Way to clean Nickels?

[pistol-pete]

Most likely in wrong forum, but here goes. Anyone know if you can clean a nickel that looks like copper? All the 100 year old plus nickels I get look like copper (Red)

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Upgraded Night Vision Monocular Digital Infrared Monocular Telescope for 100% Darkness with 8X Zoom - Grab it through Amazon!

[david680]

Most likely in wrong forum, but here goes. Anyone know if you can clean a nickel that looks like copper? All the 100 year old plus nickels I get look like copper (Red)

Plenty of ways to shine them up, but they'll probably be worth less than they are straight out of the ground. Either way, dug nickels are rarely worth anything.

 

[DigIron2]

Never try it with anything nice or potential value, but those little green dish washing scrubbys should do the trick, can find them at any dollar store.

 

[mick56]

I tumble mine when I do a load of clad. Thats the best I can get them.

 

[Nitric]

Hate to suggest this, But a small wire brush(tooth brush size) that is softer than the nickel, brass works good. Then a little soap and water. That's if they aren't rare. An old coin dealer I knew did this to clean nickels for sale. low grade or common. It works! Just don't use anything stronger than the nickel, like steel, it will scratch them up.

 

[Alchemy]

#0000 Steel Wool, or the softest. It's softer than green scrubs and wire brushes.
Ok, my secret is coming out.....with the steel wool, use a few drops of Lysol liquid toilet bowl cleaner. And, yes it has to be "Lysol", the strong stuff.
I have worked with many metals all my life (buffer, plating, victorian repro brass chandelier maker, etc) It cleans silver, brass, copper, bronze like nobodies business.
It doesn't harm the metal. I have cleaned entire antique brass beds, old copper boilers (really dark) and did it in a matter of hours.
Was easier then putting them to my buffing wheel.
I have cleaned entire sets of sterling silver ~ silverware, with "Never Dull" as the finishing polish.
Make sure you're in a well ventilated area...it's pretty stinky

I think you'll (anyone) be amazed