Patination of coins at home. Signs and methods of applying patina to copper coins

Patination of coins (artificial aging) is used to give the coin an appearance corresponding to the age of the coin. Patination may be required after cleaning the coin, when the native patina is damaged or completely destroyed, as well as to give the coin a more aesthetic appearance.

Depending on the material of the coin, there are enough a large number of methods of applying patina to the coin. Below are the most common.

Patination of copper coins with sulfuric ointment

To demonstrate the various methods of applying patina, will be used modern coins- 1 US cent. This coin is minted from copper, like many old coins. And most importantly, on several completely identical coins, you can try different patination methods and compare the result.

Sulfuric ointment is applied to the coin and literally within a few seconds it darkens. After treatment with sulfuric ointment, its residues must be washed off with soapy water. The patina obtained from the sulfuric ointment has a rather rich black color. The resulting patina is not strong enough and if the coin is rubbed with felt, it is erased, this should be used to give a more embossed and contrasting appearance to the coin.

Patination of copper coins with ammonia vapors

In order to apply a patina to a coin with ammonia, you need to place the coin for 10-30 minutes in a closed container with ammonia vapor, but do not allow the coin to come into contact with the liquid. From a technical point of view, everything is simple, but when it comes to implementation, some difficulties can arise.

When preparing materials for this article, 2 coins were hopelessly ruined. To prevent this from happening, you should follow simple recommendations:

• Since ammonia has a strong odor, patination should be done in a closed jar or container.
• The coin must either be hung up, fastened to a edge, or placed on any object inside the container, but not simply, but on a cotton pad, this will allow the coin to be covered with patina evenly on both sides.
• At the bottom of the container, pour a little ammonia (5-10 grams), it is best to do this at the very end after the rest of the preparations and immediately close the lid.
• In no case should you heat a closed container, this will lead to the formation of condensation on the coin and a very uneven patina.

Vapors of ammonia in just a few minutes cover the coin with an even layer of patina of a pleasant brown color. The coin stops shining and looks very attractive. If the coin is left for several hours, then the patina does not become more saturated, but centers of corrosion begin to appear.

Patination of copper coins with potassium permanganate and copper sulfate

Patination of coins in a solution of copper sulphate and potassium permanganate gives a quick result and a pleasant brown patina. A coin or other object must be immersed for 1-2 minutes in a boiling solution.

To prepare the solution, it is best to use distilled water, add 1 gram of potassium permanganate and 1 gram of copper sulphate to one glass of water (200 ml), mix the solution thoroughly and put it on the stove in a bowl that is not a pity - after patinating the coins, washing the container most likely will not work .

The longer the time the coin is in solution, the darker the patina can be obtained - after 10 minutes, the patina becomes almost black. The 1855 penny from the example spent about 1 minute in a boiling solution. The image of the coin before cleaning it with Trilon-B is also shown.

Patination of silver coins with sulfuric ointment

Silver coins do not need as much patina as copper coins, but often after cleaning silver coins are sparkling white and require a patina to give an older appearance.

To apply a patina on a silver coin with sulfuric ointment, almost the same operations are carried out as on a copper coin, but there are some differences. First, the coin should be cleaned in ammonia or in citric acid so that the surface is clean and there are no uneven areas. Next, sulfuric ointment is applied to the coin, applied in a uniform thick layer. Since silver is much less chemically active than copper, patina is formed much more slowly. To speed up the application of the patina, the coin must be heated; at home, it is best to put the coin on a cotton pad or soft cotton cloth and heat it with a hair dryer. In 1-2 minutes, the silver coin completely darkens. After the coin should be washed with soap to remove the remnants of the ointment.

After applying the patina, the coin was rubbed with felt so that the patina on the protruding parts of the coin would be slightly erased and the relief could be more clearly visible. For this coin, such an operation gives a more winning appearance, but for heavily worn coins it allows you to raise the relief and sometimes distinguish details that were not noticeable before.

Patination of silver coins with egg

This is the easiest way to patina, no reagents are needed at all, in addition, the process is not fast and it is always possible to stop at the desired degree of patina.

For patination with an egg, you need to hard boil one chicken egg, when the egg cools to a temperature slightly above room temperature, it must be cleaned and put in a container (ordinary plastic with a lid), then put a silver coin or several in the container and close the lid. It is better not to use a hot egg, as it is not convenient to clean, and steam comes from the hot one and condensation may form on the coin, which will lead to an uneven patina. It is worth noting that it is advisable to pre-clean the coin with ammonia or citric acid so that the surface is completely clean and the patina lies evenly.

These 5 stamps were patinated with an egg for five hours in a closed container, during the patination the coin turned over several times. A coin patinated with an egg produces a very specific patina, the so-called rainbow, it is very durable and shimmers in different colors depending on the viewing angle.

Patination of bronze / brass coins by electrolysis

In most cases, bronze or brass coins do not need additional patina, this is due to the fact that they naturally quickly become covered with a strong protective film of oxides and are perfectly preserved in this form.

But sometimes, during the cleaning process or during long-term storage in the ground or inappropriate conditions, the coins become covered with uneven spots with a patina of different colors. In other words, when a brass coin with good relief does not look beautiful, you can try to cover it with a patina using electrolysis.

These five kopecks are a dug coin, oxides of uneven color have formed on it in the ground over decades. Electrolysis was used to give it a uniform patina. A soda solution was used as an electrolyte, the current source was a charger for a car battery (current 2 A), a coin was attached to "-", a sacrificial coin was attached to "+" (about the same nickel, it is important that the metal is the same , as for the processed coin). Patina application time - 2 minutes. After electrolysis, the coin was ground in a soda slurry.

If the composition of the alloy from which the coins are minted includes 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 justified by the oxidation of copper. It is also called noble rust, and all because the coin in such a shell is not subject to corrosion, has an attractive appearance. The patina is valued by collectors as it gives the collection an elusive sense of antiquity.

If a coin needs to be cleaned, but as a result it will lose its patina, do not be upset. Artificial coins will come to the aid of numismatists patination which can be done even at home. Now there is no need to wait long months for the patina to appear naturally.

Patination of metal banknotes containing copper

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

1. In the first option, 20 grams of copper sulfate and 5 grams of manganese are required. They are dissolved in a liter of water, and then heated to 90 degrees. It is required to carefully monitor the temperature, avoiding boiling, otherwise the result is not guaranteed. Prepared coins are lowered 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 patinate, since there are many options for the desired color. Someone needs to get a dark brown coin, and someone needs a reddish tint.
2. For the second option, you will have to look into the pharmacy to buy sulfuric ointment there. Lubricate the coin generously with this ointment and set aside for 3-5 minutes. Patina with this method is formed very quickly, almost instantly. To prevent the metal from turning black, it is better to carry out the procedure near a tap with water. As soon as you see the coin turning brown, rinse off the ointment thoroughly. Didn't make it on time? It's not worth getting upset. Take Vaseline or vegetable oil, moisten a soft cloth in it and polish the coin to the shade you need.
3. The third option for patination is possible in the presence of sodium hyposulfite, which can be purchased under the guise of a fixative for developing photographs from film. Slightly warm the 10% solution and dip a clean and pre-degreased coin into it for 10-20 seconds. The resulting brown tint will not only please your 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 silver coins

1. Applying a new patina to silver-containing metal is quite simple. To do this, you will need ammonia or ordinary ammonia. Send the coin to 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 an open bottle of ammonia. A miracle will literally happen before your eyes: the coin will become grayish due to the emerging patina. Stop working on the instance as soon as it takes on the desired shade.
2. An even simpler way is to use ... a 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 in that it achieves the most uniform coverage, without stains from tweezers.

Patination of coins containing bronze

As mentioned above, to apply a new patina to metal with a bronze content, a method based on sodium hyposulfite is used. In addition, with some haste, ammonia and sulfuric ointment are used. Numismatists advise experimenting with ordinary laundry soap, in which a coin is placed in a slurry for 2 weeks.

However bronze coins best covered with noble rust in a natural way, under the influence of the sun, wind, 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 with the appearance of a coin is always equated with a disadvantage and significantly affects the collector's value of the specimen. It is advisable not to bring your collection to a state where it would require patination from the outside.

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

It has long been known that metals oxidize over time when exposed to atmospheric oxygen. And if iron is destroyed as a result of this, then copper is covered with a patina - an oxide-carbonate film that slows down the oxidation process. It is the patina that gives it a special charm. old coin, indirectly testifying to its authenticity. Unfortunately, during the cleaning process, along with the dirt, the natural patina has to be removed. However, by patinating copper coins, you can restore them to the look of undisturbed antiquity. Often artificial patination coins is justified from an aesthetic point of view, as it helps to retouch the results of their cleaning.

There are many ways to apply patina to copper coins. With any patination method, the same set of tools is basically used. It is enough to have on hand:

• a glass or plastic container for preparing solutions;
• bath for washing;
• spoon
• beaker;
• table scales;
• glass and wooden sticks;
• brush;
• degreaser;
• rubber gloves;
• respirator;
• laundry soap;
• sponge
• rags;
• paper towels.

Before and after patina

The patina process

Undoubtedly, the presence of a "native" patina reliably protects the coin from damage. Ideally, it is better not to touch it at all. However, sometimes the removal of collection merits is a necessary measure for the following reasons:

• due to the onset of corrosion;
• great pollution;
• strong uneven patination layer.

In such cases, you have to resort to self-patination. In this regard, a reasonable question arises, how to apply artificial patina on a copper coin? The essence of this process is the impact on copper of chemicals and compounds.

For patination, the following methods are usually used:

• coins are dipped in a patinating solution;
• apply the solution to the surface with a brush;
• put banknote into the steam environment.

The quality of an artificial oxide-carbonate film depends on the method of its production and on how well the base is prepared for it.

Preparing a coin for putting on a patina consists in cleaning its surface from grease and oxides. It is easier to do this with a cotton pad dipped in white spirit or gasoline. These solvents will help clean it of greasy traces that make it difficult for the patination solution to react with copper. From this point on, it is imperative to wear gloves, because the patina does not lie evenly on the left fingerprints.

Ways to build a patina

In an aqueous solution of copper sulfate and potassium permanganate. To restore a beautiful golden brown patina, it is enough to dilute two teaspoons of copper sulfate and 1/3 teaspoon of potassium permanganate, commonly referred to as potassium permanganate, in 200 g of water. Heat the solution in a water bath, but do not boil. Dip the coin briefly into the solution several times until the desired color is obtained. Upon completion of patination, the banknote should be thoroughly rinsed under the tap and dried. Matte can be easily removed with a woolen cloth.

With the help of ammonia. This method has two implementation options:

1. Pour ammonia into a small container, for example, into a cork from a plastic bottle, place it in a plastic container along with a coin that you want to age, then close it tightly and leave it for a while. The result becomes noticeable after 1-1.5 hours.
2. Fix the coin on any thin wire or thread. Place it in a glass jar with a small amount of ammonia so that it hangs over the ammonia. Remove the end of the wire from the jar, closing it with a lid. The reaction will begin very quickly, and changes will occur literally before our eyes. With the help of ammonia vapor, the desired effect will be achieved much faster than in the first version, after 10-15 minutes.

By the way! You should not resort to heating ammonia vapors, otherwise the patination result will be spoiled by the resulting condensate.

Sulfur ointment. In fact, this drug is intended for the treatment of scabies, but it is often used to induce a patina. It is worth noting that in this respect it is very effective, since it contains a lot of sulfur. Contact of copper with sulfur leads to the formation of copper sulfide. This compound quickly turns black and firmly covers the entire surface of the banknote. Therefore, to obtain a light brown patina, you need to act a little differently.

It is better to apply quite a bit of ointment on the pads of washed fingers, rubbing it over the surface with a thin layer. After that, do not touch the coin with sulfur fingers. Next, you need to pour hot water into the bath and lower the coin pre-washed in citric acid into it. Then, with sulfuric fingers, take it under water and begin to rub the ointment into its surface, without lifting it into the air. When you get the desired color, wash the coin with a brush with "Fairy" without removing it from the water. As a rule, the effect obtained exceeds all expectations. Whereas the performance of such manipulations directly in the air leads to the formation of an unattractive black patina, which, moreover, begins to fall off very quickly.

in a solution of copper oxychloride. Pour hot water into a half-liter jar. Dilute in it two tbsp. spoons of copper oxychloride (HOM). This substance is easy to find in stores selling fertilizers. The result is a saturated blue-green solution. 100 ml of ammonia should be added to it. From now on, it is better to work in a respirator so as not to smell the suffocating smell of ammonia.

A copper coin must be immersed in the prepared solution and left for 30 seconds. Then take it out and inspect. This manipulation must be repeated several times until the desired effect is obtained. In conclusion, the coin should be washed in soapy and clean water, dried and admire the beautiful brown-olive patina.

In general, if you forgot that this should not be done and washed away the natural patina, it will be quite possible to restore it.

Coin patination is fast and effective method give them an antique look. There are many ways to apply a dark coating, you need to choose them depending on the type of metal and the desired shade. Most often, copper surfaces are subjected to the procedure, but sometimes coins made of nickel, bronze and even silver are aged.

The word "patina" refers to the terms of the Italian language. For the first time, they learned about it after a chemical experiment, the reaction of which was the transformation of the surface of the coin. On a silver or copper alloy, a dark coating looks beautiful, but on aluminum it is a cloudy film, which is why such specimens lose value.

An important condition for patina is the complete coverage of the metal, because. individual spots will not add to the charm of the coin. Therefore, the uneven coating is removed and applied artificially. But, if the oxide film has penetrated deep into the alloy, it is not recommended to touch it. After cleaning, such products will turn into thin plates with shapeless ruts instead of a pattern.

Patination of coins is carried out for several reasons:

• the copy was bought or found in poor condition, with traces of corrosion, in need of cleaning. The appearance of dug out money samples largely depends on the area in which it was found and the quality of the soil;
• cost increase. Ancient coins with a noble brown coating are much more valuable than specimens with green spots on the surface;
• ignorance of the true value of a coin with natural traces of oxidation and the desire to give it shine leads to the loss of the product of its significance. Most often, the patina is erased or the coin is thrown into acid, after which its color becomes yellow-orange.

Patination is carried out by a chemical reaction, during which a film or plaque is formed. Many years of practice has shown what methods of applying patina exist and how to perform the procedure at home. In the process, you need to observe the proportions of substances, otherwise you can lose a rare coin forever.

Rules and methods of patination

It's no secret that metals oxidize over time under the influence of air and water. But this happens in different alloys in different ways. If steel or iron is destroyed as a result of such exposure, then copper is covered with a dark protective film. It is this layer that gives a special chic to antiques, testifying to their authenticity.

Often, in the desire to remove dirt from a coin, it is subjected to mechanical processing, as a result of which the patina is also removed. It is quite possible to return the noble insignia after this. Often, artificial patination of copper coins is justified from an aesthetic point of view, as it helps to hide the results of their cleaning.

Required Tools

Depending on the chosen method of applying the patina, it is necessary to prepare tools and materials. The minimum set includes:

• glass or plastic container;
• selected chemical reagent;
• beaker;
• stirring sticks;
• synthetic brush;
• degreasing liquid;
• rubber gloves;
• respirator;
• soap;
• sponge
• unnecessary clean rags;
• cotton pads.

When all this is collected, you can begin to conduct the experiment.

The patina process

Of course, the presence of a “native” layer of oxides is much more preferable, because it not only speaks of the value of the specimen, but also reliably protects the coin from damage. If it is possible to preserve natural plaque, then it is better not to touch it. When artificial aging is indispensable, the patina is applied independently. Patination is usually carried out by one of the following methods:

• dip the coins in the prepared solution;
• place a monetary sample in a vapor-gas environment;
• apply the composition to the surface with a brush.

The quality of the final result directly depends on the method of obtaining the patina and how well the coin was prepared.

First of all, the coins are cleaned of fat and oxides. Do this with a cotton pad soaked in white spirit or gasoline. These liquids are good at removing greasy traces that interfere with the oxidation process and the reaction of the patinating solution with copper. It is also necessary to wear gloves, because. on the left fingerprints, the patina will lie unevenly.

Features and methods of patinating coins at home

Depending on the metal, there are a fairly large number of methods for applying patina to a coin. All of them are feasible and do not require the knowledge of ancient alchemists and a special laboratory. Most types of patina are induced simple ways, but do not expect super-effect from it. Coin defects, such as holes, ruts, nicks, smudges, the resulting layer will not hide, but only change their color.

The better the patination is done, the more valuable the coin will become. Experienced collectors know that artificial plaque does not add financial value to items. But the patina, induced according to all the rules, is no different from the natural one. The coin acquires a noble rare appearance in the eyes of potential buyers. There is no universal method of oxidation, and the most suitable of all is selected only experimentally.

Patination of copper coins

Copper coins are patinated with sulfuric acid. The tool is applied to the metal, and literally within a few seconds it darkens. After the procedure, the product must be washed with soap so that oxidative processes do not continue. The patina obtained from sulfuric ointment has a fairly rich black color, but it is unstable. If you rub the surface with a cloth, the plaque will be erased, so this method should be used as a last resort.

Patination of copper coins with ammonia is carried out in a well-ventilated area, because. vapors of the substance are quite caustic. The processed coin is oxidized in a closed jar or container. To do this, it is placed in a container with ammonia so that it comes into contact only with its fumes, and not with the liquid. The container is tightly closed and wait 15-30 seconds. If the coin is left for a long time, then it can be ruined. The patina will not become darker, and pockets of corrosion will appear on the product.

Coping with the task of processing a coin with ammonia is easier in words than in deeds. It is either suspended or placed on a cotton pad inside the jar. This will allow it to patina evenly on both sides. Alcohol is poured at the very end, after preparatory manipulations. Then tightly close the container with a lid.

Vapors of ammonia are able to cover the coin with an even layer of patina of a pleasant brown color in a few minutes. Glitter is eliminated, and the product acquires a beautiful rare look.

Patination of coins with potassium permanganate and copper sulphate gives a quick result and a brown tinge. Dishes for work are taken unnecessary, because. after patination, it is unlikely to be washed off and will have to be thrown away. To prepare the solution, take 200 ml of distilled water and one gram of powders. Everything is thoroughly mixed, brought to a boil on the stove and a coin is lowered into the resulting composition for 1-2 minutes.

How longer coin is in solution, the darker the patina will be. After 10 minutes, the product will become almost black. This must be taken into account when achieving the desired shade of the oxide film.

Patination of silver coins

It is quite easy to give silver coins a dark color. To do this, you need ammonia or ammonia. The product is placed in the freezer for 20-30 minutes. After that, they take it out, take it with tweezers by one edge and bring it to an open bottle of ammonia. She literally immediately begins to react to vapors of ammonia and becomes covered with a gray coating of patina. I stop the procedure when the silver acquires the desired shade.

There is another way of patination silver coins- boiled eggs. They are boiled to a steep state, cut in half and placed in a container with a fairly narrow neck. The coin is also sent there. The egg begins to emit hydrogen sulfide, which is why the coin is covered with a gray film. This method is good in that it achieves the most uniform coverage.

The nuances of patinating coins in a natural way

It is possible to apply patina to a coin without using the materials described above. There is a way to patinate bronze naturally. For this, the products are taken out into the sun and left there for quite a long time. For 1-2 years, you need to ensure that the coin is exposed to sunlight all the time. Of course, such a process can hardly be called fast, but its plus is that copper will take on a natural aged look. The "solar" patina will be difficult to distinguish from the natural layer of oxides.

At home, you can try to bring a dark plaque with a tree. Some types of wood release tannins that contribute to the "cabinet" patina.

If there is no experience in patination of coins and even a clear idea of ​​​​how this process takes place, it is better to abandon the idea or leave it to a specialist.

Line a deep plastic container with paper towels. Crumple up a few paper towels with your hands and place them in a plastic container with a lid.

• The container should be deep enough to hold all of these towels and the copper item, plus the extra piece of towel that hasn't been added yet.
• A clean container that used to contain sour cream, cottage cheese or other products is perfect for this purpose. Make sure it's really clean and has a tight-fitting lid.
• This container can no longer be used for food.

Soak towels in ammonia. Pour the ammonia directly onto the paper towels in the container, just enough to completely soak them.

• Ammonia is a hazardous chemical, so this procedure must be carried out in a well-ventilated area. Also be sure to wear safety goggles and rubber gloves.