✅ SOLVED Did some electrolysis to copper coin. ID?

[BrettCo124]

Finally tried electrolysis on what appeared to be a toasted coin (see photo).

Without any hope, I gave it a go. I now see the outline of a face! I’m going to try it longer tonight after work. I know it could potentially damage it but I’m willing to take the risk.

Any ideas on its ID now that the outline of a head came in to picture?

 

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[DCMatt]

George II?

 

[grasshopper]

George II?

I would agree.


See anything on the back?

1727-1760. Nice find!

 

[DownNDirty]

George II?

Agree-King George II half penny, minted 1727-1760

 

[BrettCo124]

Wow you all are spot-on. I’m going to run it through more electrolysis to see if it helps. It did a lot already. Hopefully ill be able to salvage it! I can’t see anything on the back just yet. Working on it!

 

[Hawks88]

Very nice find. Congrats!

 

[BrettCo124]

I will post the results shortly. Setting it up now.

 

[DownNDirty]

Go easy on the electrolysis-heck it every few minutes. A little goes a long way and it's easy to overdo it.

 

[BrettCo124]

Thanks for the advice DownNDirty. You are right, I can see how easy it is to mess up a coin. I tried this one a little longer but it didn’t seem to change at all. It’s still pretty rough and rusty, which is the only way to describe it. The face sort of went away a little bit from too much electrolysis.

It was worth the shot trying to get it to reveal something because that’s how I saw the face. But now it’s not as vivid as it once was due to more electrolysis. Lesson learned. This coin will just remain to be a king George II, with no ability to get a date or see a single thing on the back, for that matter.

 

[Underwonder]

Exciting find!

 

[grasshopper]

You'd be hard pressed to get a date on 90% of copper coins that old. If I were you I would be happy that you at least got an ID.

 

[DownNDirty]

Thanks for the advice DownNDirty. You are right, I can see how easy it is to mess up a coin. I tried this one a little longer but it didn’t seem to change at all. It’s still pretty rough and rusty, which is the only way to describe it. The face sort of went away a little bit from too much electrolysis.

It was worth the shot trying to get it to reveal something because that’s how I saw the face. But now it’s not as vivid as it once was due to more electrolysis. Lesson learned. This coin will just remain to be a king George II, with no ability to get a date or see a single thing on the back, for that matter.

Believe me I've made the same mistake more than once. I have a habit of over cleaning coins in an attempt to bring out more detail. I need to learn to learn to leave well enough alone.

 

[BrettCo124]

Lol we all probably learned this lesson! Sometimes it just is what it is!

 

[Underwonder]

Thanks for sharing your success and defeat . I am just learning about electrolysis. The first time it didn’t work since our battery charger was “automatic”. I will try again when I find a manual charger....but I think I will leave my old copper pennies “as is” and will work on some iron pieces. All the best.

 

[BrettCo124]

It worked better for me on a silver coin. I would be careful with coppers though.