First Indian Head!

[nfish91]

Found it at 4 inches. Dated 1900. Tips to clean it up?

 

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[BigWaveDave]

congrats.... those who have found them will tell you peroxide, no experience myself

 

[Peyton Manning]

nice one. I found my first this year, an 1882, but very worn. have not cleaned it yet ( well other than spit)

 

[Tired Rooster]

Congratulations........!!

 

[RobRieman]

Nice job! For some reason I just have not been able to find an IH in 30 years.

 

[WHADIFIND]

If I were you? I would do almost nothing in the way of cleaning it up. You can tell what it is now and it IS your first one!
I'd just keep it as is, clean the next one.

Congrats!

 

[flatbutton]

Keep it as is. Most of those I've found in my neck of the woods come out of the ground looking like yours. If you try and do other than rinse it off, You'll probably loose a lot of detail and possibly the date! Leave that beautiful patina on it man! Congrats on that nice IH!

 

[CladGrabber]

Oil and a toothpick

 

[ATpro5]

I Would Usually Recommend Boiling Peroxide... But I Think You Should Leave Yours Alone. it Looks Fine The Way It Is! A Little Nose Grease Rub Might Bring Out Some Detail Though.

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[dig kzoo]

Congrats!

 

[rayrayvegas]

Found my first last year after 19 years of detecting, found 3 more after that. More will come to you. HH.

 

[treblehunter]

Nice find, I love the design of those coins. I soaked mine in olive oil, makes it dark in color, but I was worried about stopping the corrosion and preserving the metal. The patina looks nice, I just don't know if it stops there?

 

[borntohunt460]

Nice find, I love the design of those coins. I soaked mine in olive oil, makes it dark in color, but I was worried about stopping the corrosion and preserving the metal. The patina looks nice, I just don't know if it stops there?

I'm not an expert but I've been reading a lot in copper preservation and cleaning. Using olive oil on a copper coin that is somewhat corroded and porous allows the oil to seep into the coin. Because of this, it would be very difficult to get all the oil out so it will seep back out of the coin for years.
The problem is that olive oil is slightly acidic and will degrade some details of the coin over time. A better alternative for preservation would be Vaseline or blue ribbon coin preservative if you're trying to halt further degradation.

Again I am basing all the above on redundant posts I have read from different users that have much more experience than I.

 

[Ahab8]

I use the warm peroxide method. My buddy owns a coin shop and though he cringes at all of these things, he believes that method to be best on dug coins. I'm sure opinions vary widely on the subject. If I was you and that being the first ih I would prob leave it be. Any method you use in removing the dirt and crust will remove lots of the defining characteristics. Lots of times the dirt and crud are the only thing that allow us to make out specific details. I have lost a couple of dates on old coppers by cleaning them. Good luck

 

[nfish91]

Thank you for all of the in-sight. Cleaned it a bit with peroxide and am going to leave it be now. Doesn't look too much different other than a little dirt removed.

 

[hunting deer]

Congratulations. My first was a 1900 also. Sometimes I'll dip them in water and then coat them with baking soda and lightly rub them between my fingers to improve the detail and remove some surface dirt . Its not supposed to scratch the coin.

 

[Ahab8]

Thank you for all of the in-sight. Cleaned it a bit with peroxide and am going to leave it be now. Doesn't look too much different other than a little dirt removed.

Good for you for making a decision and going for it. I too have a hard time leaving them crusty but would never steer someone into cleaning and be responsible for having them ruin a coin. Especially a first coin! Happy New Year

 

[Fletch88]

Congrats. I was lucky I found my first the 3rd time I went detecting. Haven't found one since.

 

[Ahab8]

Btw it will get very dry looking and you can use a small dab of Vaseline to make it a little better looking.