keeping pressed pennies shiny

[harperwi]

O.k., so I already know about all the ways to shine pennies up (vinegar, ketchup, brasso, taco bell sauce and pencil erasers), and I know to use only pre-1982 coins. Fact is, we vinegared them and erased them, and they were tres shiny...

...for a day.

The next morning the tarnish was settling in again.

I KNOW I read on a pressed penny website where an expert penny collector recommended a woodwork spray of some kind to "seal" them and keep them shiny long term. Problem is I can't find the site, and I don't remember the namebrand of the spray.

So the purpose of this post is twofold: (1) to find out if anyone knows the site or the name of the spray I'm talking about, or (2) if anyone else has a successful method for keeping pennies shiny longer.

Anyone?

Thanks,
Jon

 

[jeleebeene]

Here are some methods my husband has used - he is a coin collector, and has tried them all with great results

The ketchup technique is a popular with collectors. Simply rub a little ketchup onto the penny. For best results, use an old toothbrush to scrub the surface lightly to work the ketchup into all the tight areas. Rinse the penny and you will notice that it is now dull and pink. Now pour some baking soda into a small dish and add some water to make a thick paste. Rub that all over the penny with your fingers to bring back the shine.

A mixture of vinegar and a little salt to clean pennies is a time-tested method. It works on the same principle as using ketchup (vinegar and ketchup are both acidic), but there is less rubbing involved. Mix up some vinegar and a small amount of salt. Stir it around to dissolve the salt and then dump in your dirty pennies. Mix it up a bit and let it sit for several minutes. You will be able to see the cleaning process in action. Don't let them sit too long! Scrub lightly with a toothbrush to get the especially gritty areas clean. Shine them up with the baking soda paste above.

A mixture of lemon juice and a little salt works well also, followed of course by the baking soda treatment. Use ACTUAL juiced lemons, not lemonade from the freezer section or ReaLemon in that plastic lemon. Try each of these methods to see which one you like best.

 

[harperwi]

While I appreciate the reply, and your attention to detail, you've just repeated all the things I said I've already done. I'm looking for what to do to keep[/] them shiny, not make them shiny in the first place.

What does your husband do after they're polished to keep them from re-tarnishing in the future? That's what I'm actually looking for here.

Thanks,
Jon

 

[jeleebeene]

I'm sorry - I guess I just read over that!!

He keeps everything in an air tight container. I am not a big pressed penny person, so I am not sure they are made or not, but there are sleeves for coins that keep them looking nice. If you have a local coin dealer in your area, you may want to check on the sleeves for a 50 cent piece - that may be pig enough to hold a pressed penny. I'd be happy to ask my DH tonight if he thinks that would be the best way, and what size you may need.

Sorry for not totally comprehending your original e-mail !!

 

[Rebecca12345]

hi just wondering why the pennies need to be pre 1982??

thnX

 

[harperwi]

Beginning in 1982 the metal used for pennies included zinc. Zinc is not copper colored, and when the pennies are pressed, you can sometimes get grayish streaks or spots in the surface of the penny. Pre-1982 pennies come out entirely copper colored when they're pressed.

Jon

 

[Rebecca12345]

Thanks for the penny info Jon

guess I had better go thru the bag of pennies & switch some out

 

[harperwi]

You're welcome! (I had to post once more so I can have one more post than you) hehe

 

[FFerret]

Originally posted by jeleebeene
Here are some methods my husband has used - he is a coin collector, and has tried them all with great results

The ketchup technique is a popular with collectors. Simply rub a little ketchup onto the penny. For best results, use an old toothbrush to scrub the surface lightly to work the ketchup into all the tight areas. Rinse the penny and you will notice that it is now dull and pink. Now pour some baking soda into a small dish and add some water to make a thick paste. Rub that all over the penny with your fingers to bring back the shine.

A mixture of vinegar and a little salt to clean pennies is a time-tested method. It works on the same principle as using ketchup (vinegar and ketchup are both acidic), but there is less rubbing involved. Mix up some vinegar and a small amount of salt. Stir it around to dissolve the salt and then dump in your dirty pennies. Mix it up a bit and let it sit for several minutes. You will be able to see the cleaning process in action. Don't let them sit too long! Scrub lightly with a toothbrush to get the especially gritty areas clean. Shine them up with the baking soda paste above.

A mixture of lemon juice and a little salt works well also, followed of course by the baking soda treatment. Use ACTUAL juiced lemons, not lemonade from the freezer section or ReaLemon in that plastic lemon. Try each of these methods to see which one you like best.

An AWESOME description--thanks so much!

We just had a major gotta-go-to-WDW garage sale and during the off-minutes I went through all the change to get the quarters and the pre-1982 pennies. Now all I need to do is give 'em a nice bath and we're set

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

Why not check at a place like home depot to see what they have in this spray that you are talking about?

 

[Aubrey]

Since tarnish is a process of oxidation, wouldn't any clear spray finish work? I would guess that all you need to do is seal the copper from exposure to air. Maybe try a spray polyurethane on some shiny non-pressed pennies and age them to see if it works before spraying your collection.

 

[harperwi]

After much more digging, I was finally able to find the site I saw before. Here is a direct quote from their page:


"After multiple trips to the Home Depot, we have discovered that the best way to prevent tarnish from returning to a cleaned coin is a good coat of Varathane Diamond Wood Finish (clear).

This is the same product that we use on the elongated pennies we have sealed into the cover of the PennyCollectorTM books during their manufacture.

Exposure to the air is what causes a penny to tarnish over time. The Varathane seals the penny to prevent the air from reaching its surface."


Thanks, y'all!
Jon

 

[Disneyolic]

This may seem dumb but...

would you put the sealer on before or after the pennies are pressed?

I am one who made the mistake of leaving pennies too long in the vinegar. Some of them turned green!

 

[DiznEeyore]

Jon: I'm so glad you posted this -- I've been trying to get this answered for a couple of years now! Now I know how to do it.

 

[harperwi]

Quite frankly, I'm also questioning the value in even POLISHING the pennies before they're pressed. If the metal will come clean before pressing, it stands to reason they will come clean after.

I'm going to try it out when we go, taking them as they are (polished once but returning to their former state) then after we get home I'll polish them up and seal them.

I don't see any reason why I should spend any more pre-trip time on them, when I'm sure they'll be "polishable" once we're home.

And yes, I would definitely wait to seal them until they're pressed and polished to your satisfaction

Anyone see a flaw in my reasoning?

 

[Aubrey]

Well, I wouldn't try pressing a deeply tarnished penny because the disoloration can get pressed into the metal with a thin layer over it preventing you from getting the visible streaks out later. If there is light tarnish, it should be alright though. And yes, don't seal pennies before you press them.