To remove the oxidation from copper pennies, pour about a quarter cup of white vinegar in a glass or plastic bowl and mix in about a teaspoon of salt. Stir it up till the salt is dissolved, and then toss in your pennies. Only do a few at a time and make sure they’re not touching each other.

First, mix a small amount of dishwashing liquid and water together. Dip your old toothbrush into the soapy water so that it is thoroughly soaked. While holding the penny with one hand, use the soapy toothbrush to scrub the dirt and gunk off the surface of the penny.

Gather together the pennies you want to clean. Vinegar is most effective for cleaning copper. Other coins are molded from different metals, so the solution may not work as well on them. If you don’t have any vinegar on hand, a 1:1 ratio of water to acetone will produce the same effect.

One of the easiest ways to clean coins is with Coke. Avoid rubbing the coin as it’s being rinsed because this can scratch it. Soak the coin in a small bowl of Coke for approximately 5 minutes. Rinse the coin again under cold running water.

As a gentle abrasive, baking soda is great for getting into the tiny nooks and crannies of coins to polish away the last traces of dirt and tarnish. Simply rub the surface of each penny with a pinch of dry baking soda or alternatively, a paste of baking soda with a little water.

It is best not to clean rare coins as removing the patina can significantly reduce the value of them. For this reason, most coin hobbyists almost never clean their coins. In fact, 99% of coins do not increase in value after you clean them, but many will be greatly devalued.

Follow These Steps:

1. In a jar, combine one cup vinegar (or lemon juice) and 1 tablespoon salt.
2. Pour the solution into the plastic container.
3. Add the coins in a single layer, so none of the coins are touching.
4. When you remove the coins and wipe them with a cloth or paper towel, they should look shiny.

There’s a reason that a cleaned coin is often worth less than half its original, undamaged value – numismatists simply don’t want them. In fact, in most cases, anything more than a simple surface rinsing with water to dislocate loose debris will actually remove tiny bits of metal from the coin.

Gently rinse the coin with distilled water. Pour distilled water over the surface of both sides of the coin. Or, set the coins in a shallow bowl of distilled water, and let them sit for a few minutes. Note: It’s crucial not to use tap water, since the chemicals and fluoride found in tap water could damage your coin.

Value of a 1943 Steel Penny They are worth about 10 to 13 cents each in circulated condition, and as much as 50 cents or more if uncirculated.

Circulated 1964 pennies with no errors or special varieties are worth approximately 2 cents. As you can see, the 1964 Lincoln penny was struck by the billions upon billions. Virtually all of these pennies went into circulation and can still be found in your pocket change.

1933 double eagle coins