Salt, tin, and distilled water to clean coins

My son and I are experimenting with rinsing Lincoln cents in warm distilled water, salt inside a bowl created by aluminum foil. The job is getting done, but what will happen long term and is this considered cleaning?

 

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Well, the coin turned an odd pinkish orange.

 

Pink or orange is bad. It's a sign that copper has been improperly cleaned.
Salt should not be used on coins.

 

Well, that's what I told him, but we had fun experimenting. He remembered it from high school science, lol. He's 30 now. Going to buy some 100 percent acetone from somewhere tomorrow and experiment some more. Fun hobby.

 

Is this a 1960 D small date? is a thread I posted a couple days ago. Michael K., could you look it up and give me your opinion. I appreciate your knowledge.

 

If I remember the photo it was.
You can buy 100% acetone at Walmart for $3. Nail polish/remover area.
Acetone is more for silver and other metals, but not for copper.
It won't clean, it will dissolve organic crud.

 

Thanks so much!

 

Ok, like what? Can I use something around the house like baking soda, aluminum, and distilled hot water? I read about that combo a minute ago.

 

Do not clean copper with anything.

 

Baking soda will get it clean, and ruin it just as lemon juice and salt will also ruin copper. Lemon juice and salt are great for copper jewelry, they shine right up.
But for coins even though they are "shiny" they are permanently damaged.

 

Thanks, Doug and Michael. Maybe I should be specific. I have a 1918 cent, but it's black. It looks like it has verdigis, (bumpiness), but it too is covered black. So, I guess I'm m just curious to see what's under it.

 

A lot of things will clean it, but they will ruin it. Vinegar, steel wool, etc.
Sometimes a coin can look dirty and still be OK. (Old Mercury dimes.)
Other times careful conservation is possible but for amateurs like me and you, we generally will ruin the coin.
Perhaps let it just soak in a cup of distilled water for a few days.
IDK if that will do anything, but it shouldn't ruin it.

 

Ok, I will. It will be a while.

 

Here are pics for what they're worth. It looks like a verdigris problem, really. I wish I could fix it. It appears to be a 1918 s.

 

It has been pointed out many times that nail polish remover has additives. Go over to the paint aisle for both acetone and xylene.

 

I know I should start a new thread, but ya'll are here, so I'm sending a pic of what I think is a 1974 small date. Compared to 50 other coins of same date, this one looked smaller and met criteria for a small date. Is it a small date? I need to know so i will have a physical coin to compare in future. I would also like to rinse this one.

 

View attachment 858602 View attachment 858603 I know I should start a new thread, but ya'll are here, so I'm sending a pic of what I think is a 1974 small date. Compared to 50 other coins of same date, this one looked smaller and met criteria for a small date. Is it a small date? I need to know so i will have a physical coin to compare in future. I would also like to rinse this one.
View attachment 858602 View attachment 858603 View attachment 858603