Metal Detecting Hack: How To Clean (or ruin) Copper Coins

That was a fantastic video that a lot of us probably wished they saw years ago. I've tried all the methods myself. It's so true that you can't go back. The good thing is that I now "clean" my coins the exact same way you do. Get some dirt off the high points. Leave the low points dirty to highlight the details. I learned the nose grease trick too. I've actually taken completely thin worn slugs and gotten King George and Queen Britainica to appear. Amazing trick. Awesome video. I hope people listen. The coins sacrificed were for an excellent cause. Bravo

don't apologize, you taught all of us something. Even though it was at the cost of two coins; it was two for the sake of thousands in the future.

I don't mind the face oil but that finger nail scraping was like nails on a chalk board :D

Wow.. Its the first video on Youtube where the guy doesnt try to ruin the coins using acids and abbrasives! Respect!

Thanks. I just started metal detecting a week ago and I would have gone straight to a brush and water. Seemed logical to me before seeing this video. I really appreciate your doing this demonstration! Amazing.

This video is a perfect example of why I love your channel.    Keep up the great work!

Great video Beau! I have adopted your method now on all of my coppers. I just dug my oldest copper this past Sunday. It was a 1744 King George II. I toothpicked it and I am leaving it alone because it, in my opinion, is beautiful. I too have ruined many coins over the years by trial and error. Hopefully, this video will be seen by younger detectorists so they don't learn the hard way.

Just starting in the hobby , This will defintly save my coins from destruction .

Clear and concise about the pros and cons. Very informative video. And to be able to visually see the difference, is highly appreciated!!!

I think both of the first coins still look good, you might not be able to see the detail as much, but i wouldn't call it ruined. the third coin was pretty toasted to start off and now it really is. The truth here is is that its your coin and you can do what you want with it, the only person wo can call it ruined is yourself. Thanks for sowing us the process and outcomes for each method, very informative.

I share this video about once a week with folks. Thanks for providing “real” content for the hobby.

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT!!! Never apologize for teaching us something and probably saving a bunch of coins from destruction. Ya done good.

Just as an experiment: Try using a blue LED pen-light on coins, especially if you can't make out the date. I used a blue LED for serial numbers on aluminum plate that had been scraped and scratched to such a condition that I could not make out a single number. With the blue LED the numbers came out PERFECTLY readable. Try it and let me know how that comes out. The last time I bought a pen-light it cost $20.

Here is my cleaning tip. Put the coin in an empty pocket and leave it there for a few days as you go about your business. It will clean up beautifully.

I don't go digging or finding, but I watch your videos because they're interesting and educational as well as entertaining. To me not knowing anything about this neat hobbyist really astonishing that the dirtier coin is much nicer looking even to me a non coin guy... Thanks for the cool vids!

I had another method that did benefit me when I sold a bunch of old Morgan silver dollars for my mother-in-law. I laid them in the bottom of a stainless steel little sauce pan with aluminum foil lining the bottom underneath. I sprinkled baking soda in there first. I brought them to a simmer for 2 minutes per side (sprinkled more baking soda on turned side ) and removed them from the burner. I left them in the water for 5 minutes I think then as I removed them I used a soft toothbrush with non-abrasive toothpaste to clean them. They looked brand new when I was done with no new scratches. Every buyer was pleased with how shiny and well preserved they looked. I never tried it with copper but it would be worth a shot to see on a less valuable coin.

Eyeopening!!  I would never had guessed that leaving the light mud would make the coin more beautiful.  This was a master class!

Thank you! this has been VERY helpful. I'm just getting started with old coins. I've seen other videos on cleaning. I like your method better and if you ruin it "You can't go back". Plus you have a soothing voice.

Great video, Aquachigger. This will absolutely benefit those who are on the fence whether or not to clean coppers. Thank you for sacrificing those coins for the greater good. Further steps that will ruin coins that I have heard of people doing are: Pencil Eraser. The eraser will remove environmental patina and will "shine" the coin. Baking Soda. This will clean down to the bare metal (ruins silver too). Lemon Juice. Even swishing a copper around in lemon juice for 30 seconds will remove up to 90 percent of the original coating. Try these steps (and Aquachigger's methods) on modern dug memorials to see for yourself how these methods change the coins.

You just wasted a day doing what I do in 2 hours in my ultrasonic cleaner. I always clean up coins, I don't care if others say it devalues them because who wants to look at a piece of dirt? Thanks for the video, it was useful.