I posted it to the Early American Coppers chat group - Copper Notes - just to see if there was any reaction. The guys were going nuts until one of them called the ANS and discovered it to be an April Fool's joke. I was taking the blog seriously too until I reached the part about using Brasso to clean the coins.

Brasso is what I used in the Army to clean my brass... then I knew it was a joke. I called Catherine at ANS to thank her for all the laughs. She told me that Alan Roche (ANS Photographer) was behind it. He's the voice on the video showing how to use Brasso on copper coins.

Life is too short no to laugh often and laugh loud - I did both

I read in horror and shock about the ANS project to clean their Large Cent collection. I hope this is some sick joke. I hope this is just an April Fools joke. To paraphrase, "Say it ain't so".

I was mildly amused/outraged to read that the ANS has received a prestigious grant and already purchased gallons of Brasso in order to clean its US large cent collection. Is this some kind of April Fool's joke? Watching the video demonstration, I noted that no attempt whatever was made to rinse the coins after treatment. Has anyone considered that residues of Brasso left on the recessed areas of the coin could corrode the surfaces into oblivion?

Brasso worked on the buttons of my military uniform when I was in ROTC, but I wouldn't dare use it on my coins.

As it was sent April 3rd, and I thought I had escaped April 1st Tomfoolery completely unscathed, it took me a little bit to catch this ANS Grant to Clean U.S. Large Cent Collection zinger you included in the last E-Sylum. Think of the orders for Brasso that stimulated from collectors everywhere !

The collection is well known among EAC members and copper collectors. When I got to the part about Brasso, I looked back to see that the post was dated back to Friday.

I can't remember the specifics of this story - there was an historical society that had some silver medals on display, possibly Indian Peace medals. The staff would periodically polish them with silver polish because the public liked to see shiny medals.

Won't those dirty large cents at the ANS look much better when they are bright and shiny?

Thanks for the tip on the brasso! I just shined up my collection of rare French Revolution tokens!

It's a dessert topping! No, it's a floor polish! Actually, it's BOTH! (from Saturday Night Live, for those who don't recognize it.)

Thank you David Pickup for your sense of humor. I am still laughing days later. You Putdown good humor..

The link should have taken you to a depiction of a handbag crafted to resemble the binding of an early book. Nothing wrong with the fashion show though.