How To clean pennies for pressing?!!

[karen1]

The search function isn't working so i can't find the threads about cleaning pennies for our July trip. I knew I should have written it down!! Anyone recall or have done it successfully? Thanks!!

 

[colleen costello]

They were doing this in my son's preschool class recently and it was vinegar (I remember smelling it) and I think SALT. I don't think it was baking soda because it would have fizzed -- The kids dropped in the coins and stirred and they came out shiny! This "experiement" was a big hit among the 4-year-olds.

 

[mickeysaver]

I found that soaking the pennies in ketchup worked great! I have heard others report great results with vinegar and salt or by using Brasso. Have a great time! Mickey

 

[amylovesdisney]

I >>think<< I read it on these boards back in 2001 that you can use TarnX (but be verrrry careful - wear gloves) to clean the pennies.

You get the best results from pennies minted before 1972. Apparently, the composition of pennies changed after that time and they don't get as sparkly as the ones 1972 and before.

Following that advice, I cleaned up some real beauties for the kiddies' pressed penny collection and we plan to repeat the whole kit and caboodle in preparation for our trip to The World next month!!

 

[epcotfan]

Dip pennies in white vinegar for 1 minute. Apply toothpaste and scrub. Rinse with warm water and pat dry. Always works for me. The combination of toothpaste and vinegar really gets the dirt off and keeps them nice and shiny.

 

[TreeOfLife]

Remember that "miracle cleaner" for jewelry, silver and metals selling for over $20 years ago, it was a metal plate? The scam was that it was nothing but an aluminum plate. You can get the same results doing this: Take a piece of aluminum foil, hot water and baking soda. Put the aluminum foil in a container with hot water. It does not need to be an extremely large piece. Add your baking soda and dip your metal in that solution and they will be cleaner, without investing in polishing chemicals... Immediately!

 

[Goofyish]

I read somewhere that Coke or Pepsi is very good for cleaning coins

 

[rafikimom]

Try some hot sauce, like Tabasco. As a teenager, we would pour it over a penny and see how shiney it made it. We would tease if it did that to a penny, what did it do to your stomach?!?

 

[angey77]

Along the lines of sauces that do a number on your stomach, Taco Bell's mild sauce is rumored to take tarnish off pennies too.

 

[therealgoofy]

When we were younger Taco Bell sauce did the trick. I haven't tried it in years though.

Chris

 

[poohangel]

my husband used never-dull. You can buy it at walmart in the auto section. It worked really well, my pennies looked like they were new.

poohangel

 

[DiznEeyore]

These are all good suggestions for cleaning the pennies before pressing, but what I want to know is what (if anything) keeps them from tarnishing *after*??? (For example, if you wanted to frame them or something ....)

I've asked this question dozens of times over the years and never gotten an answer -- maybe this will be my lucky thread!

 

[disneybud]

Check the link below to see which kind of Pennies are best to press and some cleaning methods...

Also the date is pre 1982 and not 1972 as stated in one of the previous posts.


Penny Page FAQ on best type of Penny to Press

 

[karen1]

Thank you all for your help!!!

 

[Feelin' Goofy]

To clean the pennys I use auto polishing compound. to keep them shiny use spray laquer or polyurthan.

 

[DiznEeyore]

THANK YOU Feelin' Goofy! We'll give that a try!