Does anyone know how to dip a Lincoln penny?

dlimb2

Thank You....Just seeing what a little dip will do to some junk on a penny...proof penny!

BillJones

In a word, don't bother.

If you are looking to remove tarnish, all you will get is a "cleaned coin."

If you are looking to remove dirt or something else, you might be able to soak the piece is acetone or some mild solvent, but be careful.

My guess is that you are talking about spots or tarnish, and if it's that, it's over. That's what the color (Brown or R&B) are there to cover.

Hedger

You will ruin it. Don't do it.

KurtHorn

If you're just trying to get dirt off... MS 70 and a softened Q tip (pull the cotton almost off and just use it lightly on the dirt.

Proofs, I don't mess with at all. Too easy to wreck.

dlimb2

I was thinking accetone...but was not sure...I do not know what the gunk is on it...but I bought an old set that had some good coins in it and then it had some bad ones...was just wondering if something would take it off gently...

JRocco

Be careful using MS70 on a cent- they like to get that orange hue after MS70.

gil

I like a good French Onion dip..
or a wild Skinny Dip...preferably the latter....

Gandyjai

I heard that you can rub ketchup on them?!
Any truth to that?

I'm mostly an Ike guy and Ketchup doesn't do squat for Ike!....Although, I've heard a sweet potatoe pie
does wonders?.....

Brian

I LOVE IKES!

morgannut2

Yes. Dip coin in Potassium Cyanide. Wash gently in water then actetone. Wait 30 years and it will be attractive. You can also solve any pest problems at the same time!!

Cameonut

Yo can use MS70 on proofs - but do not use it straight from the bottle. Cut it with three parts water to one part MS70. This is usually strong enough to remove haze and crud (and brightens a bit), but doesn't turn it orange.

Practice on a few test pieces to get the technique down. Use the softened Qtip as Kurt Horn suggests. Then you must make sure you rinse extremely well to get it off. I have used an acetone dip to get it off with subsequent water rinsing before carefully blotting.

Another tool to help with using MS70 is the blue coin tongs (I think available from Amos Advantage). MS70 is very slippery - making it hard to hold on to the coins.

slothman2000

It gives me a chuckle when I see that comercial for that cleaning product on T.V. (Boom or Bam???) shows them dipping a brown cent and restoring the red.....

66Tbird

I found that it was a good lesson to see what dipped copper looks like. Use a junker and dip away. Notice the different shades of pink come through.

coppercoins

Dip will turn the coin bright pink. Acetone will cloud and haze the coin. MS70 will turn it the wrong color too. The only way of properly taking junk off a cent is to first know what the junk is. Every situation requires a different solution.

Jzyskowski1

18 years since this post Still need advice. Not much there. My Grandpa’s. Not referring to me penny album. Is there anything ( 18 years later) that will remove smutz? They are in rough shape and I’m just trying to save them, moving them to an intercept album for my grandson.
Here’s a couple pictures

Connecticoin

@Jzyskowski1 said:
18 years since this post Still need advice. Not much there. My Grandpa’s. Not referring to me penny album. Is there anything ( 18 years later) that will remove smutz? They are in rough shape and I’m just trying to save them, moving them to an intercept album for my grandson.
Here’s a couple pictures

You could try Verdi-Care, which is available again from Wizard coin supply.

Jzyskowski1

@Connecticoin said:

@Jzyskowski1 said:
18 years since this post Still need advice. Not much there. My Grandpa’s. Not referring to me penny album. Is there anything ( 18 years later) that will remove smutz? They are in rough shape and I’m just trying to save them, moving them to an intercept album for my grandson.
Here’s a couple pictures

You could try Verdi-Care, which is available again from Wizard coin supply.

Thanks. I couldn’t remember the name.

Jzyskowski1

Every suggestion will be considered. Thanks 🙏

Jzyskowski1

Perhaps this question. They are all funky from sitting forever. I’m thinking about cleaning ( the proper way) the dirt and dust off before I move them to their new home.
Is this a job for dawn dish liquid and great care. Individually dip/rinse with no scrubbing or heck I don’t know. Throw the funky ones out and replace. I spent pretty good money on the intercept album w/ cover sleeve and didn’t want to introduce smutz into the new album.
Dang it. Help. Grandpa is getting confused ( more than usual 😂).
Thanks 🙏

bsshog40

The last time I dipped Penny, I had a hold of one of her arms and my other was firmly behind her back. This way she didn't fall when I dipped her.
Oh darn, looking at the other responses, I presume you are talking about so something else.
Sorry, my bad.

cmerlo1

From my personal experience: Red uncirculated and proof MODERN (zinc) Lincoln Cents can be dipped in diluted Ez-Est and will straight grade, as their natural color makes them look pinkish anyway. I have had success doing this and having them graded by PCGS, ANACS, and NGC over the years.

I've also had luck with older red proof cents, not so with older business strikes- they just come out too pink.

Chances are, if you're dealing with spots, there's no point as they're most likely already down into the metal.

If the coin is brown, fuggedaboutit.

Try at your own risk.

Mr_Spud

Anything stronger than a long mineral oil soak risks making cents turn pink. Some have used olive oil successfully too.

joeykoins

Had this happen to me, not too long ago! I foolishly dipped all 4 of my 2010p Lincolns, to remove some haze. I mistakenly used too much "EZEST" without carefully diluting it first. Here's the sad results!



Even though, it really doesn't appear to be flawed?

Be VERY careful when dipping, if you decide to?
I was careless. I done this many times in the past, with cents too, but I got carried away with the "EZEST!"
Good Luck

lilolme

@Jzyskowski1 Since you asked for most any suggestion(s). I am not an expert on what will work or not on these. Here are some suggestions below and if I think I have any information on them. You could maybe test out on a common circ wheat cent if you want. I would think those cents with spot kind of need to come off as they could still be active and getting worse. They probably will be spotted afterward due to damage on the surface or differences in 'toning' under the spot and elsewhere. Sometimes 'toning' might also have another film on it that will come off and change the color (even on silver). This could even be a pvc film or skin oil or other.

Starting with the dawn dish soap you mentioned. Many dish soaps have an acid in them. I think this is for help in cutting grease/other on dishes. I have a Palmolive and it has an active ingredient 2% Latic acid. On silver I have had dish soaps change 'toning' but then I don't know if something else was on the surface that it removed.

Hand soaps should not have an acid but check the label (active ingredient if any). So should be less 'strong'. I have washed just junk cents with it and didn't notice any notable change. It did remove some gunk on some of the coins.

MS70 also no acid. Some have reported a color change. Was it due to the removal of a film or impacting the copper? I have not had a problem but again other have reported.

Oils as MrSpud mentioned. Similar to the soaps they have varying degrees of a acid but a natural 'acidity' and some non-acidic - could look them up on internet. I have little experience with how well these work or not but have read others doing okay with it. They also note the rose thorn to remove a 'chunk' of 'gunk'.

White vinegar is acidic (I recall the diluted to 5% on label). Have not used on copper. Just mentioning it. It does have some cleaning power though as I have used occasionally on non-coin stuff. I kind of think it could change some coins or maybe even cut into 'toning' like acidic dip but not as aggressive. Again have not used it on coins. Makes me think I should test it out on some scrap.

Acetone soak. I had a LOT of foreign coins that sat in a pvc album or flips for years. Did a thread on it. I soaked all of them in acetone including the copper coins. It removed the pvc and I did not notice any notable change to the copper other than the pvc film not being there anymore.

I have not dipped copper so I would take cmerlo1 information on that. I would have though it would potentially change the color though. EDIT - I see joeycoins posted while I was typing on this.

Maybe now you will get others chiming in to agree / disagree with. Or add to.

Jzyskowski1

Thanks. Here’s what Siri had to say. Vinegar? I’m listening Carefully. I’m beginning to think that there’s no saving them. I care more about them surviving because grandpa pulled them from change in the 40’s and 50’s then a details grade. I’m starting to answer my own question. Ez zest diluting well. Keep ‘em coming. Thanks everyone

Jzyskowski1

Holy smokes.
This is one fantastic album. $23 from Wizzard. With the slip cover. 🤠👍🏼

coinbuf

The only safe option is a short soak in acetone. From your photos the coins look pretty far gone already, so it may not matter too much either way.

OAKSTAR

@dlimb2 said:
Does anyone know how to dip a Lincoln penny?

Never have. The most I've ever done to a cent was an acetone bath and verdi care.

Jzyskowski1

Thanks folks. I’m going to start the experiment today. I’ll post results.
Again, this place is awesome. Ask and receive. I enjoy the good natured ribbing but the knowledge is the real blessing. Jzyskowski and cats 🧙‍♂️🐈🐈‍⬛