MY CLEANED MERCURY DIMES

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by RIchard Abanes, Feb 18, 2021.

  1. Kentucky

    Kentucky Supporter! Supporter

    The action of ketchup, hot sauce, barbecue sauce, etc. on copper coins is due to the vinegar and salt. I don't think I would try this on any high-ticket coins, but for run-of-the-mill coins, give it a try. Dissolve the salt in the vinegar and use it to dip/soak the coins. Remember to rinse the Be-Jesus out of them, any residue is deadly for the coins.
     
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. Spark1951

    Spark1951 Accomplishment, not Activity

    @coinup @AuldFartte @SchwaVB57 ....and anyone else...

    DO NOT use ketchup on copper. As noted previously in this thread, ketchup is an acidic substance, it removes a layer of copper and turns copper pink. It effectively ruins any copper coin so only use it, if you must, on coins already ruined, or damaged beyond redemption...like road rash coins or any Zincoln...jmho...Spark
     
  4. AuldFartte

    AuldFartte Well-Known Member

    Thanks, @Spark1951 - I was merely curious about it, but I have no intention of using ketchup for anything other than hamburgers.
     
    Spark1951 and coinup like this.
  5. 2%? Really? Just with a little pickle juice and about 1/2 hour in a jewelry cleaner? How is this possible? I mean, my wife's ring is silver, and we've cleaned it many times..... 2% every time would mean there'd be nothing left. Can you link some documention about the 2% and cleaning with the method I described, which is actually pretty mild. Thanks!
     
  6. I've used lemon juice, lime juice, olive oil on pennies..... bad idea. bad idea. bad idea. turns then a bizarre, eaten-away non-metallic, pinkish color.
     
    enamel7 likes this.
  7. rte

    rte Well-Known Member

    He removed 2% by weight of crud, Not metallic content.
    Your wife's ring is safe.
    Might smell like a firehouse subs pickle bucket?
     
  8. wlwhittier

    wlwhittier Peripheral Member

    Coins got leg cramps?
     
  9. wlwhittier

    wlwhittier Peripheral Member

    No acid. No alkali. No acetone. No ketchup. No spit, snot or other Precious Bodily Fluids.

    When the need arises to remedy an otherwise nearly featureless slug, I turn to my rock tumbler! I use a commercial ceramic media without anything added but a squirt of liquid dish soap, and cold water. It takes from an hour to maybe 3 or 4 , depending on what I'm cleaning.

    This 1889 watch-fob was absolutely illegible on the reverse (Schloss), and nearly so on the obverse, with that brown, heavy covering...in addition to being severly deformed in two planes. Without my intercession, it was simply junque.

    The media comes in a wide variety of shapes & sizes. My everyday usage is a ~5/32" diameter cylinder, ~⅜" long; each end truncated at an angle to the long axis in the same plane. There are maybe half a pound of them in the drum.

    IMHO the resultant is without question more desirable than the original condition of the item. I don't ever use this process on anything of potential value, be sure about that.

    I'm aware that cleaning is heresy...I am impenitent, nonetheless. I have suffered the slings and arrows of outrage over my position on the issue through the years, and remain unreconstructed. Have at it...I've got broad shoulders!

    Otherwise, anyone with access to a small drum-type tumbler can easily find media on eBay...and give it a try. Success is assured, and will certainly amaze.

    Thanks for listening, folks! wlw


    fullsizeoutput_631f.jpeg fullsizeoutput_6321.jpeg
     
    kountryken likes this.
  10. Chip Kirkpatrick

    Chip Kirkpatrick Well-Known Member

    I clean my coins. Most are found metal detecting and they look like crap so I put them into a rock tumbler out an electrolysis tank. I don’t sell them, they are for my pleasure only and I like them cleaned.

    silver coins like those I would wet them and dip in baking soda and gently rub between my thumb and forefinger. They’d be sparkling in seconds.
     
  11. Chip Kirkpatrick

    Chip Kirkpatrick Well-Known Member

    I use white aquarium gravel when tumbling. Tried beach sand but not as good. I also throw brass items in too. Recently did a pair of harmonica reeds and they came out gorgeous. Clean, bright and shiny
     
  12. eddiespin

    eddiespin Fast Eddie

    You asked for it. You're just like a lot of others, here. You take the easy way out and misunderstand it's like a religious proscription or some damn thing. I know 13-year-old collectors who understand it better than that. You don't clean coins because it takes the luster out of them, and that's irreversible. Get off your religious experience, and understand it.

    Your token, or whatever that is, was junked, the way you described it. Tumbler away at it, the damage was long done. But don't misunderstand. For coins of any value to anybody, the luster is the life. You clean it, you kill it. You leave it flat, dead, and beyond redemption. Good enough, or do you require further explanation?
     
  13. Mr. Flute

    Mr. Flute Well-Known Member

    Well, not exactly for all coins, reasons and methods, all the time.

    Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist - Pablo Picasso (attributed)
     
    Dynoking likes this.
  14. eddiespin

    eddiespin Fast Eddie

    The guys with their tricks. I have to agree with you, there.
     
  15. marve

    marve Member

     
  16. marve

    marve Member

    i dont believe they hurt the value either
     
  17. 1865King

    1865King Well-Known Member

    I did an experiment using different chemicals to see how they would affect coins. I did one test using a similar product to Draino. I used a really crappy road rash Indian cent. After about 30 minutes in a diluted solution the Indian cent was partially dissolved with holes almost burned through it. I did tests with a number of chemicals all on junk coins. Most tests turned out as expected. Destroyed most coins. Draino type chemicals did the most damage in the least amount of time. Draino type chemicals are very strong caustic chemical. They will eat copper and aluminum coins. Not as bad on silver but, given enough time it will dissolve the coin. On the other end is the acids. Hydrochloric and sulfuric acids will have the same affect on copper and aluminum. However, it depends on how strong the acid is. Full strength say goodbye to the coins. Deluted acids depending on strength will remove toning if done fast. Leave a coin in the solution even if very mild it will eventually totally destroy the coin. Looking at the before and after of the Mercury dimes it looks like they were just dirty. That may have come off by just soaking them in a soapy solution over night and then a lite wipe. Being junk silver I wouldn't be concerned about if the coin looked like it was cleaned but, those are the type of coins to use if you want to do your own testing. There are plenty of junk foreign coins in buckets at most coin shops that a dealer will gladly sell you very cheaply to play with. Some dealers may let you grab as few to play with if you tell them your plans. Some dealers may even be interested in your results. This is how we learn what not to do.
     
  18. Spark1951

    Spark1951 Accomplishment, not Activity

    ...just to be clear...pickle juice is beneficial to the digestive tract, being a fermented product. You use it in moderation, like 2-3 oz with food...helps to restore gut flora.

    Stomach acid is much stronger and needs to be to digest food...jmho...Spark
     
    masterswimmer and Collecting Nut like this.
  19. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    But there's nothing in my stomach that has metal in it. :)
     
  20. masterswimmer

    masterswimmer A Caretaker, can't take it with me

    You never did shots of goldschlager? ;)
     
    Evan Saltis likes this.
  21. Evan Saltis

    Evan Saltis OWNER - EBS Numis LLC Supporter

    Do you get real dizzy and lose vision when you stand? :D
    sounds like an iron deficiency.. Lol!
     
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page