What is the best way to clean a 1943 penny?

Nocerino18

I have tons of 1943 pennies that have tremendous detail, and I remember cleaning one with my father as a kid and it came out perfect. He doesn't remember how though. Any suggestions?

nwcs

You can clean them with just about anything but it will take away a lot of their numismatic value. There are very very very few things you can do things to coins that won't show any evidence to experienced eyes.

Sequitur

Great question. I've got an MS67 that I'm thinking of submitting to NCS to clean a slight haze in the fields, may have a shot at 68. Can you dip them? What is the method? Informed answers please!

Nocerino18

Exactly what Sequitur said!

Prethen

I recommend using anything metallic and very fine. It'll bring out a great shine!

flaminio

Steel cents? Use this:

Oldnewbie

Lots of informed answers in this thread.

Nocerino18

Doesn't anyone know what to dip with?

kryptonitecomics

Tarn-X......if anyone thinks I am joking...try it. I am not saying it would get past the PCGS or NGC graders, but........it just might

Oldnewbie

You and your father may have used mercury. Scroll to the middle of this thread.
Link

Steve27

" Great question. I've got an MS67 that I'm thinking of submitting to NCS to clean a slight haze in the fields, may have a shot at 68. Can you dip them? What is the method? Informed answers please!"

Dip implies weak acid solution, in this case I would expect that the zinc coating would be removed by the dip, so DON'T do it. (It would probably make a nice fizz and release hydrogen gas.)

Deadhorse

Acetone?

I have no idea what it would do to a 43 Lincoln. Try it first with a less valuable one. Ez-est would be the normal choice, try that with a less valuable one as well.

I don't really know. I've got a shotgun roll of unc 43 Lincolns, but I have no plans on cracking it open so I don't have any to test it on.

eye

Soak them in virgin olive oil for about six months then dip them in acetone to remove the oil. Old farmers use to wipe their cars with kerosene and leave it on for a week to put the oil back into the paint and bring back the shine lost through oxidation. Ofen times the olive oil will put luster back into aluminum cents and also release any "spots" that may have developed on them. If you use an acid dip solution it will discolor the coin. After using acetone, dip the coin in distilled water to make sure the acetone and any other contaminant is off the coin. Pat the coin dry in a baby diaper or soft turkish towel. Never rub the coin dry. Have fun. Donn

Hedger

Personally anything dipped looks bad in my opinion and I would leave those cents alone. All to often I see un natural shiny steel cents at dealers listed as MS that look terrible. I'd rather have an original. You're just going to ruin 'em.