1802 Large Cent - cleaned up nice

[doninbrewster]

Many large cents that come out of the ground are very corroded. There's nothing you can to if the metal is no longer left on the coin. Many times the details are not much more than a crust on the coin. Clean it up and you have zero details left. On occasion you get one that does clean up well. It's even nicer when it's a draped bust variety. Here are the before and after pics.

This coin came from a small triangle of land that was 1/3 old cemetery (which has been detected by everyone and their brother) and 2/3 woods, most of which is covered by vinca, pricker bushes, downed trees and every other kind of obstacle. I didn't have much time and it was close by so I thought I would give it a shot. This 1802 LC is the result. Although worn, it really did clean up nice.

 

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[leddel]

always nice to see the "draped ladies" congrats on a nice one Don

 

[TNGUNS]

Great coin. Congrats

 

[Peyton Manning]

what did you do to them? I found an 1882 IH that is not clear

 

[BzyBee]

Draped with a readable date is a keeper any day! wtg

 

[detroitdigger]

Sweet large cent!

 

[doninbrewster]

BTW, It's a Sheldon 231, a "stemless wreath" variety.

 

[treblehunter]

Beautiful coin, so how did you clean it?

 

[Msbeepbeep]

Nice LC, congrats!

 

[doninbrewster]

I started with an old toothbrush and some liquid soap and water. I took a closer look with a magnifier and it didn't appear very corroded so I put it in some very hot hydrogen peroxide and let it sit for about 10 minutes before going back at it with the toothbrush. It cleaned up a little more and after taking another closer look I tried scraping off some of the encrusted dirt with my thumbnail. The crud seemed to be coming off so I got an o-cello sponge which as a nylon mesh backing. I scrubbed it with that along with some more liquid soap and it cleaned it up. I then put a little Care coin conditioner on it and cleaned up the residue with a goat hair brush. A lot of long time copper collectors use a goat hair brush to brush off their coins. Usually they have several, one for using on a coin that had just had Care applied, one to clean it up a little better and one that's like new for those pristine coins. It will bush off those light dirt or dust particles you don't want before you put your coins away. I've used it on uncirculated NJ's and CT's with no problem.

 

[recondigger]

Is it a 1/000? Nice large cent and good job on the cleaning

Dig until your arm falls off

 

[True_Metal]

I found my first large cent in Brewster NY around 2007. It was also an 1802. Congrats.