Could this be SILVER? (or the Lone Ranger? lol)

[Breezie]

Hey, Once again, something strange followed me home while MD-ing. On the DFX it read as SILVER with a +75 thru +78. It is approximately 3/4 of an inch wide, and has bright silver areas. It is not lead, because it is lighter in weight. A magnet does not stick to it. I used a knife to scrape it in several places, each time the area beneath was silver. There are more silver areas on the rock than show up on the photos. The reddish colored areas are red clay that didn't clean out. Also in the same field, I found a very nice 1850 Large Cent. I'm wondering numismatically speaking, should I clean the coin or not? Thanks, Breezie

 

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[johnnyi]

Nice large cent Breezie. I don't think you should clean it beyond soap and water and maybe a little beeswax. (Don taught me beeswax, and it works great)

 

[Breezie]

Thanks Johnny & Rando . . .will the salt/vinegar remove the green patina or will it only brighten the dull brown areas? Any thoughts on the rock?

 

[Breezie]

Rando, I'll just use some distilled water to get the red mud/clay off of it because I think the sharpness and date of this large cent has some value. This is the first LC I've found that was not almost completely smooth. You can see Trixie's hairlines and braids, plus LIBERTY is well defined. I'm just wondering if the corrosion of the copper (not the patina) would prevent it from being worth more. I'll use your salt/vinegar trick on another one. Moi

 

[kuger]

Awesome large cent!!!I have to tell you I ruined my first large cent with simple water,maybe it is just my soil but I literally washed the definition away

 

[vayank54]

That's a nice large cent. when I dig a coin like that I let it dry,brush the dirt of with an old tooth brush and leave it. that's my personal preference though. I think that date large cent in that condition nondug would be worth about $15 or $20. Dug copper coins are worth less than nondug ones though. Like some others said too "you don't want to put anything harsh on it."
Yeah Kuger is right about what he said too. I think it has to do with the soil. I've seen the letters and numbers come off just using soap and water. I don't think you will have any problem with yours though.
The silver thing I have no idea about.

 

[kuger]

That's a nice large cent. when I dig a coin like that I let it dry,brush the dirt of with an old tooth brush and leave it. that's my personal preference though. I think that date large cent in that condition nondug would be worth about $15 or $20. Dug copper coins are worth less than nondug ones though. Like some others said too "you don't want to put anything harsh on it."
Yeah Kuger is right about what he said too. I think it has to do with the soil. I've seen the letters and numbers come off just using soap and water. I don't think you will have any problem with yours though.
The silver thing I have no idea about.

Thanks "V",it must have something to do with soil,thats what it did washed the date off!I learned the hard way!!!

 

[vayank54]

You're welcome. I've had that happen to several old coins. I know a way can clean green crusty looking coins. It takes a while though. You can carry them in your pocket and the friction with the other stuff will take off the green a reveal at least some of the detail if there is any. You can also put it in one of the paper coin envelopes and put it in you wallet. A guy I know dug a 1799 large cent and you couldn't make out what it was. He carried in his wallet for about 2 years and now it looks almost like it was never in the ground and would probably grade EXT Fine.

 

[kuger]

Thats funny!!!

 

[Breezie]

Otay . . .now I'm confused. Since this LC has sharp detail, do we want to clean it to make it look like it was not a dug coin or do we want to keep the girl as she is? All of this being for numismatic value? (and if anyone says 'blonde moment,' it's on! lol

 

[vayank54]

I would leave this one. I'm not saying anything at all about blondes. From what I saw in a couple of your pics. I don't want you mad at me. That would be me on the left OUCH

 

[Breezie]

VAYank, Yes, I read your comments on Facebook. Thanks for the kudos. I guess I need to explain so Treasurenet will not run and hide. I have 2 Black Belts; one in Tae Kwon Do and Tang Soo Do. I use to teach (Bokyosanim), but had a major injury recently during class, and decided it might not be the best way to celebrate my next birthday of the Big 6-0. PS: I gave the coin a distilled water sponge bath, and will leave her 'as is.'

 

[vayank54]

You're welcome. Yeah you had better take care of the major injuries. I messed up my shoulder in high school, many many many moons ago, I didn't listen to the doctors, of course,and have problems with it to this day. take care of yourself.

 

[kuger]

VAYank, Yes, I read your comments on Facebook. Thanks for the kudos. I guess I need to explain so Treasurenet will not run and hide. I have 2 Black Belts; one in Tae Kwon Do and Tang Soo Do. I use to teach (Bokyosanim), but had a major injury recently during class, and decided it might not be the best way to celebrate my next birthday of the Big 6-0. PS: I gave the coin a distilled water sponge bath, and will leave her 'as is.'

Sorry to hear that.Good idea on freezing preservation

 

[IronSpike]

Very nice large cent I wouldn't clean much either.

Don't think the other piece is silver.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Im thinking melted aluminum. Silver is heavy and turns black.

I would leave the green patina on the coin. While non dug coins in better condition demand a higher price from coin collectors, patina is starting to be a good way of verifying authenticity and often is not degrading on a relic. But if you really dont like it, ...maybe try a Peroxide bath? Someone else may know more about that method.

 

[kuger]

I wouldnt peroxide copper

 

[Breezie]

Im thinking melted aluminum. Silver is heavy and turns black.
It's heavier and harder than aluminum, but not as heavy as lead, plus aluminum ore is generally in Bauxite, and it doesn't look like Bauxite at all. Oh, well, back to the drawing board. Thanks, Breezie

 

[Breezie]

#1 You are NOT going to be 60.. I fail to believe that..

LOL, I thought that would get you going. Mae West said: Any woman who will tell her age, will tell ANYTHING!

 

[Silver Searcher]

Doesn't look like Silver :P....put some bleach on it, if it turns Black then it is Silver as for cleaning your coin :P I just wash dirt of with warm water, and apply a light coating of Olive Oil to the coin, just to stop it from drying out

SS