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 Replies: 12 / Views: 2,468 |
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New Member
United States
10 Posts |
Would ketchup be ok to use on cleaning?
I remember my grandmother using it on cooking pots
It cleaned them to a like new finish.
I haven't experimented yet thought I would ask?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4468 Posts |
Do not clean copper cents with ketchup. It is best not to clean coins. If you must clean, soak the cent in acetone. Do not wipe the coin as it will create hairlines.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
 I'm glad you came here first. What coins do you have in mind? I wouldn't get too bent out of shape about a few common-date wheat cents, but be warned that cleaning will destroy whatever numismatic value a coin has. |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Ketchup contains vinegar/acetic acid. Acetic acid reacts strongly with copper and will strip all patina off the surface leaving it with a VERY unnatural color. It's strong reaction is why it works well as a cleaner for copper utensils, but NOT for coins.
Ketchup and salt was a common cleaners used on copper cooking pans, the ketchup supplied the acetic acid, the tomato paste held the acid in place better than just using vinegar, and the salt acted as an abrasive.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19127 Posts |
Would also advise not using the contents of fast food hot sauce packets.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Leave 'em alone!   to the CCF! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7508 Posts |
Well...then maybe mustard  to the Forum. |
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New Member
 United States
10 Posts |
Thank You all for your insight. I am glad I asked before going all science project!! Lol.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
With U.S. coins, don't clean any coin that has a greater numismatic value greater than face value. With other than U.S. coins, don't bother to clean any of them anyway, irrespective of value. The long way around to saying: ' Don't clean coins!'  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19935 Posts |
In general, DON'T clean coins. However, there are exceptions to be made in extreme cases.
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10635 Posts |
I'm with the frog... Leave 'em alone! to the CCF!  |
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Valued Member
United States
271 Posts |
Ditto on what has been said. Those folks know more than I do about these things. Glad you asked the question. For what it's worth: cleaning seems to be recast as part of coin "conservation" when done by a TPG like NGC. They charge a minimum of $25 to conserve/clean a coin, but don't guarantee that it will improve the grade. Stay well, Diy89Nurm7 |
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Replies: 12 / Views: 2,468 |
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Posted 02/18/2021 12:03 am
