How to Clean Zinc Coins
The components of a country's currency often depend on the economic stability of the country, and coins can change multiple times throughout history. Countries in economic crisis, such as after wars or other financial strains, often use zinc to manufacture the coins for their monetary system; zinc is a less expensive metal than copper, silver, gold or nickel. Zinc is also a resilient metal, and can withstand a lot of wear and tear over the years. Coin collectors and historians often face heavily soiled coins; cleaning them properly can keep the coins looking their best.
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Things You'll Need
- Water
- Dish soap
- Bowl
- Paper towel
- Scrub brush
- Toothbrush
- Table salt
- Gloves
- Sulfuric acid
- Sodium hydroxide
- Towel
Instructions
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Regular Cleaning
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1
Mix warm water and a mild dish detergent in a bowl or sink until it forms suds. Drop the coins into this mixture and allow them to soak for 30 minutes; if your coins are heavily soiled, you may want them to soak for an hour.
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2
Remove the coins and dry them with a clean paper towel or cloth; you may notice some of the dirt and grime come off onto the towel. Remove as much dirt as you can with the towel.
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3
Scrub the coins with a stiff brush to remove remaining dirt and grime. Use a toothbrush or toothpick to get into grooves or crevices on the coin.
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4
Sprinkle common table salt onto the coin and rub the salt into the coin with a cloth. The salt will help to scrub away dirt and grime.
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5
Rinse the coins thoroughly in warm water to remove residual salt and soap. Dry them with a clean towel.
Oxidation
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6
Wear protective gloves when working with acid. Slowly pour one part sulfuric acid into 20 parts water to make a dilution of the acid.
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7
Add the coins to the mixture for 10 to 20 minutes; the soaking time may vary depending on the level of oxidation. Turn the coins every two to three minutes with a wooden spoon.
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8
Mix one part sodium hydroxide with 20 parts water; the sodium hydroxide will help to neutralize the acid. When the coins are finished in the acid, use the wooden spoon to transfer them to the hydroxide and allow them to soak for five minutes.
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9
Remove the coins from the hydroxide and rinse them thoroughly in warm water. Scrub away any remaining oxidation with a scrub brush.
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10
Dry the coins thoroughly before storing.
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1
Tips & Warnings
For light layers of dirt and grime, try using a pencil eraser or ink eraser to remove the stains.
Cover newly cleaned coins with a zinc lacquer to help protect them from further oxidation.
Never pour water into sulfuric acid; the mixture could splatter or bubble, causing serious injury.
References
- Photo Credit coin image by Petr Gnuskin from Fotolia.com
