Best way to Clean Pennies,Dimes.etc

[DiggerNut]

Just wondering if there is a "Best Way" or at least best results method for cleaning pennies,dimes,quarters,etc.Have not cleaned any of scads of coins found so far.

 

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[Jason in Enid]

rock tumbler is fastest way to clean volumes of dirty clad.

 

[Clad2Silver]

To get the dirt off them tumble them for at least 30 minutes in a rock tumbler with water, a little dish soap and some aquarium gravel. Then if you want to get the rust off the clad coins put them in a solution of salt and vinegar OR some toilet bowl cleaner, shake them around a few minutes then tumble them again for an hour or two. Do not put the salt/vinegar solution in the tumbler. They'll come out looking good These are some of mine after tumbling with the method I mentioned.

 

[RustyGold]

Just don’t mix the copper with the silver coins as it will turn them red. If tumbling use separate drums. Good luck!

 

[Jason in Enid]

Just don’t mix the copper with the silver coins as it will turn them red. If tumbling use separate drums. Good luck!

If youre going to be dumping them in a coin-star or counter machine anyway, just tumble it all together. Clean is all the matters, not color or staining.

 

[SWINGER1969]

I use a similar method with a brass tumbler used for polishing shell casings before reloading. if its all clad i run it all togther the bank doesn't care what color it is. I avoid coin star machines as they charge a fee my bank doesn't.

 

[EccentricInTexas]

Street gravel works a little faster then aquarium gravel. It does scratch them up a little more but the rougher edges work better. I usually run them with dish soap for 30 mins or so then rinse the soapy water off using a strainer and run them for another 30 with just water. It works good enough for the bank. I've sent some pretty chewed up zincolns through with out any issues.

 

[tokameel]

Just don't include any potentially valuable or keeper coins in the tumbler. That could ruin most of the collector value.

On those I gently rub with an old toothbrush.

Good luck

 

[Icewing]

I don't bother with adding any soap or media (gravel). I just separate them by type and fill the drum about half way with coins and the rest of the way with water and let them tumble for a couple of hours. Then rinse them thoroughly and spread them out on a towel to dry.

That's all you need to do to put them through a coin counter.

 

[Hawks88]

Some good info. Thanks guys.

 

[RustyGold]

Sorry forgot to add if they’re keepers tumble separately. Otherwise the guys are right, if they are going to a coin star or similar, there is no need to separate. Unfortunately it may contaminate the drum you may intend to use for silver coins only. Good luck!