How to clean a 'Steel' Penny (if you have to). This is a question that faced me, today. I looked it up on C.T. for any help, and I didn't come across any, so I 'soldiered' on, on my own. My three 1943 'Steel' Pennies were 'stained'/Tarnished/Corroded (or whatever) but they didn't look good. I tried numerous methods of cleaning starting with De-mineralized water and brushing, and moved on through to the 'heavy' stuff. What I settled on was:- I soaked them (for a short time - say 10 minutes) in a neat solution of "Tarn-Off" (Proprietary brand) - a Jewelry cleaner and tarnish inhibitor (1.7% Phosphoric Acid, 7% Thiourea). When I removed them, they were very tarnished (like old silver) so I rubbed them (hard) with a soft cloth dipped in "Silvo" (Proprietary brand) - a Silver polish (6gm/Liter Ammonia). These are the results (before sealing with Ren-wax). (No 'before' pictures, I am afraid as I wasn't intending to show my efforts.) An interesting exercise to 'preserve' these coins, and instead of throwing them out, I now have something to keep.
Ya can't hurt these...........there were ugly ones back when I was a kid. Practically a lost cause to preserve them.....
I don't think they look half bad like that. I'd leave them like that, don't try to re-plate them or anything. Fence-post cents. Just expect them to gray down like a steel fence post over time.
Not once he seals them with the Ren-wax. Still they have been stripped and altered and as such worth maybe 5 cents. Lot of work to end up with a five cent item.
Unless this was merely an experiment, it was a waste of time. Just not worth the time and money. Mint state 43P's are very inexpensive. It's almost always better to replace than to attempt conservation on any 1943 cent.
That's pretty much true. Then again, you've got that formula you're peddling, tell us the coins don't look different after you use it on them. He's not wanting to sell these, just improve them. His coins, his decision. You don't like it, lump it. And hurry up about it. Ah marone!
Here is another old 'relic' that I did a little more than a 'wash and polish' on, that cost me more than the end result would sell for, but I think it was worth it. (Throwing away and buying a new one is sometimes too easy.)
