Simple dirt....hot soapy water and a soft bristled toothbrush. Once you determine year/mint/condition/potential value, further cleaning would need to be decided based on what is needed to be removed and the effect cleaning will have on the coins' value. Sometimes it's beneficial, sometimes it will ruin value. I needs to be determined on a coin by coin basis.These are coins I found MD'ing so they have dirt on them.
my 09 s but not my 09 s vdb...Dont clean your 14 D or your 22 P or your 09 S
Be careful with vinegar. Here is a heavily patinaād Indian Head Cent that I used a toothpick and Andreās pencils on (first picture - the patina was so hard nothing else would come off with mechanical means).
Soak in vineger and salt, then rinse well
I tried the same thing with one in a little better shape then the one you posted. Iām a rookie to all this and In about 20 mins of soaking I destroyed it with vinegar. Lesson learned.Be careful with vinegar. Here is a heavily patinaād Indian Head Cent that I used a toothpick and Andreās pencils on (first picture - the patina was so hard nothing else would come off with mechanical means).
I figured the IHC was toast so Iād try vinegar to maybe reveal more detail. Bad idea. (Second picture after 2 hours in vinegar).
Itās been a long time since I tried vinegar on a copper coin (Iām very against the practice), and I had forgotten how quickly it affects the coin.I should have added; soak for a few minutes... and only for those that are spenders, not keepers..