Pendant and Ring

Tarnish can ruin the look of a favorite piece of jewelry, but with a little bit of work, you can restore your coin jewelry’s brilliant finish! Cleaning your jewelry prolongs the life of your jewelry. Plus, if you see minor damage, you can stop it in its tracks and save your jewelry!

A word of caution: Some coin jewelry has a numismatic value. Do not clean coins or coin jewelry with numismatic value, the cleaning processes can reduce the value of the coin, and thus the entire jewelry item.

Find your next real coin pendant, or collectible coin at Pendant and Ring Coins.

If you decide to clean your coin jewelry, the first step in removing tarnish is to determine what material your coin is made of. Often times jewelry contains more than one type of metal. For example, our coin pendants are often secured in Sterling silver coin holders, but that does not mean that the coin is sterling silver. Furthermore, we provide gold-filled coin holders for brass coins.

Each kind of metal requires different care. We are very clear about the metal content of our coins. If you have a question about your coin jewelry, even if you purchased it elsewhere, contact us and we can help you identify its composition. Once you know what your coin is made of you can remove the tarnish.

How to remove Silver tarnish.

If your silver coin is in a silver coin holder, then follow these steps:

1. Line a coffee cup with aluminum foil.
2. Fill cup with 1/2 cup boiling water.
3. Stir in 3 Tablespoons of baking soda.
4. Add your coin pendant to the cup and wait two minutes.
5. Remove with tongs and check the level of shine. Repeat as needed.

If your coin is silver and your coin holder is not silver, follow these steps:

1. Apply a pea-sized amount of ketchup to a soft-bristle toothbrush.
2. Gently rub your tarnished silver coin jewelry with your fingers and light pressure to avoid fine scratches.
3. Check frequently for shine. Repeat as needed.

How to remove Brass tarnish.

1. Apply a pea-sized amount of plain toothpaste (not gels or anything with fluoride) to a soft-bristle toothbrush.
2. Gently rub your tarnished silver coin jewelry with your fingers using light pressure to avoid fine scratches.
3. Check frequently for shine. Repeat as needed.

How to remove Cupric-Nickel tarnish.

1. Wash the coin with mild dish detergent.
2. Use a small amount of ketchup on a Q-tip and gently rub the coin.
3. Rinse frequently to check for the restored finish.

How to remove Bronze tarnish (patina).

1. Wash the coin with mild dish detergent.
2. Mix a small amount of flour and vinegar into a paste.
3. Cover the coin and wait three minutes.
4. Add a few drops of vinegar and gently rub the coin.
5. Rinse frequently to check for the restored finish.

How to remove Copper tarnish (patina).

1. Use a small amount of ketchup on a toothbrush to gently scrub the copper.
2. Rinse frequently to check for the restored finish.

Here ends our “How to clean tarnished coin jewelry” post! We hope this helps you continue to love your coin jewelry for years to come.

Subscribe and we will see you next time on Pendant and Ring.