I need shiny pennies!

cockroachfarm

cockroachfarm

Joined
Jan 6, 2001
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I'm not sure if this is the right forum (I don't usually hang out here) but I have a question that someone here might be able to answer.

I need a few thousand bright, shiny copper pennies for an advertising promotion this Fall. I just asked my account manager at the bank and she told me they can't even special-order rolls of brand new pennies from the mint - I would just have to take what they receive.

What could I use to quickly take off the oxidation from a large quantity of copper pennies to bring back their glittering, shiny, "Brilliant Uncirculated" appearance? (BTW, the method has to be easy, safe, and simple enough for a technically-challenged person like me!)
 
Yep, as long as the pennies arent scratched through to the zinc core.
If so, you'll end up with hollow pennies.
They stopped making solid copper pennies some years back...
 
cockroachfarm said:
I'm not sure if this is the right forum (I don't usually hang out here) but I have a question that someone here might be able to answer.

I need a few thousand bright, shiny copper pennies for an advertising promotion this Fall. I just asked my account manager at the bank and she told me they can't even special-order rolls of brand new pennies from the mint - I would just have to take what they receive.

What could I use to quickly take off the oxidation from a large quantity of copper pennies to bring back their glittering, shiny, "Brilliant Uncirculated" appearance? (BTW, the method has to be easy, safe, and simple enough for a technically-challenged person like me!)
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I don't buy the banks story for a second. I would explain that you are considering taking your business elsewhere because they couldn't handle such a simple request.

If you don't want to go that route, Find someone who reloads their own ammo and have them put the pennies in their vibratory polisher. The media is crushed walnut shells if I am not mistaken. they will look shiney like new.

You could also go to a large store like walmart, See if they have new rolled pennies. I doubt very highly the bank is sending them rolled coin that customers rolled and brought in.
 
Water and vinegar sounds good. I've also been told to try lemon juice - but, like ketchup, that might get to be a bit expensive if I'm trying to brighten a few thousand pennies! (Canadian pennies, btw, which I believe are still solid copper?)

I've had the same answer from three different banks: they have no way of 'ordering' rolls of brilliant uncirculated pennies. Tomorrow I will telephone the Mint to find out if I can purchase uncirculated pennies 'in bulk'.

Thanks! :)
 
There are several pickle solutions that would work, but I would try the old aluminum foil with hot baking soda water trick. This is copied from the Society of American Silversmiths website:

Electrochemical (Galvanic) Reduction

This process uses an aluminum or aluminum alloy plate and warm solution of sodium carbonate (washing soda). When the object comes in contact with the plate in the solution, it removes only light tarnish, not the thick, black tarnish produced by years of neglect.

Pitting of the object can occur if the aluminum plate is not periodically cleaned. Another not-so-obvious problem is scratching of the object when in contact with the plate.

Objects cleaned by this method may tarnish more quickly than silver that has been polished, for the object's surface will act like a sponge and more readily absorb tarnish-producing gases and moisture. The solution can also seep into hollow areas such as coffee pot handles, unsoldered spun beads around the tops of lightweight holloware, weighted pieces with minute holes, and any porous attachments. For these reasons, this cleaning technique is not recommended.
Sanchez
 
try another bank. a larger bank will probably get newer stuff in. They coins don't get to the banks from the mint they come from federal reserve banks

a helpfull bank will get you what you need.Specicially if you have a business account :D :D :D
 
Heat the pennies to dull red or a bit lower and drop into methylated sprites, an undrinkable ethanol/methanol mixture, comes up free of oxide instantly. The ethanol reduces the oxide back to copper again. Its not shiny though because the surface of circulated pennies will be scratched. Maybe one of those bullet case cleaners would make them shiny again.
 
The last idea seems a bit extreme, $10 worth of lemon juice should remove the patina from at least 1000 pennies, relativley safely, and fume free, You wouldn't think of quenching something in alchohol normally would you?
 
You can buy citric acid from many sources reasonably without having to waste lemons.Other acids will also work.
 
mete said:
You can buy citric acid from many sources reasonably without having to waste lemons.Other acids will also work.
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I use citric acid in crystal form for pickling hides
you can get it from a taxidermy supply outfit, I think from a canning supply place also.. :confused:
 
Sweany said:
...a helpfull bank will get you what you need.Specicially if you have a business account :D :D :D
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Hey, my friend, this is Canada we're talking about! ;) If I was doing this project from Florida, my account manager at my local branch would polish every one of those 1000 pennies personally and deliver them to my home.

My main business bank here in Toronto - through which I have pushed literally millions of dollars in the past 20 years - told me they would be happy to order BU pennies for me, but they have no way of doing it. (Do I believe them? Not for a minute!)

I called the Royal Canadian Mint and they will sell me rolls of BU pennies - at C$4.95 a roll, plus taxes. :eek:

I'll try some of the suggestions here. Thanks everyone! :)
 
cockroachfarm,
salt and vinegar mixed together drop the pennies in and they are clean in a min or so. I thought everybody knew this, I think I first did it when I was 4 or 5.
Del
 
I have some pickling solution that I use when coppersmithing to remove the tarnish that you might try. I believe it is also available from the swimming pool people to shock the PH back to normal.
 
Just had a thought, why don't we get a plastic jar with a screw on lid, half fill it with sawdust and a little polishing compound, throw in a handful of pennies and put it on the lathe for an hour or so to tumble it?
 
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