Cleaning Nickels

[StevePa]

Does anyone have any tips on cleaning old nickels? I have a few buffalo and a recently found V nickel that I want to clean up. They are the brown rusty color that they get overtime.

Anyone have a special recipe or way to make them shiny or nickel colored again?

Thanks.

 

[JimmeyC]

Brillo pad and polish with parifin wax

 

[JimmeyC]

But please. Not to a key date or rare nickel!

 

[watercolor]

In the past, I've soaked mine in Worchestershire sauce for a few hours, then used a toothbrush
and then repeated the process in Worchestershire until the desired color is reached. As a final step,
rinse off with tap water, dry, and coat with paraffin (as JimmeyC mentioned) and then buff with a soft cloth.

As of late, I just use a soft brass-bristle brush and paraffin. . . but not on key-date nickels.

 

[mangum]

JimmeyC has good advice, I have had success with SOS Pads. I have only used it on one coin that was really bad and not worth much of anything (no date buffalo). .Like he said, just not on key dates or rare ones!