Cleaning

Cleaning pennies, zinc or copper is easy
before pressing, but not so easy after.

I’m serious about this: never use anything
acidic on pressed zinc pennies! Even if it’s just a little bit
acidic, it will leave a black stain on the exposed zinc that you
won’t be able to get rid of. It’s a strict rule and I’m not taking
any chances. So, no acidic products near those zinc pennies. Got
it?

I’m taking on a penny-cleaning challenge! First,
I soak the coins in a warm, soapy solution of TSP. Then I rinse
them off with clean water. Now comes the hard part – each penny
needs to be scrubbed with a wet SOS pad, ensuring dirt and
coloration are removed without damaging the coin. Afterwards, I
brush them with a soft toothbrush and rinse once more. I just drop
them in a bucket of water until I’m finished with all of them. When
done, I take them out and dry them off. Unless it’s a ‘mule’, I
don’t clean the backside. They won’t be shining and bright but
they’ll look presentable and legible. I recommend testing it out on
a spare penny first.