A Fried 1801 Large Copper (Literally) -- Any Ideas?

[Erik in NJ]

Had the pleasure of meeting NJLargeCent a week ago for a hunt in his area and we found a nice area that was yielding colonial artifacts. I have yet to post most of mine, but found some interesting items.

One of the find is a copper that is literally toasted--I think it unfortunately ended up in a fire. Ironically, the only thing really visible is the date which is 1801. There might be a line over the date (I'm not sure) which would preclude it from being a Draped Bust cent.

It rang up on my SE Pro lower than where a large copper normally would, but perhaps this is from being in the fire. The obverse really looks like I started to melt, but I'm not sure how hot a fire needs to be to melt copper. Could it be some sort of counterfeit?

Anyway, here are some preliminary pics. I measure the diameter to be 28.6mm with my digital calipers and I get a weight of approx. 71 grams.

Any ideas on this one?

 

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[echodog]

Bud your right that one is gone. What a shame that is a great piece, hope you find a way to get some detail. Good luck!

 

[John Boy]

Still a very nice find even if it is in pretty bad shape.

 

[ace1968]

I think its cool the date is there!!!!!

 

[Erik in NJ]

I think its cool the date is there!!!!!

Yes, I got very lucky that that's the ONLY thing I can read on the darn thing!

 

[oxbowbarefoot]

I've found a few toasted ones like that too. I haven't had any success in cleaning ones that rough without loosing any detail, but at least you have a date.

 

[hamiddetecting]

Very nice

 

[TooManyHobbies]

Detail would've been nice, but the date is what is most important to me. Congrats.

 

[Evolution]

The style of the numbers in the date would lead me to believe it's a draped bust largie.... but It's just an educated guess. Definitely looks damaged... although fertilizer in a field can make a coin look like that also... I've had a few come out of the ground that looked similar. The fact that you have a readable date is nice. Congrats.

 

[Ifoundit69]

Try heating up some peroxide and let it soak change out the solution a few times once youve done that go to ace hardware and buy some bee's wax rub both sides of the coin real good then take a lighter and let the flame hit the coin for a few second have a sturdy rage handy once you hit it with the lighter rub it on the rag to get the wax in the pours of the coin and sometimes this method will bring out some detail . Or you can try electrolysis in a cup with two paper clips and a charge water and salt . These are just suggestions considering the coin is toast it cant hurt anything !

 

[sig82065]

Erik, I have one that is not in much better shape. I took it to a coin shop in Hamilton and the guy told me to put it in a small jar with olive oil. It's been soaking for a couple of months and after reading your post I decided to check it. It is definitely better than it was. The guy told me to leave it for a year.

 

[NJLargeCent]

Glad you got an exact date. I know previously you only saw the _80_. You were in the zone that day--more to find there when you're able to make the trip again!

 

[ChrisNJ]

Great you get a date but it is a shame they come out like that, cool find nonetheless.

 

[Erik in NJ]

Great you get a date but it is a shame they come out like that, cool find nonetheless.

They are normally not this bad....like I wrote, it appears this one was in a pretty hot fire or some sort--it didn't register correctly on my SE Pro. I'm amazed that the date survived.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Yah that def looks like a fire damaged coin. Maybe it was in a fire pit or was in a house when it burnt down. Lot of people back then hid their coins sometimes in the chimneys I knew a guy who found a bunch of 19th century gold coins in Fredericksburg,Virginia around an old house site and the only thing left was the chimney and he ended up finding them and then a bunch more in the ground! more then likey the homeowners had too retreat when the Union came in for the Battle Of Fredericksburg and everyone had to escape their homes and that is where they chose too hide there coins. But anyway it def looks like it is been in a fire.