Clean green off on old half penny?

[CC-Hunter]

Is there anyway to legitimately clean some green off this half penny? The coin looks good otherwise.

 

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[huntsman53]

An Acetone bath then a light rub with a finger and possibly a fingernail may remove the Verdigris (the green stuff which is a Copper Carbonate encrustation caused by oxidation of the Copper). The Acetone will remove more of the patina from the coin as well but since you have apparently done some cleaning of it which also removed some patina, so using the Acetone can't really hurt. Just do not subject the coin to the Acetone any longer than you have to, as it can cause some pitting to develop in the Copper due to prolonged exposure to it. Once the Verdigris is removed or as much as can be possible to remove, then rinse the coin very thoroughly.


Frank

 

[enamel7]

Verdicare would work. Just Google it.

 

[l.cutler]

Yup, verdicare would be the way to go.

 

[wvplug]

Just stick it in your pocket, carry it around and handle it for a while.

 

[jerseyben]

The green you are seeing is corrosion. It cannot be removed. You can "deactivate it" to stop or slow it from spreading but that is it. I would recommend a soak in acetone overnight. I have left dozens coins soak in acetone overnight and it has never hurt them.

 

[Silver Searcher]

Tooth pick....

SS

 

[Dozer D]

When I have some 'dirty' coins that must be cleaned, I soak them in a mix of "Dawn" liquid (few drops) soap & water (ounce or two) in a Rx brown pill bottle overnite or two, shake often during the overnite period, rinse with very hot tap water & tap dry with paper napkin. Takes a lot of the oily film off coin, especially pennies.