How to clean old coins from plaque. Methods for cleaning silver, copper and modern coins from rust. How to clean a coin with baking soda

At home, you can find a lot of stale artifacts, so today we tell you how to clean coins. Get rid of rust and oxidation on your own at home. But before that, you need to choose a method based on the material. Then you will return the coins to their original form and, perhaps, it will be possible to sell them for an acceptable cost.

Ways to clean copper coins from rust and oxidation

The following methods are designed to eliminate blackening, greening and oxidation.

No. 1. Soap shavings with water

Pass a third of the bar of household soap through a grater and combine with 500 ml. hot water. Dip the artifacts into the solution and record a quarter of an hour. After a predetermined period, the plaque will peel off, it remains only to completely rinse the coins with a sponge.

No. 2. Lemon

Break the citrus in half. Insert the products directly into the soft part and wait a third of an hour. Then remove, scrub with a dentifrice, rinse and dry.

No. 3. Vinegar

Protect your skin with gloves. Start cleaning coins one by one. Put each of them in the palm of your hand, pour over the vinegar and rub with your fingers. In conclusion, do not forget to rinse the products. As a second option, you can take ammonia.

No. 4. Salt/soda

Since you can clean coins from rust and oxidation in a banal way, we advise you to use it. At home, everyone has soda or salt. Measure out 2 tbsp. l., combine with 200 ml. hot water. Soak artifacts in the solution, rub and rinse after half an hour.

No. 5. "Coca Cola"

Cleaning is carried out similarly to the previous method. It is enough to lower the artifacts into soda for 20-25 minutes. After a specified period, clean with a sponge and do not forget to rinse the coins.

No. 6. Lemon acid

You can eliminate the strongest rust with a lemon solution. For 0.4 l. water accounts for about 20 gr. acids. After dissolving the granules, dip the coins inside and detect a third of an hour. Wipe with a sponge and rinse.

Ways to clean silver coins

Cleaning methods depend on the sample and the degree of damage, so proceed according to the situation.

1. If the silver is old and has the highest standard, then blackness can be eliminated with ammonia. Mix it with water in a ratio of 1 to 10, dip the products for an hour.

2. If there is no alcohol, use soda (0.5 liters of water per 150 grams). Dip the coins in a warm composition for 3 hours.

3. Also, cleaning can be done with ammonia, tooth powder / paste and soda. Connect the components in equal proportions. Apply to coins and arm yourself with a brush. Rinse and dry after all steps.

4. If the exhibits have a low standard, then you will have to arm yourself with a special type of salt called Trilon B. Measure out 20 gr., mix with 0.25 l. warm water and send the coins inside. Cleaning is carried out after the detachment of plaque.

Important!

Since you can clean coins with special means that get rid of not only rust and oxidation, but also blackness, we advise you to buy the drug and use it at home. The tool is selected taking into account the silver sample.

Ways to clean coins from blackness

Patina is a kind of plaque that forms on copper coins after prolonged contact with air. There are several ways to remove blackness, and we will consider them.

1. Prepare a highly concentrated solution of soap chips, warm up a little. Moisten cosmetic sponges and rub the exhibits.

2. You can also clean with ammonia. Put on gloves, put the products in the palm of your hand and wipe with a disc dipped in ammonia.

3. If the blackness is so strong that nothing helps, act differently. Combine turpentine, water, rubbing alcohol and oxalic acid. Wipe the exhibits to a shine with a moistened cotton swab.

Methods for cleaning coins from green plaque

Before cleaning coins from rust and oxidation, consider effective ways. At home, they will help to greatly facilitate the task.

1. For safe cleaning, use a solution of water and 9% vinegar. For 1 liter distilled water accounts for 60 ml. vinegar. Then the coins are placed in the solution in such a way that their surfaces do not come into contact with each other and with the walls of the container.

2. The surface of the coins must be completely exposed to the acid. Thus, a uniform chemical reaction will occur. To avoid stains, do not put a lot of coins in a small container.

3. Follow the process carefully. From time to time, remove the layers that will form during the chemical reaction. Actions are carried out several times a day. To do this, remove the coins from the solution.

4. For convenience, use a toothbrush. Do not overdo it, otherwise red stains form on the coins. Without mechanical intervention, it will not be possible to get rid of them. The method will help eliminate dirt stains and oxidation.

Methods for cleaning bimetallic coins

Before cleaning coins from rust and oxidation, it is worth mentioning that each alloy needs individual cleaning. Before carrying out the procedure at home, it is important to evaluate the quality of the metal.

1. Often, one side of the coin needs to be cleaned with an anti-corrosion compound, back side may not be damaged. Therefore, during classical cleaning with acidic compounds, pure metal can deteriorate. There is fading and discoloration.

2. Therefore, cleaning such coins at home does not guarantee the desired result, however, improvements appearance metal can still be achieved. To do this, prepare a solution of 250 ml. hot water and 50 gr. table soda.

3. Place a coin in the composition for a third of an hour. Metal should not come into contact with anything. Next, remove the product and start brushing with toothpaste without any additives. Suitable tooth powder.

4. When using the powder, manipulations should be done with extreme caution. Small particles often leave micro-scratches. If after the procedure you are not satisfied with the result, use a different chemical composition.

5. Purchase special remedy to eliminate corrosion and plaque. Spread the gel over the surface and start rubbing with a soft cloth. If the stains cannot be removed, use a soft brush instead of a rag. With the correct procedure, the metal will shine.

Ways to clean zinc coins

How to clean zinc coins not only from rust and oxidation, but also from other deposits? The process is quite laborious. Therefore, at home, you will have to work with hydrochloric acid.

1. Please note that it is strongly not recommended to leave the product unattended in such a liquid. Literally every few seconds you need to check the state of the coin. You will see the patina coming off. Next, the acid will take on the metal.

2. To make the procedure as efficient as possible, arm yourself with a wide container. This is necessary so that you can keep the product in the solution and at the same time clean with a brush. You will need a 1% solution of hydrochloric acid. The composition does not harm human skin.

3. Once you have completed all the steps, rinse the metal with running water under strong pressure. This will get rid of the residual acid. Remember that the procedure is time consuming, but the end result will please.

Cleaning old valuables is a laborious task. If you find a worthy copy and can restore it, you can earn good money at the auction. In any case, try and do not forget that each metal needs an individual approach.

Coins used by people in Everyday life, rarely suffer from traces of oxidation or rust. They are rubbed to a shine in pockets, purses and from the touch of fingers. However, banknotes that have gone out of circulation often do not have a very attractive appearance. Under the influence of oxygen, water or salt, the oxidation process begins to occur. Rust appears exclusively on steel or iron products, but many other metals can also corrode.

Expensive metals were used for the manufacture of banknotes as early as the 7th century. BC e. They were poured into ancient state Lydia from an alloy of gold and silver. The tradition of using expensive metals as a material for making coins has spread to other countries. Today, coins are made from less expensive materials such as brass, aluminum bronze or stainless steel.

Why do coins rust?

Any manifestation of oxidation or red plaque on metal products is popularly called rust. However, this name is given undeservedly. Rust, or rust, can only form on iron or its alloys (such as steel). All other metals corrode, not rust.

Corrosion of silver coins

Found old coins are often covered with a layer of dark plaque that hides the obverse or reverse. Its occurrence is due to the interaction of the metal with water (rain or salt), oxygen or hydrogen. Monetary units found on sea ​​coast, often corroded. The same can be said about coins found in the ground. However, even without direct contact with water, stains or deposits may appear on the metal product.

Should old coins be cleaned?

Before you figure out how to clean money from plaque, you need to figure out whether it is worth cleaning it at all. After finding rusty coins, find out their true value. There are certain laws in numismatics. In many cases, an old banknote only appreciates in value when rust occurs, which emphasizes the age of the item. In the history of numismatics, there were often cases when the seller unknowingly polished a coin, as a result of which it lost 90% of its value.

To find out the true value of a banknote, you need to look into special catalogs that can be found in the circle of numismatists. If you find that your acquisition is not getting any more value from a layer of years of plaque, you need to clean it up as soon as possible. In the early stages, corrosion is only noticeable visually, but over the years it corrodes the metal.

How to clean coins

You can get rid of rust on banknotes at home. It is necessary to use suitable means and follow certain rules. The easiest way is to use special household chemicals. Such funds are available in the form of liquids with a spray. They are designed to remove rusty stains on plumbing.

Carefully study the rules for using the purchased product. The composition includes chemical components hazardous to health. It is necessary to work with such substances only in gloves. The agent is applied to a metal product affected by corrosion for a certain time (not indicated on the package).

A chemical reaction takes place and traces of plaque disappear after rinsing with cold water.

You can try to remove rust marks with less aggressive "home" remedies:

• vinegar;
• citric acid/lemon juice/lime juice;
• soda;
• Coca Cola;
• salt;
• laundry soap.

To get the desired result, you need to use all of the listed substances correctly.

Vinegar

Pour a little vinegar (about 50 ml) into a glass container. Place coins covered with a corrosive layer into the liquid. Leave them to "sour" for 2 hours. Then remove the product and rub the contaminated areas with a piece of aluminum foil. After completely removing the rust, rinse the banknote under running water and enjoy its radiant sheen.

The second option for cleaning coins with vinegar is suitable for products with a high degree of corrosion. Add vinegar to boiling water in a ratio of 1:4. Also add 1 tbsp. l. salt. Place coins in boiling water and turn off the gas. Make sure they don't touch each other at the bottom of the pot. After the water has completely cooled, remove the metal banknotes and brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Then rinse with warm water and pat dry with a paper towel.

When carrying out such a procedure, you need to open the windows in the kitchen and turn on the hood. If possible, do this operation outdoors, as vinegar fumes are very unhealthy.

Lemon

Squeeze the juice of one lemon into a glass container and place in it old coin covered with bloom. Lemon juice can be replaced with a strong solution of citric acid. It is very important that the entire product is in liquid. If any side peeks out, a trace of oxidation may remain at the border of contact with air, which will be impossible to remove. The time of the procedure is individual, as it depends on the degree of corrosion.

Lemon can be replaced with lime. In this case, the course of the operation will completely change. Sprinkle ½ tsp on one side of the coin. salt, squeeze the juice of half a lime on top. After a while, turn the coin and repeat the operation with the second side. Remove the slurry with a lime peel.

Soda

Indispensable in cooking and everyday life, baking soda helps fight against different types pollution. If you need to wash an old coin, you can use this "miracle powder". Make a bowl of baking soda and a small amount of water. Apply it to blemished areas. Leave the coin for 2 hours. Then take an unused soft-bristled toothbrush and brush it off in a circular motion.

soap solution

Ideal laundry soap Brown. It will take only an eighth of the bar (about 25 g). Grate the soap and dissolve the shavings in a glass of warm water. For achievement best result coins are soaked overnight. After “sagging”, treat the ribs, obverse and reverse with a soft toothbrush. Once the product shines with its former brilliance, rinse it with fresh water and dry it with a towel.

Coca Cola

For many years, there have been rumors among housewives about the miraculous properties of Coca-Cola in everyday life. They wash streaks on plumbing, remove scale and old fat. One of the rumors claims that the drink easily corrodes rust. Many housewives claim that this is not a myth. Coins are soaked in Coca-Cola for 10 hours. After that, the plaque is removed in a circular motion of the toothbrush. Rinse with water so that the money does not stick with sweetness.

Features of some metals

Expensive metals require special treatment. If you need to clean a coin made of gold or silver, you need to take this issue very seriously.

1. Gold. Gold jewelry should be soaked in warm soapy water. It is strictly forbidden to rub gold coins with brushes, as the metal is very soft. The soaking procedure can take up to 10 days before showing the expected result.
2. Silver. It is important to determine the sample. A high-grade product is advised to soak in ammonia for about 1 hour. If the sample is too low, only the special Trilon-B substance will do.
3. Bronze. Do not confuse rust formation with patina (a special coating that appears over time on bronze). If you remove the patina, which serves as a marker of a worthy age of the item, the coin may lose its value.

In especially neglected cases, it is better to seek help from jewelers. Experts will help remove corrosion from the product without damaging its surface. If you have a particularly valuable coin in your hands, you should contact the master restorer.

For a novice numismatist and an experienced collector, coins are of great value, the value of which is affected by the year of manufacture and how clearly the signs and inscriptions are visible. But the older the product, the more oxides appear and the thicker the layer of contaminants accumulated on it.

Choosing a way to clean coins at home and with what, today everyone can purchase a special tool in the store. However, the price of this product is high, and experienced numismatists are aware of the existence of effective and simple methods for restoring the presentation of the product.

How to clean coins: universal ways

Before proceeding with the removal of contaminants, the product is washed in soapy water, the level of damage is assessed and a method is chosen by which the coin can be cleaned.

In addition, it is necessary to establish which metal is included in the composition in order to avoid damage.

Alternative methods help to clean coins from rust and oxidation at home, which require the use of Coca-Cola, olive or vaseline oil, GOI paste, citric acid or vinegar, soda, soap and electrolysis.

Proven and popular ways to remove contaminants from modern bimetal products and collectible coins from other materials are presented below.

neutral soap

A piece of baby or laundry soap rub on a grater to obtain gruel, then generously lubricate both sides of the product with a mass. Periodically, the metal is taken out and cleaned of dirt under running water with a brush. Usage soap solution for cleaning coins - an effective and most sparing method in relation to the metal, but sometimes the desired result appears after a week or a month.

Mixture of baking soda and soap

If there is no time to wait, then soda in dissolved form is used with soap. The metal is cleaned and then lubricated with alcohol and vaseline ointment to prevent the recurrence of plaque.

Vaseline oil

In this agent, the product is boiled until completely free of oxide and plaque, and then washed in ethyl alcohol. The method is not suitable for cleaning rare change marks.

Table vinegar or citric acid

9% vinegar will remove rust and green deposits. For this, a coin is placed in ceramic dishes, poured with a solution of vinegar (1 tbsp. L) with water (half a glass) and periodically turned over. After complete cleaning, the metal is washed under running water and dried with a multilayer napkin. Instead of vinegar, you can use citric acid.

"Coca Cola"

The drink contains phosphoric acid, which cleans the metal from impurities. To speed up the cleaning process, the dishes with liquid are placed in heat (on a battery or in the sun).

Electrolysis

This method requires preliminary testing on a less valuable copy, as well as compliance with security rules. To clean the product you will need:

1. Power supply - universal charger or device from a mobile phone.
2. Clips in the form of "crocodile" (2 pcs.).
3. A metal object made of copper or brass.
4. Ceramic or glassware.
5. A solution of soda and water (1 tablespoon per 1 liter).

A clip with a “-” sign is attached to a coin, and a clip with a “+” sign is attached to a metal object. After that, the product and the object are placed in a container with a solution, and the power supply is plugged into an outlet. The result appears in a short time.

How to clean a copper coin

If you have a question about how to clean a copper coin, you can use some universal ways, which are listed above. So, if stains appear on a collection copy, then boiling vaseline oil will help to eliminate them.

"Coca-Cola" is safe for the product, cleans coins to a shine. Paste, soda, sand and tooth powder (not dissolved in water) are dangerous because they can scratch the surface and cause irreparable damage to the product.

At home, copper coins are cleaned from green plaque with citric acid or vinegar. In the fight against the pale yellow formation of lead carbonate, a 10% solution of acetic acid is useful.

If collectible covered with a dark cherry color, then it is placed in a 15% ammonia solution or a 10% ammonium carbonate solution. The latter is less aggressive and safer for copper.
Kefir is a gentle agent for removing oxide from royal coins. Rare specimens are placed in a dairy product until the plaque disappears completely, periodically rinsing under running water.

Sometimes copper begins to break down from damage or rust. To clean metal quickly and efficiently, numismatists recommend using Trilon B, a slow-acting reagent. The product is also placed in a container with liquid and the exfoliating plaque is carefully washed off.

Sometimes a copper piece becomes unnaturally light after cleaning. Then experienced collectors advise putting it in a sunny place and leaving it for a week, periodically turning it over.

If there are signs of a “bronze disease”, then it is better to contact a professional restorer who will help clean the copper coin from a light-colored green coating.

Silver coin cleaning

Cleaning of coins in this case occurs using the same universal methods using citric acid, ammonia, soapy water, soda or oil. At the same time, ammonia, like ethyl alcohol, cleans the product from green spots, dirt and oxide, and olive oil adds shine to the metal.

You can also clean silver coins to a shine with salt. To do this, the component is mixed with water (1: 2) and spread on foil. Together with the resulting slurry, the metal is wrapped and left for 8 hours.

If the coins have darkened, then you can clean the silver from black plaque with lemon juice. To do this, a cotton swab is dipped into the juice and the product is wiped. Soaking silver in such a product is not recommended due to the possible formation of stains.

Some collectors clean silver by soaking it in the water left over from boiling chicken eggs.

For cleaning silver products without heavy contamination, household detergents are used. In this case, the coin is placed in a liquid diluted with water, rinsed after 30 minutes and dried with a napkin.

Since it is not easy to clean a silver coin, numismatists recommend using a toothbrush with soft bristles, and after the dirt disappears, polish with chamois leather.

The better to clean coins from the times of the USSR

In the period from 1931-1935 on the territory Soviet Union the coins were made from a wear-resistant alloy of copper and nickel, which undergoes the formation of a red-brown oxide. In addition, Zinc, Bronze, Brass and Aluminum were used as part of the exchange marks, which add to the difficulty in removing dirt from collectible items.

However, experienced numismatists take up cleaning coins from the times of the USSR at home. For this, Trilon B and electrolysis are used, which were mentioned above. And one more non-standard cleaning method: the coin is moistened with water, covered with cigarette ashes and left in this state for 20 minutes. After the time has elapsed, the gruel is rubbed into the product and washed off under running water.

The same universal methods are used to clean bronze or brass coins, copper-nickel alloy and cupronickel products. But you should pay attention to some nuances:

1. Soapy water will remove dirt, but will not eliminate oxides.
2. Vinegar can adversely affect the clarity of the image and make the coin less valuable.
3. Hydrochloric acid spoils the product of a silvery-white hue.
4. For polishing and cleaning Soviet coins, you cannot use GOI paste, which can erase relief images and patina.

Safe cleaning of old and collectible coins at home

Before you start cleaning gold or ancient antique coins that are found in the ground, the product is washed under running water and cleaned with a soft bristle brush.

If the coin is oxidized, then the universal methods mentioned above are used. Since it is difficult to clean an old coin, you should first experiment on a less expensive copy.

Which method do you think is the most effective? Share in the comments, read all reviews...

Many collections have good coins (without mechanical damage), but with dirt or dark spots. The problem can be solved different ways to eliminate external defects. We will talk about them in this article.

Types of coin cleaning

Depending on the degree of contamination, the characteristics of the material and other factors, it is necessary to determine the appropriate method. Among the main types of coin cleaning are the following:

• chemical,
• mechanical,

• cooking,
• electrolysis.

The chemical type of cleaning involves the use of ammonia, acids, soda, soap, detergents and washing powder. In the presence of concentrated hydrochloric acid, you can make a special bath with a solution and immerse coins there. After the procedure, it is better to rinse the coins with alkali to stop the reaction.

Cleaning warm soapy water suitable for most metals. You can fix and enhance the effect obtained with any dishwashing detergent, ordinary laundry soap will also give good result. Coins with minor contamination should be soaked in the resulting solution for 2-3 hours. Coins with abundant coating can be kept in the prepared liquid for about a day.

How to clean a coin with baking soda

Soda cleaning is an alkaline method of removing dirt and is suitable for low-grade copper and silver specimens. The process is carried out easily, without creating special conditions. First, a slurry is formed from a spoonful of soda and a small amount of water, then the mixture is applied to the coin. Removal of dirt is carried out with an ordinary soft brush. Soda can also be used after acid cleaning to extinguish the reaction.

How to clean a coin with vinegar

Cleaning with vinegar or citric acid suitable for solid metals. A teaspoon of soda is added to the vinegar solution, the liquids are mixed. Coins are immersed in the resulting bath and remain there until the stains disappear, and then treated with soap, warm water and a soft brush. If the contamination is not washed off, the procedure is repeated.

It is undesirable to use this method for coins made of gold, silver or copper.

Cleaning coins by electrolysis

Electrolysis- the most dangerous, but also the most fast method elimination of defects. Cleaning is carried out by applying current to a slightly salty solution of water with a coin placed there. We will talk about this method in more detail at the end of the article.

ammonia as a coin cleaner

Cleaning with ammonia is suitable for products made of silver, pure copper or alloys containing it. The coin is immersed in ammonia for the time necessary to achieve the effect, then removed and washed. The room in which such cleaning is carried out must be well ventilated.

mechanical cleaning

For mechanical cleaning, various objects and tools are used (drills, brushes, needles, scalpels, pieces of cloth, etc.). This method is quite effective and removes any contamination, but there is a risk of damage to the surface of the products.

Digestion of coins

When cooking, the coin is processed in a boiling liquid, you can additionally use oil (vaseline or olive).

Several coins are placed in a pot with hot oil for 10 minutes(it is more convenient to clean in a special lattice box on a chain). After cooking, wash the products with a brush and soap and remove the remaining oil by thoroughly boiling the coins in distilled water.

After cooking, the specimens acquire radiance and brilliance, but a noble patina comes off them, which gives the products additional value. It is better not to expose rare coins to such an impact.

Rules for cleaning gold, silver and copper coins

Choice best way made taking into account the specific properties of the metal. Cleaning, carried out in the absence of the necessary knowledge and experience, will not give the coin its original appearance, but will significantly harm it. For example, mechanical action using asidol or jewelry paste leaves scratches and helps to erase small details of drawings.

Cleaning of gold coins

Gold coins do not need aggressive cleaning. If the products appear dirty, it will be enough to wash them with warm soapy water, rinse with water and dry. Do not rub gold coins intensively, because even ordinary fabric leaves on noble metal small scratches.

Silver coin cleaning

Choosing the right cleaning method for silver items depends on from the sample and the degree of oxidation of the metal. High-quality silver coins can be cleaned by placing them in a solution of ammonia (10% ammonia and 90% water) for an hour or in a soda solution (30 g of soda per 100 ml of water) for several hours. The process will be accelerated if the liquid is brought to a boil several times, and the oxidized areas are treated with a soft brush.

High-grade coins with slight traces of oxidation are best cleaned with a mixture of toothpaste, ammonia and baking soda. The resulting mass should not contain abrasive particles. The coin must be covered with the mixture and rubbed with fingers or a brush.

Suitable for cleaning low-grade silver coins Trilon B solution. When the green layer comes off the surface of the coin, you can continue the process using a special mixture for silver of a certain sample.

Cleaning copper coins

Copper products are subject to the formation of a layer of patina on the surface. If there are no signs of corrosion on the coin, and the film is uniform, then it is better not to take risks and not expose the copy to cleaning. Patina protects metal from corrosion and gives the coin a noble look. To eliminate traces of touch and grease, the product can be washed in warm water.

Coins that have undergone corrosion are best cleaned using aggressive reagents (acetic and citric acids, Trilon B). They will gradually separate the damaged metal layer, without affecting the solid base. To process weakly oxidized coins, soaking in solution for several hours will suffice, while heavily oxidized coins can be left for a day or more.

Bronze coin cleaning

Bronze products are cleaned according to the same principle as copper ones. But keep in mind that ammonia changes bronze color. The metal may turn brown or even black. The shine of a bronze coin can be easily restored by applying toothpaste to its surface and washing it in warm water. Dry the products after cleaning by wrapping them in two layers of a soft cloth and a paper towel.

Sulfuric and nitric acids should not be used to clean copper or silver coins, as they destroy the fine details of the pattern.

Coin cleaners and tools

In addition to the above methods, there are others. Tools that are suitable for cleaning:

• toothbrushes of varying degrees of softness;
• wooden toothpicks;
• brush with natural bristles;
• plastic tableware, tweezers;
• reagents (soap, distilled water, soda, linseed and vaseline oil).

Rare and valuable coins It is not recommended to clean it yourself - professionals will do a better job. The following cleaning methods are suitable for dug metal. The main goal is to preserve the patina when cleaning, removing all unnecessary oxides. Before processing, the coins are washed with soap.

The best safe way to clean coins

The simplest and safest method is using laundry soap. In a hermetically sealed plastic container boiling water is poured and grated 72% laundry soap is poured.

When the solution thickens, coins are placed in it. After a day or two, the coins are removed and rubbed with a toothbrush with trimmed bristles. The procedure is repeated until the desired result is achieved. Some oxides can be carefully removed with a wooden toothpick.

The disadvantage of this method is that it takes a lot of time, but its undoubted advantage is that the extra layers are removed gently and gently.

Exposure using caustic soda is very fast way but fit not for all coins. Both products with a relatively even field and with an uneven thin film are cleaned well.

In the manufacture of caustic soda solution, safety precautions must be observed. Granules (1 sachet per 500 ml) dissolve only in distilled cold water, take a coin with tweezers and be sure to work with gloves.

The product is immersed in a solution for 10 minutes. Then washed with water. The softened oxides can then be easily removed with a brush.

If during the cleaning process the oxides on the product become blue or green, the process must be interrupted immediately.

Cleaning copper coins

Careless cleaning of a copper coin can cause chips and pits to appear on its surface. Depending on the type of corrosion, the appropriate method of exposure is selected. Reddish plaque is removed with a five percent solution of ammonia or ammonium carbonate. The coin must be held in ammonia solution no more than 1-2 minutes. Green plaque can be removed with a solution of citric or acetic acid. A yellowish coating is dissolved with a 10% solution of acetic acid.

After cleaning the coin by any of the above methods, it must be boil in distilled water. After several boilings, you can check whether the coin is completely cleansed by dropping a 1.7% solution of silver azonic acid into the water. If after that the water remains clear, then the cleaning process must be completed.

After cleaning, the product must be thoroughly dried. You can place a copy in a special drying cabinet for two hours or dry it in acetone, and then in alcohol (no more than an hour).

If the natural patina on the coin could not be preserved, can be artificial to give the product an attractive appearance. 50 g of copper sulfate and 5 g of potassium permanganate are added per liter of distilled water. The resulting solution is heated to 80-90 degrees. Coins are placed in the heated liquid. Next, turn the coins over from time to time and wait for the desired color to appear. After the procedure, the coins must be dried and covered with a mixture of alcohol and benzene 1: 1 to protect against corrosion. You can also read about artificial patina in the article ""

Electrochemical cleaning

Electrolysis- fast and effective method remove dirt, but its use is associated with some of the dangers inherent in the operation of any electrical appliance. The device must be used in a well-ventilated and well-lit area. Before carrying out the process, be sure to wear protective gloves and glasses.

When using electrolysis, the risk of damaging a coin increases significantly (by several times compared to other methods). Assembly requires a power supply with voltage 6-12 volts. The plugs are cut off and the wires are divided into two parts. The ends of the wire are stripped of insulation. Copper veins need to be twisted, soldered or attached to metal clips. Next, a shallow plastic container is taken and filled with salt or soda solution(1 tablespoon per 0.5 l).

Turn on the power supply. The clamps hold on to isolated places at a distance from each other (if they touch, a short circuit will disable the power supply). The clamps must be immersed in a container with a solution. One of them will hiss and release gas - this is a "+".

It needs to be connected to a coin, and the second clip, (respectively "-") is connected to a small metal object (for example, to a spoon or a key).

The second option is reverse connection. The positive clip connects to a metal object, and the negative clip connects to a coin. The reverse connection gently cleans the coin and does not harm its metal core.

Depending on the amount of plaque and the degree of contamination, the cleaning process takes from several minutes (if a “+” is connected to the coin) and 40 minutes to 4 hours(if "-" is connected).

When finished cleaning, turn off the device from the mains, remove the coin from the solution and clean it with a brush with a small amount liquid soap. To eliminate special, complex contaminants, the procedure will have to be repeated. The solution will become dirty after a while and will need to be replaced in order to re-electrolyze.

Summing up on the topic of cleaning

A method of cleaning coins that would allow them to return to their original appearance exactly, does not exist, but with due diligence, you can significantly improve the condition of the coins. by the most safe option the use of soapy water is considered.

More severe soiling may require coins to be soaked in solution for extended periods of time. Sometimes you have to wait several weeks for the result.

For prolonged soaking solution needs to be changed. to a new one, and periodically remove the coin itself and clean off the softened layers of dirt from it. For gold coins, this cleaning method is ideal.

After the procedure, the product is dried, wrapped in a soft cloth. Mechanical cleaning is also considered relatively in a safe way, but categorically not suitable for soft metals that are easily scratched.

the main task- do not completely ruin the coin and do not deprive it of its noble patina. Some specimens are better not to be cleaned at all, but simply washed. It is recommended to practice on the simplest coins before starting work. Be sure to follow the safety regulations (chemical cleaning methods can be hazardous to health).

At many houses in the closet you can find historical artifacts in the form of silver or bronze coins. But, unfortunately, not everyone can use them because of their unpresentable appearance. It is no secret that coins of this kind are highly valued in the market for rare things, which means that they can bring a decent profit to the owner. But even if you are not interested in selling them, keeping the coins clean will not be superfluous. But how to rid coins of rust and oxidation at home? You will learn about this in this article. The information obtained will help you save money, since the work of a cleaning master will be quite expensive.

Which way to choose

Before choosing one of the cleaning methods, you need to determine what metal the product is made of. Regardless of the material of manufacture, you can use a tool such as soap. Yes, ordinary soap combined with water will help rid the coins of rust and oxidation. It is only important that the mixture is thick. To do this, you can grate it on a grater, and add water gradually. If the contamination is severe, put the coin in a soapy solution for 10 hours.

Not everyone trusts folk remedies, many prefer chemicals. To do this, you need to choose the tool that is specifically designed for cleaning metal objects.

An indispensable assistant will be for you toothpaste and not necessarily expensive.

Silver, bronze, brass and copper: the better to clean

If you have a rare silver coin, then baking soda is perfect for cleaning it from rust and oxidation. At the same time, remember that soda must be dissolved in water, so much so that a thick mixture forms. Lemon juice also helps. The coin must be kept in it until it becomes clean. Then the product can be washed with water.

For cleaning copper products, ammonia is excellent, especially if the coin is oxidized. Can be cleaned with vinegar. It is important that it be 10 percent. Kefir helps well, although this method is non-standard.

Coins made of brass are well cleaned with soap, but a prerequisite is that it must be for children. If you don’t have one at hand, replace it with a household one. During the cleaning, you will need a lot of patience, because the process can take several days. If traces remain on the coin after the soap solution, they can be cleaned with a soft-bristled toothbrush.

A delicious way to cleanse is to use Coca-Cola. The coins are dipped into the drink. They must be monitored, as products may have different levels of contamination.

Toothpaste and ammonia are applied to bronze coins.