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How to Clean Copper Indian Head Pennies

The Indian head penny was produced by the U.S. Mint between 1859 and 1909. As was the case with all pennies minted prior to 1982, the Indian head coins were comprised almost entirely of copper. If you own an Indian head copper penny, and it’s covered in years’ worth of dirt, grime and copper oxide, also known as tarnish, you can rejuvenate its appearance using some simple household supplies. Not only is it cheap and easy, it also provides noticeable results.

Things You'll Need

¼ cup white vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
Baking soda
Old toothbrush
2 small mixing bowls
Paper towels
Soft, lint-free cloth

Instructions

- 1
  Combine ¼ cup white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt in a mixing bowl. Stir the mixture until the salt has completely dissolved.
- 2
  Place your dirty copper penny into the salt and vinegar solution. Stir the penny around and then allow them to remain in the bowl for approximately five minutes.
- 3
  Remove the Indian head penny from the solution and place it on a paper towel.
- 4
  Scrub the coin with an old toothbrush to remove the grime from the small crevices on the penny. Once you’re satisfied that you’ve removed all the dirt you can, rinse the penny with clean water.
- 5
  Place a few tablespoons of baking into another mixing bowl. Add just enough water to the baking soda to make a thick paste.
- 6
  Dip the penny into the baking soda paste, coating it completely. Use your fingers to vigorously rub the paste into the coin. This will help polish the penny and bring the original shine back to the copper.
- 7
  Rinse the coin in some clean water and dry/buff it with a soft, lint-free cloth.

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