Huge copper coin - Solved! King George IV Penny!!!

[Narthoniel]

Hello,

I dug a coin today and I am hoping to gain some idea of what it might be before I start cleaning. I am sure that whatever it is peroxide will be alright, but, I want to be sure I am not potentially damaging a valuable coin.

The coin is copper, the rim appears worn, and it measures 33 mm in diameter. This site has given up coins from 1781 to 1853 so far and is located in southeast Virginia. When I dug this, I was shocked by how large it is. I would take a photo, but it is so caked with dirt it would not help. Literally 1-3 mm of dirt crust across both sides.

If you have any suggestions or ideas as to what this coin could be, please post. As I said, I more or less want to know I am not messing with a valuable coin. I realize it is not likely, but hey, better safe than sorry.

Thank you,
Anthony

 

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[Montana Jim]

Re: Huge copper coin - Any ideas?

I reserve comments for the post picture post.

 

[RickyP]

Re: Huge copper coin - Any ideas?

I'd be scared to use peroxide until I found out what it is. if it turns out to be bronze and not copper, it could eat it up.

 

[Narthoniel]

Re: Huge copper coin - Any ideas?

I reserve comments for the post picture post.

You mean post cleaned, or pre cleaned? If pre cleaned - picture a huge disc that is greenish brownish with climps of dirt hanging.

I'd be scared to use peroxide until I found out what it is. if it turns out to be bronze and not copper, it could eat it up.

I had not considered that. The conductive number on my Etrac was 46, large cents are 47. Copper pennies read at 44. Not sure where bronze would read at, so I am assuming copper based on the conductive signal.

 

[PBK]

Re: Huge copper coin - Any ideas?

Maybe a George III "cartwheel" penny?

http://www.bmagic.org.uk/objects/1969N780

 

[Narthoniel]

Re: Huge copper coin - Any ideas?

Maybe a George III "cartwheel" penny?

http://www.bmagic.org.uk/objects/1969N780

Wow, if the coin listed is 3 mm bigger than the one I have, it must be even more huge!

Thank you for the info. I am glad to know there are coins out there that could match my find. Sometimes the hunt for knowledge after the hunt is the most fun .

 

[Iron Patch]

Re: Huge copper coin - Any ideas?

Well you have to make a move at some point. It's pretty simple, either you get a bit of dirt off and see some detail and post it as is. If you can't see anything then you're going to have to clean it. The chances you have both a rare and valuable coin and the peroxide making it worse are about 14,000 -1.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: Huge copper coin - Any ideas?

If you'd like to do things in the most cautious way possible, then wet a Q-tip and roll it over the surface until you start to see enough details to ID the coin.

Then post a photo.



-Buck

 

[romeo-1]

Re: Huge copper coin - Any ideas?

Dry brush it with a toothbrush to remove the crud...then post a pic!

 

[Narthoniel]

Re: Huge copper coin - Any ideas? - pic added

Just added a photo. If you want one closer up, I can take one tonight. The bottom side photographed appears to have a lot of dirt remaining. I have very carefully been trying to remove some with a toothpick, but it is a slow going process as I am in no rush. The picture was stolen from a shot of several coins that Ill include here. The photo shows 3 large cents, a v nickle, and this mystery coin.

 

[Iron Patch]

Re: Huge copper coin - Any ideas? - pic added

Don't think you have anything to lose trying peroxide.

 

[CRUSADER]

Re: Huge copper coin - Any ideas? - pic added

blanks a blank

 

[Narthoniel]

Re: Huge copper coin - Any ideas? - pic added

Don't think you have anything to lose trying peroxide.

I don't know if it is me, the coppers I find, or the peroxide I use, but they always come out looking like trash. Those 3 Large cents in the photo were peroxided, and they look awful to me. I am a little hesitant to do it to another copper.
Anthony

 

[Iron Patch]

Re: Huge copper coin - Any ideas? - pic added

Don't think you have anything to lose trying peroxide.

I don't know if it is me, the coppers I find, or the peroxide I use, but they always come out looking like trash. Those 3 Large cents in the photo were peroxided, and they look awful to me. I am a little hesitant to do it to another copper.
Anthony

It's your ground. Keep digging and some better ones will come.

 

[RELICDUDE07]

Re: Huge copper coin - Any ideas? - pic added

You should cook that thing,no pain no gain

 

[BioProfessor]

Re: Huge copper coin - Any ideas? - pic added

A little time in Olive oil might help loosen the crud. Let it soak an hour or two and use a wooden toothpick to see if it will move the crud and suspend it in the oil. If so do that until you think you've gotten all the loose stuff suspended and then wash gently(soft toothbrush) with soap and water, rinse well, and pat dry. Do not put it back in the oil until it is dry. Repeat until no more crud comes off. If it is not showing detail then, your choices are to leave it in the oil for a day or so and see if that removes more or go to a more aggressive cleaner like the Krud Kutter Rust Remover I use. With that, I spray it on. move it around with a toothpick, and wash off. The whole process takes 10-15 seconds. I then examine it carefully with a loupe to see if there is more harm than good and make a decision as whether or not to do the cycle again. On some coins, I can keep repeating the cycle and all the crud will come off and the coin/button/object surface is not harmed. Patina is shot but that's it.

As large as this object is, my vote is for a token of some sort.

Daryl

 

[weaver]

Re: Huge copper coin - Any ideas? - pic added

if it's larger and thicker then a large cent....may think french 2 sols ? i found one several years ago and thought it was a copper slug and my buddy deno saw a head on the thing. turned out to be a 1792 french 2-sols ......hope might help....

 

[Narthoniel]

Re: Huge copper coin - Any ideas? - pic added

if it's larger and thicker then a large cent....may think french 2 sols ? i found one several years ago and thought it was a copper slug and my buddy deno saw a head on the thing. turned out to be a 1792 french 2-sols ......hope might help....

Thank you for the lead, this is definatly a possability. From what I can gather, these coins did appear around the time you listed, and were about the size of the coin I found. Now that I have an idea of what it could be, I can study it for similarities. Thank you.
Anthony

 

[Narthoniel]

Re: Huge copper coin - Any ideas? - I SEE A HEAD!!

I was gently toothpicking at loose dirt when I noticed a reeded edge and a few letters. I held the coin back, and I finally saw the head! I have 2 photos, one as is, and one outlining what detail I can make out. I may not be 100% accurate on the head, as it is very faint above the neck. I am hoping one of you will recignize this coin given the detail that has shown itself.
Thank you for any help,
Anthony

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: Huge copper coin - Any ideas? - I SEE A HEAD!!

Bust is facing the correct way for a George II, and the letters are correct...but the cut of the neck line looks wrong.