Copper Coins - To clean or Not to clean?

Question

Copper Coins - To clean or Not to clean?

I have five One penny Copper coins:

One from start of Queen Victoria's reign

One from start of Edward Seventh's reign

One from start of George Fifth's reign

One from start of George Sixth's reign and

One from start of Elizabeth the Second's reign.

All are pretty dirty!

Should I or should I not clean these coins?

If I should clean them, how should this be done?

Answer 1

They will look nicer, but loose their charm as old coins, if you are interested in selling them, they will be worthless cleaned.

If you do decide to clean them, the easiest way is to but a tin of coka cola, drink half of it and leave the coins in the other half overnight.

When you see how clean they are the next morning, just think what the coke has done to your stomach.

I love coke by the way.

Answer 2

Under no circumstances. If they are valuable then it may well reduce the value of them.

Go to a coin shop and check with them.

Answer 3

if you want to clean them dip them in brown sauce (h.p)....it does no harm at all i'm told....<^><..

Answer 4

Do not clean those coins!  It will ruin their value!

You can wash them with soap and water, that's it.  Be gentle with them and protect them.

Answer 5

That depends on whether you plan on placing them into your mouth. Don't clean.

Answer 6

No, if you clean them they'll look new and fake - keep the dirt, its all history!

Answer 7

I asked a similar question here once and was told not to otherwise it would reduce their value.

Answer 8

clean them. they are quite cool things to have, i would advise to leave them in vinegar or coca cola overnight(vinegar is the best as it is acidic) and wash them with warm water to clean the acidity off and get rid of the horrible smell :)

Answer 9

Check the dates! For example many Victorian pennies are worth just that. Or an Edward VII 1902 could be worth £15, but the much rarer 1903 penny is worth 4 times that amount (depending on wear/condition).

The 'dirt' is a 'patina' which helps to protect the copper/bronze surface. Any attempt at amateur cleaning is liable to destroy the actual surface metal leaving it susceptible to further decay. If you do go ahead, using 'silvo', 'brasso' or even coke and varnish the coins subsequently, they will look fine in your private display box but practically worthless to sell to a serious collector.

Answer 10

I think it might affect their value but hang the expense !  Curiousity would get the better of me - to see them like the day they were minted.  

Get a jewellery cleaning dip.