Brother Found Indian Head

[bigmac58]

My brother used a small tractor to move some dirt from a hillside to build up the soil around a bridge he is building. He used the machine to move and smooth out the dirt. A couple days later he was walking on the dirt and noticed a penny so he picked it up. After he arrived home he tood a second look at the penny and noticed it was an indian head. He mentioned it to me and told me that it was in very bad shape, he could barely make out the head. I took a look at it and noticed that while the coin does look bad, much of the coins detail is visible around the green crud that is sitting on top of the coin. I brought it home and it has been soaking in olive oil for about 5 days now. I have brushed it with soapy water and an old toothbrush twice and noticed that the coin does not have the shield on the reverse. I told him that the coin may be from the 1800's but I didn't think it was an 1859 coin. I can't find much more than trash with my detector. I haven't told him about it yet. Is there anything else I can do other than the olive oil and brush?

Thanks,

Jeremy

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A Handbook of Civil War Bullets and Cartridges - Grab it through Amazon!

[Evolution]

My brother used a small tractor to move some dirt from a hillside to build up the soil around a bridge he is building. He used the machine to move and smooth out the dirt. A couple days later he was walking on the dirt and noticed a penny so he picked it up. After he arrived home he tood a second look at the penny and noticed it was an indian head. He mentioned it to me and told me that it was in very bad shape, he could barely make out the head. I took a look at it and noticed that while the coin does look bad, much of the coins detail is visible around the green crud that is sitting on top of the coin. I brought it home and it has been soaking in olive oil for about 5 days now. I have brushed it with soapy water and an old toothbrush twice and noticed that the coin does not have the shield on the reverse. I told him that the coin may be from the 1800's but I didn't think it was an 1859 coin. I can't find much more than trash with my detector. I haven't told him about it yet. Is there anything else I can do other than the olive oil and brush?

Thanks,

Jeremy

Any place you can find an Indian head lying around is a good site. The only indian head without a wreath is the Fatty 1859. If you're positive you've got it cleaned enough to tell that there is no shield than that is definately what it is. However, you might want to look at the front of the coin again. If you're not positive you see an indian head there, you may have a flying eagle cent. The back of the coin has a wreath and says one cent inside the wreath. No shield on the flying eagle reverse either. Check the front again. Do you have any pictures?

 

[Evolution]

sorry about that. I hit the qoute icon instead of the reply icon. Also olive oil takes a whie to really work well. It's not uncommon to have one in there for a month or so. You might have to be patient on this one. Good luck.

 

[bigmac58]

I rechecked the coin and there is definitely a headdress on it. Also, I have noticed that this coin is 1.25 to 1.5 the thickness of a regular penny. There is too much crud on the bottom of the obverse so I can't make out the date to be certain, but I am fairly certain that there is no shield on the reverse, the wreaths almost touch at the top. Is there any other way of cleaning the coin faster without damaging it or is the olive oil my best hope?

Thanks,

Jeremy

 

[Evolution]

Olive oil is great for loosening up dirt that has built up on the coin while it was in the ground. However, if that buildup that you speak of is a green cruddy buildup and not dirt then olive oil may not complete the job. I'm not sure of a good way to get that cruddy green buildup off of a coin. I'm sure someone else will have a suggestion. Let us know how it comes ou looking...but like I said its likely an 1859.

 

[nc-joe]

Yep, sounds like a fatty... 1859. As for the green corrosion, soak and brush, soak and brush, soak and brush. Either way you are cleaning a coin, so the value will diminsh regardless, so I say, put it in a rock tumbler with some sand or small aquarium rock for a day or two. (do not put any other coins in with it)

I fell ok telling you to do this, even though an 1859 is old, there were alot minted and the value of the coin is minimal anyway. If it were an 1877 I would say "do nothing to it, send it to a professional restorer" enjoy it for the beauty it is.