Patination of copper coins. How to Patina Copper Coins

If the alloy from which coins are minted contains copper or any of its compounds, then sooner or later a film will appear on the surface of the metal - patina. It has a variety of colors and shades, and its appearance is due to the oxidation process of copper. It is also called noble rust, and all because the coin in such a shell is not subject to corrosion and has an attractive spring appearance. Patina is prized by collectors as it gives a collection a subtle antique feel.

If a coin needs cleaning but ends up losing its patina, don't worry. Artificial coins will come to the aid of numismatists patination which can be done even at home. Now there is no need to wait many months for the patina to appear naturally.

Patination of metal banknotes containing copper

Patination of copper-containing coins is possible in three ways.

1. The first option requires 20 grams of copper sulfate and 5 grams of manganese. They are dissolved in a liter of water and then heated to 90 degrees. It is necessary to carefully monitor the temperature, avoiding boiling, as otherwise the result is not guaranteed. Prepared coins are dipped into the hot solution, turning them over from time to time so that the patina is layered evenly. It is impossible to say exactly how long it will take you to fully patina, since there are many options for the desired color. Some people need a dark brown coin, while others need a reddish tint.
2. For the second option, you will have to go to the pharmacy to buy sulfur ointment. Generously coat the coin with this ointment and set aside for 3-5 minutes. With this method, patina forms very quickly, almost instantly. To prevent the metal from turning black, it is better to carry out the procedure near a water tap. As soon as you see the coin turning brown, rinse off the ointment thoroughly. Didn't make it on time? There's no need to get upset. Take Vaseline or vegetable oil, soak a soft cloth in it and polish the coin to the shade you require.
3. The third patination option is possible in the presence of sodium hyposulfite, which can be purchased as a fixative for developing photographs from film. Lightly heat the 10% solution and place a clean and pre-degreased coin in it for 10-20 seconds. The resulting brown tint will not only please the eye of a professional numismatist, but will also reliably protect the metal from corrosion. This method can also be used for patination of bronze items.

Patination of coins containing silver

1. Applying a new patina to silver-containing metal is fairly easy. To do this you will need ammonia or regular ammonia. Place the coin in the freezer for twenty minutes or half an hour. After the allotted time, carefully take the money by the edge with thin tweezers and bring it to the open bottle of ammonia. A miracle will literally happen before your eyes: the coin will turn grayish due to the emerging patina. Stop working on the specimen as soon as it reaches the desired shade.
2. An even simpler way is to use... boiled chicken egg. After it is hard-boiled, the egg is cut and placed in a container with a fairly narrow neck. The coin is also sent there. Under the influence of hydrogen sulfide, silver changes color, becoming covered with a patina. This method is good because it achieves the most uniform coverage, without tweezer stains.

Patination of coins containing bronze

As mentioned above, to apply a new patina to metal containing bronze, a method based on sodium hyposulfite is used. In addition, ammonia and sulfur ointment are used with some haste. Numismatists advise experimenting with ordinary laundry soap, placing a coin in the pulp for 2 weeks.

However bronze coins It is best to become covered with noble rust naturally, under the influence of sun, wind, and rain. In just one and a half to two years they will have an even and beautiful brown tint.

So, patina can be created artificially, and in some cases this is quite simple to do. However, I would like to warn novice collectors: in professional circles, any interference in appearance coins is always equated to a deficiency and significantly affects the collection value of the specimen. It is advisable not to bring your collection to a state where it requires external patination.

Remember that a specialist can always easily assess by eye whether the patina that protects the metal is real or whether the shell was created artificially. Thus, the original “noble rust” envelops coins in a rather thick layer, reliably covering chips and scratches. But the remake can be scratched by any sharp object.

About 2600 and a half years ago the first coins began to appear. Their material, variety and value have changed dramatically since those times. Today any rare coin gives the impression of something unique, and among them there are rare specimens.

For example, coins used in circulation on one island, which weighed up to five tons. These works of numismatics were made in the form of a plate. Such an amazing form of coins had a lot of advantages. The number of stones around the hut indicated how rich the island resident was, as well as a clear advantage - the weight of the coin, because it was not possible to carry it away.

In China, the role of monetary payments was assigned to metal plates weighing up to 4 kg. The number of coins on them reached hundreds. It was not difficult to count, but it was impossible to lose a coin. Two parts made up the Australian dollar: the part that was in the center was removed. Each part of the dollar had its own denomination.

Interesting
Not only ancient coins are the object of attention for collectors; investment and commemorative coins deservedly take their place among unique coins.

Due to their high price, many examples are a good economic investment. The greatest influence on the price of collectible pieces today is exerted by the technology of production itself, style, aesthetic value and circulation of the units produced.

Coins are made from a variety of metals and take a variety of shapes. Their weight can reach several kilograms, and the color scheme knows no bounds.

Royal coins

The tradition of producing coins with the image of the Tsar in Russia was introduced by Peter I. On large coins his profile was shown. This law was repealed by Emperor Paul l. It is known that he was not distinguished by his attractive appearance. He introduced a ban on depicting his face on money, and this tradition was forgotten for almost a hundred years.

Alexander lll became emperor in 1881, issuing coins with the head of state again became a hot topic. But his face was allowed to be depicted only on money with a large denomination. Because significant money was not allowed to fall into the hands of the poor.

Nicholas II completely renewed this tradition during his reign. The Coronation Ruble was issued in 1896. This coin was passed down as a relic for entire generations. The cost of these numismatic products is about 24 thousand rubles, and if the product is in good condition, then the price reaches 114 thousand rubles.

The 1898 ruble is known for the fact that the relic is made of silver. The issue of the coin was dedicated to the opening of the monument to Alexander II. The price is 228 thousand rubles, but the cost of certain copies reaches 685 thousand rubles.

Commemorative ruble of 1912 - the price of such a coin is up to 85 thousand rubles.

The Gangut ruble is the last numismatic relic from the times of Tsarist Russia. The price of copies reaches 300 thousand rubles. If the coin is real, then its value can be about 2 million rubles or more.

A rare example of gold coins is 10 rubles from 1906. The number of coins that have survived to this day is only 10 units, which is why the price is very high - about 1.4 million rubles.

USSR coins

Of particular value among the coins of the USSR are the coins of 5 kopecks, 10 kopecks and 15 and 20 kopecks from 1931, 1934 and 1958. The price of many copies reaches 100 thousand rubles. In the market, the price of these products tends to rise rapidly. That is why these unique monetary calculations from the times of the USSR are in a good way investing.

The “St. George the Victorious” coin is the first USSR coin used for investment. The first circulation was 751 thousand copies. Unfortunately, this numismatic unit failed on the Western market.

Patina on coins

Patina is a film or coating on copper that forms on its alloys. It is a multilayer structure, but, as a rule, the top layer of green copper carbonate is considered patina. There are two types of patina: artificial and natural.

Interesting
The appearance of a natural patina usually takes several months; the wait is quite long. Then it is customary to use artificial patina.

Patination of copper coins

1. For this method you need to use 5 grams of manganese and 20 grams of copper sulfate. Dissolve two elements in 1 liter of water. Then this solution is brought to a temperature of 90 degrees. When the solution is heated sufficiently, place coins in it. There is no specific allotted holding time for coins.

2. The second method is carried out using a substance such as sulfur ointment. It should be applied to coins and left for 5 minutes. It is better to smear the coin under water, as the reaction occurs almost instantly. When the brown color becomes noticeable, the coin needs to be cleaned and rinsed well with water. This is done to prevent the coin from turning black. However, one should not exclude the possibility that it will turn black. To restore the brown tint to a coin, wipe it with a piece of cloth soaked in a fat-based liquid.

3. The third method is characterized by the use of sodium hyposulfite. A prerequisite is that the surface of the coin is dry. It is necessary that it stay in a heated sodium hyposulfite solution. After the coin has dried, you need to wipe it with a soft cloth. Thanks to this, the coin becomes bronze in color, and it is not afraid of corrosion.

Patination of silver coins

Patination silver coins suggests the presence of ammonia and ammonia. Place the coin in the freezer for half an hour. We bring the coin to a container with ammonia or ammonia. The coin will begin to acquire a gray patina instantly.

As previously described, the patination of coins depends on the material from which they are made, so you should carefully study and then choose the method of artificial aging of the coin that is most suitable for your coin.

Patina is a coating on the surface of a coin that is formed as a result of the reaction of the metal with the external environment. The patina on an antique coin highlights it ancient origin, makes the coin more natural and most often increases its price. Regarding the increase in value, everything is not so simple here and each case must be considered separately. In some cases, patina, on the contrary, can significantly reduce the price of a coin. Of course, in this case we are talking about natural patina.

Patina is a natural process of oxidation of metal. This process is somewhat similar to the appearance of rust on iron. But there is a small nuance in this comparison. The natural patina on a coin can form over a long period of time, decades, often centuries. Such oxidation not only guarantees the coin's authenticity, but also prevents the metal from being completely destroyed by corrosion. In addition, the patina indicates that no mechanical actions were performed on the coin, it was not cleaned, the relief was not restored, and it was preserved in its original form.

In general, the color of a patina depends on many factors, including the thickness of the oxidation and the time at which the patina began to form. Coins made from the same metal can be coated with film in different ways. Also, the color and shade may depend on how often the coin was in unprotected hands, how it was minted, how it was stored, whether it came into contact with salt water, whether it survived exposure to elevated temperatures (for example, a fire) and much more. There are several types of patina: loose or “wild”, iridescent, iridescent, “bullet”.

Patina color

Can vary greatly on copper coins. Black or dark brown is a reaction to copper oxide. The green and blue patina is caused by copper sulfides or sulfates. Powdery green or green-blue spots on a coin are the so-called “bronze disease”. In this case, the patina contains hydrochloric acid. This oxidation can, over time, completely destroy the flatness of the coin. In addition, the “bronze disease” can spread to other coins, so such specimens should be stored separately.

Ancient bronze coins may have a beautiful sandy or light brown patina. This coating appears due to grains of silicic acid salt contained in soil rich in sand or directly in the sand.

Nickel coins are subject to little patina. The color of the patina on nickel is light gray, sometimes light blue or even slightly golden.

There is also the term “cabinet patina”, which has become widespread mainly in Russia. “Cabinet” in pre-revolutionary Russia was a special wooden cabinet for storing coins. Vapors from wood and various varnishes provoked the formation of patina on collectibles.

Often, after cleaning, the coin looks very bad, I would even say not really bad. This is mainly due to the fact that the so-called patina was destroyed and the coin remained in a “negligee”. Selling such a coin is very problematic. It needs to be prepared a little for sale (like a car), i.e. apply patina.

In principle, patination of copper coins is not very difficult. The main difficulty is to ensure that the acquired color resembles the natural one as much as possible. There are many ways to patina copper coins, each with its own pros and cons. I only use three methods. I'll tell you a little about them.

Patination of copper coins using manganese and copper sulfate. Many numismatists consider this method the most “ideal”, since the color of the coin can be made from red to dark brown, and this induced patina will be very similar to the natural one. Patination occurs as follows: add 3-4 grams of manganese and about 10 grams of copper sulfate to water heated to 90 degrees (0.5 liters). Mix everything and place coins in this solution. As the solution cools, warm it up a little. Every 5 minutes, turn the coins over and check their color. Make sure the color turns bright brown. The big advantage of this patination is that the color is beautiful and relatively resistant to washing off.

Patination of copper coins using sulfur ointment. “Real” numismatists despise this method, which is quite simple. Take a coin and lightly spread sulfur ointment on it with your fingers. All this must be done in lukewarm water. Water is needed to make the coloring process slower. The final color of the coin will range from dark brown to matte black. The plus is that the worst coin can be revived a little, but the minus is that the color is unnatural and the patina is very easily washed off. In order to make the patina natural, after patination with sulfur ointment, the coin must be rubbed with a soft cloth dipped in oil. Sometimes you can achieve a very nice color.

I really like to patina copper coins naturally, i.e. sun and air. I conducted the following experiment - I placed the coins, cleaned to their very “nakedness,” on the roof of the house. Every two weeks I turned over the coins. The coins were burned by the sun and washed by rain for four months. The result was normal - the color changed from bright red to dull brown. If the coins had been left in the open air for at least 7-8 months, they would have become perfect. I highly recommend this method for those who are not in a hurry. The result will be amazing.

Everyone knows that collecting is a rather meticulous activity. Absolutely every numismatist can spend weeks looking for the coin he needs in a suitable condition, but unfortunately there is a small number antique coins are in satisfactory condition.

And therefore, you often have to buy coins that do not meet your expectations. Because of this problem, the numismatist community has found several techniques to give copper coins the desired appearance.

When and why is it necessary to patina copper coins?

There are several reasons why numismatists patina coins:

1. The coin was purchased or found in poor condition. For example, there are now quite a lot of copper pennies on the market that were dug up using a metal detector. In this case, pockets of corrosion will form on the “copper”, which need to be gotten rid of. There are cases where the find already has a beautiful patina, but this is rather the exception. This greatly depends on the soil and the place where it was found.
2. The second reason for the manipulation is the ignorance of the previous owners of the value of the preserved patina. Most often it is erased in attempts to add shine. Or it is thrown into acid, after which its color turns yellow-orange.
3. Increase in cost. There is no doubt that a copper coin with a brown patina will interest the buyer more than an identical copy covered with green spots. At first glance, their safety is the same, but people are willing to overpay a little for the appearance.

Patination is the artificial aging of objects. It is carried out by a chemical reaction, during which a film or plaque is formed.

Today we will tell you in detail about the best ways and instructions for applying the patina. Do not think that this is a simple task; in the process you need to maintain the proportions of substances, otherwise you may lose a rare coin forever.

Recipes for patination of copper coins at home

We will give you the best recipes for patination of coins yourself. If you want to achieve a decent result, then do not be lazy to prepare the material in advance.

A copper penny of the Russian Empire in need of cleaning

These words mean cleaning from oxides and various metal build-ups.

We advise you to first perform this procedure on inexpensive copies in order to practice a little. Don't be upset if something doesn't work out for you. It is difficult to achieve the desired result the first time. Everything comes with experience.

Sulfur ointment

Patination with sulfur ointment is not best options for the collector, because it can be easily washed even with a sponge.

The color also cannot be called natural; it will have a gray tint.

The technology is quite simple and is carried out in three stages:

• Apply sulfur ointment to a coin immersed in warm water,
• Wait until it gets the color you want.
• Wash off any remaining ointment with soapy water.

Warm water is necessary for the reaction to proceed slowly. This will help you choose the color tone more accurately.

Using sulfur ointment using the example of a 2009 copper cent

The only advantage of using sulfur ointment is the simplicity and speed of the appearance of patina.

Manganese and copper sulfate

If you want the coin to be covered with a strong, uniform patina, then the method using manganese and copper sulfate is best suited. It will give the most natural color to the product. The instructions for preparing the solution are not complicated.

A clear example of using a solution of manganese and vitriol

In total, you will need 3-4 grams of manganese, 10 grams of copper sulfate and half a liter of water heated to 90 degrees Celsius. During patination, do not forget to turn the coin over, otherwise the sides will be different in color.

Try to maintain proportions, otherwise you may not only not improve, but also lose your relief forever.

Also make sure to maintain the temperature, so don’t forget to heat the solution from time to time. There is no exact time frame for the coin’s stay in the solution; you just need to wait until the patina forms evenly.

Conclusion

After reading our article, you can give your copper coins a beautiful antique look on your own.

The main thing is not to be afraid to experiment and try each of the methods described above.

So you can compare the results yourself. Remember that the methods described are only suitable for copper coins; other alloys require different solutions.

Video: Patination or aging of copper coins