on my website (in signature) I have cleaning methods for all different coins, this is how I clean nickels
Nickels are the hardest of all coins in my opinion to make look good, and I have tried tons of methods that I have read online. Unless you have a key date nickel, it is going to carry very little value, so if you want to make it look better for your display case or coin folder then here is what I do. I buy SOS pads at walmart the kind with soap right in them. SOS pads are basically just a super fine steel wool. I get the pad wet and rub the nickel under running water with the SOS pad. It removes the built up gunk that nickels get on them and removes most of the red oxidation that nickels always have. Now it is up to you how much you want to remove. The longer you scrub the more red you get rid of. I simply just rub it long enough to remove the gunk and to be able to see the details, date etc better. Then I dry the coin and apply the wax to it as in the method above, works wonders on nickels as well as copper coins. I have tried vinegar, ketchup, lime a way, etc….and all of those methods pitted my nickels and my method using the SOS pads does not. Experiement on some older Jefferson nickels that are red to see how you like the results.
I really want to find some buffalo and liberty nickels
