brianc053
Hero Member
- Jan 27, 2015
- 985
- 3,412
- 🏆 Honorable Mentions:
- 3
- Detector(s) used
- Minelab Equinox 800
XP Deus 2
- Primary Interest:
- Metal Detecting
Hi everyone. A few weeks ago I posted a question about how to clean a large copper properly, and it led to some great suggestions and discussion. The coin ended up being a Draped Bust, though I couldn't make out a date. http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/today-s-finds/650751-large-copper-how-clean-properly.html
This past weekend I found yet another large copper at the same farm I've been visiting for over a year, and this one was in even worse shape. I didn't post about it right away - I just set about trying to clean it. I thought I'd share the experience now.
I'll number the pictures and as I describe my approach I'll reference the pictures by number.
When it came out of the ground (Pic1) I was hopeful, but concerned. The prior coin had come out of the ground in a similar state, so I had a bad feeling this one was toasted. And it was (Pic2). I couldn't see any detail, and couldn't even figure out how to orient the coin.
It measured correctly for a US large cent (28mm, Pic3), but even after Andre's Pencils I couldn't see anything on this coin (Pic4).
So, I decided that I would get more aggressive. I figured I didn't have anything to lose, so I used a combination of hydrogen peroxide (didn't do much), electrolysis (produced good results) and apple cider vinegar to remove most of the copper corrosion (and I learned a new word: verdigris) (Pic5).
And it worked: the electrolysis revealed letters, and my son (with his young eyes) was able to read most of "AMERICA", and then I saw the "O""N" of ONE CENT in the middle. (Pics 6 and 7) (We're 90% sure we've got this right).
So now I just needed to figure out whether it was another Draped Bust (probably) or a Cap (not likely). Based on the placement of AMERICA I was already sure it wasn't a Flowing.
And on Draped vs. Cap I'm still not 100% sure, but I don't see any evidence of a cap so I'm assuming by default that it's another Draped Bust. I think I can see the Draped Bust outline looking right on the obverse (Pic 8 and Pic 9 for comparison), but I could also just be filling in the blanks with my imagination.
Like other finds at this farm, I gave this one to the landowner. His extended family - a couple aunts and uncles, his cousins, about a dozen in total - happened to be there at the time when I found the coin (Pic 10 of the farm at sunset), so I'm sure they'll enjoy seeing it cleaned up (even if it's toasted). I made them a little one-page printout that explained what it was (Pic 11).
Overall, great experience! Thanks for tagging along.
Pic1 Pic2
Pic3 Pic4
Pic5
Pic6 Pic7
Pic8 Pic9
Pic 10 Pic11
This past weekend I found yet another large copper at the same farm I've been visiting for over a year, and this one was in even worse shape. I didn't post about it right away - I just set about trying to clean it. I thought I'd share the experience now.
I'll number the pictures and as I describe my approach I'll reference the pictures by number.
When it came out of the ground (Pic1) I was hopeful, but concerned. The prior coin had come out of the ground in a similar state, so I had a bad feeling this one was toasted. And it was (Pic2). I couldn't see any detail, and couldn't even figure out how to orient the coin.
It measured correctly for a US large cent (28mm, Pic3), but even after Andre's Pencils I couldn't see anything on this coin (Pic4).
So, I decided that I would get more aggressive. I figured I didn't have anything to lose, so I used a combination of hydrogen peroxide (didn't do much), electrolysis (produced good results) and apple cider vinegar to remove most of the copper corrosion (and I learned a new word: verdigris) (Pic5).
And it worked: the electrolysis revealed letters, and my son (with his young eyes) was able to read most of "AMERICA", and then I saw the "O""N" of ONE CENT in the middle. (Pics 6 and 7) (We're 90% sure we've got this right).
So now I just needed to figure out whether it was another Draped Bust (probably) or a Cap (not likely). Based on the placement of AMERICA I was already sure it wasn't a Flowing.
And on Draped vs. Cap I'm still not 100% sure, but I don't see any evidence of a cap so I'm assuming by default that it's another Draped Bust. I think I can see the Draped Bust outline looking right on the obverse (Pic 8 and Pic 9 for comparison), but I could also just be filling in the blanks with my imagination.
Like other finds at this farm, I gave this one to the landowner. His extended family - a couple aunts and uncles, his cousins, about a dozen in total - happened to be there at the time when I found the coin (Pic 10 of the farm at sunset), so I'm sure they'll enjoy seeing it cleaned up (even if it's toasted). I made them a little one-page printout that explained what it was (Pic 11).
Overall, great experience! Thanks for tagging along.
Pic1 Pic2
Pic3 Pic4
Pic5
Pic6 Pic7
Pic8 Pic9
Pic 10 Pic11
Upvote
11
