Finally, my first Indian Head, and its a rare 1909-S !!

[renogeoff]

Finally, my first Indian Head, a rare 1909-S !! Should I clean it?

Went out in the heat Saturday with RayRayVegas and hit some old lots we had picked over before. After over 3 hours of digging in hardpack and only 5 wheats between us, I suggested we head over to the house where I found my first Barber dime last Sunday.

I hit the front yard and Ray went to the back. I popped a few wheat right away, and then worked my way to the back of the house, where Ray was coming up empty handed, so I went back to the front and by the corner of the house got a nice signal around 2 inches. Now most of the wheats were 3-8 inches, so I wasn't expecting much. When I popped out the coin, it was so crusty I thought it could be a zincoln. Until I wiped the back and saw a wreath. I was stoked! My first Indian Head after 5 years of hunting! So in 1 week I got 2 of my elusive targets at the same location. I showed Ray and stuck in my pocket and never saw the date until I got home and ran it under some water. At first i thought 1900, but got a nice picture of it and enlarged to see the date. After a little water on the reverse, I was able to make out the "S". Pretty lousy condition, but I'll take it! Worth the 2 lbs of sweat I lost in 5 hours of desert hunting!

Also got a gold earing and some sort of "wishing well" charm?

Should I clean it or leave as is? I'd like to see a little more detail on it.

 

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[treblehunter]

I just looked( I'm using my phone) ngc site, looks like about 700.00 might be worth selling. Of course I'm not able to look as good with my phone, and that is lowest value of undug coin/no environmental damaged

 

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[I-DIG-IT]

That great, good for you.

 

[rhedden]

I dug a 1909-S just like this one in 1999. They're almost identical twins, in fact. While I was scraping off some of the crud on the reverse, the "S" mint mark just flaked off with the corrosion. D'Oh! So I think you know my opinion on cleaning it.

 

[jewelerguy]

awesome. too bad it's so crusty

 

[prolab69]

for indian heads i use linseed oil, i soak them for about 2 days and pick at it with a tooth pick in between. I only use that on my less valuable ones tho, you may want to reconsider cleaning it at all and just leave it.