Old copper coins & modern silver

Thekingd93

Jr. Member
May 7, 2022
31
259
Gardiner Maine
Detector(s) used
Equinox 800, Fisher F44
Found a 1852 Liberty large cent, 1967 half dollar (40% silver) and what I think is a mid 1700s King George III half penny. Any help identifying the it would be helpful. I thought about putting it in a rock tumbler with a very light abrasive media. I've done this with old buttons and buffalo nickles that are pretty far gone then it gently reveals detail that could not be seen before. Maybe that's a bad idea with a coin that old but drives me crazy that I can't see the date.
 

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Upvote 19
Very nice coins. That looks like an early issue King George III Hibernia, though I cannot tell if it is an official issue or a contemporary counterfeit. Someone on this site should be able to help identify. Congrats on the finds!
 

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Great finds !

I don't know about using a Tumbler - could cause more bad than good.
I use "Andre's Pencils" to clean old Large Cents all the time with very good results.
Or you can soak the coins in Olive Oil and use a wooden Tooth Pick and most of the crud will fall off.

Good Luck !
 

Nice finds, I like to tumble in sand for items I dig that I want to see detail on. Not sure If I would do it to something with of great value, but never have had that problem. I like my dug coins to look nice if possible

One of my best finds is 1852 Canada Bank token that I tumbled in sand and I think came out good.
 

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That's a nice h'penny! It has more detail than many I have found. I agree with E-Trac that hand work, perhaps with the help of olive oil, will bring out more detail. I can see the 7 in the date and I expect the other digits will become readable with a little work.
 

Found a 1852 Liberty large cent, 1967 half dollar (40% silver) and what I think is a mid 1700s King George III half penny. Any help identifying the it would be helpful. I thought about putting it in a rock tumbler with a very light abrasive media. I've done this with old buttons and buffalo nickles that are pretty far gone then it gently reveals detail that could not be seen before. Maybe that's a bad idea with a coin that old but drives me crazy that I can't see the date.
Nice hunt getting the half and the old coppers.
There are many ways of cleaning up a coin and as time passes and from digging hundreds of large cent/Tokens/Half Pennies I have tried a few different things except tumbling.

HP works, but it can leave it dark and burnt looking. Olive oil will be there till the cows come home, as any oil will. Conservative waxes-mixed results, dry brushing, soap and water.

I watched this video a while back and a lot of it made pretty good sense.
Though it really doesn't matter what one person thinks as it's your copper, and you can do what ever to it.
 

Found a 1852 Liberty large cent, 1967 half dollar (40% silver) and what I think is a mid 1700s King George III half penny. Any help identifying the it would be helpful. I thought about putting it in a rock tumbler with a very light abrasive media. I've done this with old buttons and buffalo nickles that are pretty far gone then it gently reveals detail that could not be seen before. Maybe that's a bad idea with a coin that old but drives me crazy that I can't see the date.
Very Cool!!! Congrats!!!
 

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