✅ SOLVED Hoping this is a large cent but…

[invent4hir]

All, this was found at a park between where a farmhouse once stood and a springhouse. The home and outbuildings were demolished to make way for a subdivision. The farmhouse was preceded by a log cabin built in 1801.

I’ve look at both sides multiple times under different lighting with and without magnification and see no letters, numbers or patterns. If this is a large cent, it is by far in the worst condition as I’ve ever found.

What I know is that it is 30mm in diameter and weighs between 10 & 11 grams. It has a flat edge and slight rim on both sides. The way it rang up on my White’s I thought it was copper. But when I got it home and noticed the rust color on small areas of the surface I tried to think if there were any old nails next to it that might explain that. Anyways, what do you think? Is it wishful thinking on my part to think it is a toasted large cent or will it remain a mystery?

 

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[ANTIQUARIAN]

It may just be my tired eyes playing tricks on me at 6:20am, but these look like letters to me?
As you mentioned, the iron stain in the back could be from a nail or maybe where a pin was attached.

Dave

 

[Frankyg]

From the diameter it could be a colonial British George 2nd or 3rd halfpenny

 

[invent4hir]

It may just be my tired eyes playing tricks on me at 6:20am, but these look like letters to me?
As you mentioned, the iron stain in the back could be from a nail or maybe where a pin was attached.

Dave

Dave, thanks for looking. There might be a letter in that area - or it might be just a pattern caused by the green stuff caking most of the possible coin. Since posting this thread I went over the coin(?) lightly with an Andre's pencil and swore I felt some letters near the rim. But again, when I looked at it, no go. As far as being a possible LG, I was basing that on its composition and physical characteristics. It could just be some sort of token. I may never know. Hope to go back to the site again today and detect 90 degrees to the pattern the other day.

 

[invent4hir]

From the diameter it could be a colonial British George 2nd or 3rd halfpenny

Frankyg, thanks I'll look into that. Never considered any other coin than a LG.

 

[Gene Mean]

When the sun is low am/pm take a look at it. You can try a flashlight from the side too but I have more luck with the natural light highlighting the high and low points.

 

[invent4hir]

When the sun is low am/pm take a look at it. You can try a flashlight from the side too but I have more luck with the natural light highlighting the high and low points.

Gene Mean, thanks that is good advice I tried that before posting & saw nothing - but will try again.

 

[cudamark]

Maybe try a pencil rubbing to get some detail, or slightly wet your finger with some olive oil and lightly wipe it across the high spots on the coin.

 

[invent4hir]

Maybe try a pencil rubbing to get some detail, or slightly wet your finger with some olive oil and lightly wipe it across the high spots on the coin.

cudamark, thanks for the cleaning tips. After detecting this afternoon, I resumed trying to clean the green crust off the surface. Making some progress - and think a few letters/numbers are beginning to appear along the rim. Time will tell.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Dave, thanks for looking. There might be a letter in that area - or it might be just a pattern caused by the green stuff caking most of the possible coin. Since posting this thread I went over the coin(?) lightly with an Andre's pencil and swore I felt some letters near the rim. But again, when I looked at it, no go. As far as being a possible LG, I was basing that on its composition and physical characteristics. It could just be some sort of token. I may never know. Hope to go back to the site again today and detect 90 degrees to the pattern the other day.

Isn't it always a heart-breaker when we dig what may very well be our oldest coin from the ground and it's either encrusted or worn smooth. This usually inspires me to go back, as you're going to do today to hopefully find a better example... because where there's one, there's usually more.

If I'm hunting a bad site and not making any finds, by the end of the hunt I'm usually saying, "please don't let me find anything good... I don't want to have to come back here"!

Best of luck to you sir,
Dave

 

[thursdaythunder]

I was in the same boat as you a couple months ago when I dug this slick copper. Nothing I tried(light cleaning) seemed to help with any identification.
Other than a micrometer measurement 28.27mm = LC ??


I figured since it was toast I'd give it a peroxide bath. This was my first time using this method.
Here's what popped after the fizz. But it only shows when the coin is wet ...



I think it was worth the trouble just to get the identification. 1796 - 1807 Draped Bust LC

GL & HH

 

[invent4hir]

Isn't it always a heart-breaker when we dig what may very well be our oldest coin from the ground and it's either encrusted or worn smooth. This usually inspires me to go back, as you're going to do today to hopefully find a better example... because where there's one, there's usually more.

If I'm hunting a bad site and not making any finds, by the end of the hunt I'm usually saying, "please don't let me find anything good... I don't want to have to come back here"!

Best of luck to you sir,
Dave

Dave, since the possible coin was encased in green crust I've been cleaning with some success. As of this A.M. I see "OF AMERIC" along the rim and the outline of some leaves to make me more sure this is a LC. I plan to keep cleaning the opposite side, in hopes of narrowing down the type. I doubt I'll ever see the date - but if I can see a few features of the head (i.e. which way is it pointing, that can help). In the end when I donate it to the historical society, I know that it probably passed through the original property owner's hands (lived there from 1801-1833) or his son (who owned the farm from 1833-1869).

I did return to the site yesterday to detect some more. Unfortunately no more coins were found. Only noteworthy find was either a utensil handle or part of a straight razor. Will post on TNet later today if I can't positively ID.

Take care!

 

[invent4hir]

I was in the same boat as you a couple months ago when I dug this slick copper. Nothing I tried(light cleaning) seemed to help with any identification.
Other than a micrometer measurement 28.27mm = LC ??
View attachment 1818699

I figured since it was toast I'd give it a peroxide bath. This was my first time using this method.
Here's what popped after the fizz. But it only shows when the coin is wet ...
View attachment 1818701
View attachment 1818703

I think it was worth the trouble just to get the identification. 1796 - 1807 Draped Bust LC

GL & HH

GL & HH, thanks for the tip and glad you were able to ID your LC. I have yet to try peroxide. Since the most stubborn green crust covers one area on both side of the coin, I might dip that area in peroxide and see what happens.

 

[desertexplorer]

You need to get a low light angle on the coin with either the sun or a good light source to bring out the detail.

 

[invent4hir]

You need to get a low light angle on the coin with either the sun or a good light source to bring out the detail.

desertexplorer, finally got a chance to do that. Unfortunately, it didn't bring any more details than what I see overhead. Seeing a faint small hair bun with a curl just above it and a hairline above that, tells me the face is pointing left. That rules out LG before 1808. Still looking - but need to give my eyes a break.

 

[desertexplorer]

I’m with thursdaythunder, the second to the last photo sure looks like the reverse side of the 1796-1807 Draped Bust cent... You can barely make out the wreath on the left side.

 

[thursdaythunder]

desertexplorer, that was my slick/ green(hard to tell from pic) coin I used as a similar example to OP. Just wanted to show the success I had w/ ID using that method.

 

[desertexplorer]

A great method Thursday, you were spot on!

 

[invent4hir]

All, here are the results after cleaning. As mentioned earlier, the reverse and physical characteristics point to this being a LC. On the obverse, the location of the hair bun and curl on the right indicates the head faces left. That narrows it down to LC minted from 1808 on. I'm going to keep looking at it - but I think too much detail is missing to narrow the type down farther.

 

[thursdaythunder]

Nice save! It's a great addition to any collection .. Congrats