing the color of the coin or making it appear lighter but in removing surface dirt/debris and/or residue from adhesives and the like. Good luck!

[@steelemerald300]

It won’t improve the grade, so I would only clean coins that you don’t care bout the value (like a common date buffalo nickel)

[@Calu114]

@@joshuamcmorrow-hernandez1364 Sir, is there any way I could contact you ?

[@guyadkins3108]

Do you have any knowledge of coins value and rarity in other countries because I have some very interesting ones that have very interesting and odd depictions on them and ones that have the prior old royal family on them and agreed on the comment above is there any way to contact you and if so and you can help me out with making money from my mom’s old coin collection I would happily pay you or even give you a coin for your time

[@gregsharma3924]

yea, you devalued that coin for sure

[@Hevva67]

Too long… 🥱