The use of corrosion inhibitors is now an effective way to protect iron coins. The volatile corrosion inhibitor,compound WB1, was studied in terms of inhibition performance, and by Xray powder diffraction, Xray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. This study showed that WB1 can be adsorbed and form a film on the surface of rusty iron coins so as to prevent harmful ions from permeating into the coins. Moreover, it can accelerate the transformation of rusty scale and had good inhibition performance for rusty iron coins without changing the appearance of the relics, thus meeting conservation demands.