Found an 1817 Large Cent Today! Should I Clean it?

[FreeBirdTim]

Found an 1817 Large Cent this morning! Beat my oldest coin by 86 years! It was only five inches down. It was a crisp 34 degrees and the ground was muddy from a recent storm that gave us two inches of rain. I felt like an idiot digging in this weather, but I guess it was a smart decision after all!

Now the important question. Do you guys think cleaning it in warm hydrogen peroxide will improve the look of the coin or should I just leave it alone? Please give me your opinions on what I should do. Thanks!

 

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[G.A.P.metal]

Yes the warm peroxide will help remove some of the dirt ...check it often ! nice looking coin great find
Gary

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[Msbeepbeep]

Nice LC! Glad you can read the date. Can't read the date on mine. You were out having fun! Who cares what people think! You don't need their permission to have fun. Congrats on getting out, I couldn't.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Gary, thanks! I think I'll try it later tonight and keep a very close eye on it.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Casper-2, thanks!

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Msbeepbeep, thanks! You are 100% correct. I was having fun, so that's all that really matters. Metal detecting in the cold is much better than being at the mall and getting pushed around by the crazy shoppers!

 

[lil_eric30]

Yup I agree with the warm peroxide method! Should come out looking great! Please post picture when u get it cleaned!

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Lil eric30, Okay, that's two posters who agree to clean it, so I'll give it a shot later this evening. I'll post the pics, good or bad. Thanks for the input!

 

[jewelerguy]

looks great to me just the way it is

 

[testing123]

Warm hp for me seems to make the coins look dry. Be careful as the edges look to be flaking on your coin. Nice find!

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Yes, the edges are flaking. Should I still try to clean it? How about rubbing it with vaseline? Would that be a better way to go? More opinions are needed ASAP!

 

[Argentium]

Nice Find ! I don't think I'd clean it - with the coin in that condition , I really don't think you'll improve the look .

 

[Old Dude]

What have you done to it to get it to the point in the pic so far? Running warm water over it and using a soft bristle toothbrush may be the way to go if you haven't gone that far yet. Congrats to you. I have 4 or 5 old coppers that I just can't get a complete date from.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Old Dude, Thanks! The only thing I've done so far is exactly what you said to do. I ran it under warm water and used a soft bristled toothbrush. I only scrubbed the center and avoided the edges, since I could see that they were flaking a bit. I guess I should just leave it alone for now.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Argentium, Thanks! I will leave it alone for tonight. I think i'll buy some hydrogen peroxide and experiment with some of my grungy wheat and memorial cents that are flaking as well. That should help me to decide if cleaning it will improve the coin or not.

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

As you gain experience in metal detecting. You will learn how to know when to clean and when not to. Judging from the comments you already show a great deal of insight to that. I don't put my coppers/nickels under a different source of water other than from the water they came in contact with before I found them. They tend to change funny colors when you do that... I let the coins dry and i use a soft bristle brush and gently brush away the dry dirt. If this won't work on some of the stubborn dirt, I may try a peroxide bath or distilled water. I'd avoid rubbing things on the coins, it can be appealing to some but not everyone. If done incorrect it will also decrease the value. Like I said as you go you'll get a better idea what to do and what not to do. Great coin, by the way !!

Keep @ it and HH !!

 

[FreeBirdTim]

MUD (S.W.A.T), Thanks! I'm happy with it the way it is, but the main reason I want to clean it up is to get more detail. As it is now, I can't even tell if it's a 13 star LC or a 15 star!

I just don't want the date to disappear if I clean it with hydrogen peroxide. That's the only thing that's keeping me from cleaning it. The flaking on the edge probably means the top layer might come off if I clean it. Not sure how much detail will be gained (or lost) if the top layer is gone.

I will do nothing right now and go and look for another one tomorrow morning! Should be around 30 degrees when I go! I sure hope the ground there is still muddy and not frozen!

 

[CSA2K]

A coin dealer will say no.. period. I personally hate coin dealers but theres no harm in leaving it the way it is for a while. Dont start putting crap on it or soaking it in stuff cuz people tell u to and youre excited to do something. leave it the way it is til uve done thorough research.

 

[g-olden years]

BEAUTIFUL MELLOW COIN!

Best not to do anything to it now. Your coin is approaching it's 200 year birthday and may well have been underground most of that time. So give yourself a year or two of enjoying it as is, then make your decision. Once cleaned, you can't go backwards. No hurry needed! Andi