How to Clean Corroded Nickels

Coin collectors can have coins of all shapes, sizes, colors and materials in their collections. If you are a serious coin collector, then you may have ended up with some nickels in your collection, for example. When these nickels have been exposed to the elements or if they are just very old coins, they may have become worn, dirty and corroded. A simple, gentle cleansing process can be used to help restore your nickels as close as possible to their natural state without damaging the surface.

Things You'll Need

• Glass bowl
• Distilled water
• Mild soap
• Soft toothbrush
• Towel
• Ammonia

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Fill a small glass bowl with warm distilled water and add several drops of mild soap.

   • 2

     Drop your nickels into the water.

   • 3

     Scrub the nickels clean using a soft toothbrush.

   • 4

     Rinse the nickels and dry them with a towel. If they still appear corroded, empty the bowl and rinse it out.

   • 5

     Fill the bowl again with a solution of three parts distilled water to one part ammonia.

   • 6

     Drop the nickels into the new solution. Scrub with your toothbrush. Rinse and dry the nickels.