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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[Joe88]

Very nice LC.....
I would not use warm HP to clean it. I have done that in the past and it gave the coin a dried-out look. Start with a little bit of Vaseline and a Q-tip to clean the dirt.
Continue to change the Q-tips until very little dirt is taken off. I think this is the most gentle way to clean this type of coin. Another way is to use mineral or olive oil.
Olive oil is more stronger because of the acids, and mineral is more gentle. When done, remove as much of the oil as possible with a soft clean cotton cloth.
Good Luck and congrats.

Joe

 

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[terpfan]

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!

Certainly its a 13 star FreebirdTim, and not a 15 star. The position of the bust is different in relation to the date. Take a look at the 15 star (N-16) below. You do not even need to count out the stars.

 

[MickeyMaguire]

I know some old-timers that swear by soaking coppers in olive oil and gently brushing away the dirt. The olive oil is supposed to soak through the dirt and gently lift it off the surface of the coin. There is no harsh chemical in that solution.

 

[WilliamH]

Beautiful coin. I personally like using olive oil. Keeps a good patina and cleans at the same time. HH. WH

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Terpfan, Thanks for that info! I didn't know it was that easy to tell the difference between the two.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Joe88, cleaning it with vaseline seems to be the safest method. I can try a small area on the back and see if I like the results. Right now, it looks dry and dirty. I just want to bring out a little more detail on the coin and reduce the "dried out" look it's taken on since I dug it. Thanks for your input!

 

[FreeBirdTim]

WilliamH, Thanks! I will consider using olive oil if my attempt with vaseline doesn't improve the coin.