This New Water Purifying Coin Is the Latest Antimicrobial Tech Inspired by NASA Research

The portable coin is made of silver and copper and couldn't be easier to use.

This story was created by TheStreet in partnership with Coin of Harmony.

There’s no shortage of products and devices designed to boost our quality of life — whether it’s a self-cleaning coffee maker or a travel accessory that supposedly helps you sleep better while in flight. If you’ve ever purchased something like this, we’re willing to bet you’ve only used it once or twice. Odds are, it now sits unused on your shelf.

Coin of Harmony, however, might be something you’ll use on a regular basis. Invented with the goal of purifying water, the portable coin (it’s small enough to fit in most water bottles) is made of silver and copper and couldn’t be easier to use. Both metals are known for their antimicrobial properties that, when released into water, can help attack bacteria and viruses. That's why the materials have been used for hundreds of years as a way to keep water clean and safe to drink.

Coin of Harmony Water Purifying Coin, $40 at ShopHQ

You may have read about this idea in history class. American pioneers supposedly placed silver or copper coins in water barrels to ensure the contents remained drinkable. Silver, instead of dangerous lead, was eventually used to create utensils. NASA has even researched silver as an antimicrobial agent; those findings then informed ways the technology can be used commercially (in hospitals, pools, in-home water filters, etc).

Coin of Harmony is the latest iteration.

The product instructions are relatively straightforward. You just need to place one of the coins in any water container (like your go-to water bottle for workouts, the jug in your refrigerator, or that hiking backpack you have yet to clean), fill it up, and give it a shake or two. After that, the water is said to have gone through an effective natural purification process. You can leave the coin in the bottle for the following refills.

While Coin of Harmony is easy to use, the company warns the product has the potential to be swallowed, so they advise keeping it out of reach of smaller children or anyone else who may be at risk. It also notes that the coin is built to last for several years, but continuous use may result in the Coin of Harmony turning slightly darker on the copper side (the patina process) and possibly foggy (or tarnish) on the silver side.

If you’re interested in trying the Coin of Harmony for yourself, you can purchase one on ShopHQ. TheStreet readers can also use the discount code HARMONY5 for $5 off their entire purchase.