I finally stopped using vinegar to clean my dug coins

For like two years I was convinced vinegar was the best way to get dirt off old pennies and Roman bronze I found at a flea market in Ohio. But after it left this weird green film on a 1890s Indian Head cent I dug up at an old farmhouse, I started reading more. Turns out I was just damaging the patina without realizing it. Now I just rinse with distilled water and a soft toothbrush, way safer. Anyone else had a bad experience with homemade cleaning methods?

2 comments

2 Comments

ryanprice11d agoMost Upvoted

Man I read this article from a guy who used to work at a museum and he said vinegar is basically the worst thing you can use on old metal because it eats away the actual surface layers. Made me feel dumb for using it on my buffalo nickels.

cora40012d ago

Yeah the green film thing happened to me too on a 1920s Mercury dime. I was so mad at myself for ruining it. Now I just use a soft toothbrush and water, nothing else, and if something is really stubborn I leave it alone.