OMG LARGE CENT matron head.. 1820 / 1826? how do i get dirt off?

[Rare_Hunter]

Wow I am on fire! My first coin found beyond modern coins.
It’s either an 1820, 1826, or 1828 large cent! I don’t want to hurt it.
all I did so far was ran a stream of distilled water over it as I lightly brushed with a soft toothbrush..
It’s caked what would be the best approach here without killing any value?

 

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[BuckleBoy]

Preserve it in the way that pleases you, peroxide is risky.

Lucky

I agree with the first part, but the second suggestion you offer is completely contrary to the standard accepted by the experienced people of this forum.

It seems that if the coin is salvageable, that peroxide will be the most effective in doing so.

What would you recommend as an alternative , Sir? Apples and clams?

Clams.

 

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[crazyjarhead]

Nice finds on the 1826. Be carefull with it as you have only one try

 

[teak]

Soak in Olive Oil

 

[Mona Lisa]

Soak in Olive Oil

DO NOT USE OLIVE OIL! It seeps into the coin...then seeps out of the coin for years to come.

First of all, congratulations on your first large cent. All the way in wisconsin. Awesome.

Listen to Don in SJ on this.

I use his method only I use a candle warmer....the kind that heats a glass candle....they cost around $5. I fill a little glass dish with peroxide. Throw the coin in and watch it bubble...then remove the gunk with a toothbrush, Q-tips, and sometimes toothpicks.

Your coin will be fine.

 

[Mona Lisa]

Nice finds on the 1826. Be carefull with it as you have only one try

A large cent is pretty sturdy. Not like the 2-centers or indianheads. I always hesitate to clean those, because they fall apart.

Don't worry about cleaning it with peroxide. You can stop whenever you want. It's a long process. It won't eat your coin away in seconds. Nuttin' to worry about.

 

[teak]

Soak in Olive Oil

DO NOT USE OLIVE OIL! It seeps into the coin...then seeps out of the coin for years to come.

First of all, congratulations on your first large cent. All the way in wisconsin. Awesome.

Listen to Don in SJ on this.

I use his method only I use a candle warmer....the kind that heats a glass candle....they cost around $5. I fill a little glass dish with peroxide. Throw the coin in and watch it bubble...then remove the gunk with a toothbrush, Q-tips, and sometimes toothpicks.

Your coin will be fine.

Check this LC out that was cleaned with peroxide. I actually saw the coin in person and it was ruined by the peroxide, he then tried the other methods he talks about in his post. (the LC on the right in the photo)

The olive oil really brings out the detail.

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,226412.0.html

 

[BuckleBoy]

Check this LC out that was cleaned with peroxide. I actually saw the coin in person and it was ruined by the peroxide, he then tried the other methods he talks about in his post. (the LC on the right in the photo)

The olive oil really brings out the detail.

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,226412.0.html

He doesn't state anywhere in the post that the peroxide ruined the coin. What he says is this:

Well, if you want a photo, here it is. I have used peroxide, Naval Jelly, and electrolysis on this coin, and I have tumbled it as well.

I'm sorry, but ANY coin that has undergone peroxide, acid, electrolysis, and tumbling will look Awful. Folks should use only one cleaning method at a time, and see which results are best.

Just use caution with your peroxide method, and if the patina starts to flake off, then stop.


Best Wishes,



Buckles

 

[Digger82]

I use wd-40 for cleaning dirty old coins and i think it is good stuff for lifting dirt off from coins surface and
wd-40 doesnt appear to hurt the coins details at all.

 

[Mona Lisa]

Soak in Olive Oil

DO NOT USE OLIVE OIL! It seeps into the coin...then seeps out of the coin for years to come.

First of all, congratulations on your first large cent. All the way in wisconsin. Awesome.

Listen to Don in SJ on this.

I use his method only I use a candle warmer....the kind that heats a glass candle....they cost around $5. I fill a little glass dish with peroxide. Throw the coin in and watch it bubble...then remove the gunk with a toothbrush, Q-tips, and sometimes toothpicks.

Your coin will be fine.

Check this LC out that was cleaned with peroxide. I actually saw the coin in person and it was ruined by the peroxide, he then tried the other methods he talks about in his post. (the LC on the right in the photo)

The olive oil really brings out the detail.

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,226412.0.html

The olive oil brings out the detail because it's shiny. It shows all the nooks and crannies. Just plain water bring out the details, too..because it's shiny.

When you clean your coin with peroxide, it will not be all nice and shiny. The new coin shine on Rare_Hunter's coin is long gone.

Some of us use Blue Ribbon Coin Conditioner after cleaning. It does add back a little bit of the shine without making it all oily...like olive oil.


I want to congratule you, again, Rare_Hunter on your large cent. Sorry about the coin cleaning discussion that took over your thread.

 

[allen]

congrats on that great looking coin !!!

 

[Rare_Hunter]

Thank you everyone for the replies, congrats, and suggestions...

First, I poured distilled water over it and was hitting it with a toothbrush...
Then peroxide bath warmed up in the microwave...
Scrubbed more with brush, over & over...
Then left overnight with little change...

Here is what I have. Am I now screwed or is there hope?
Thanks...

maybe ill try the peroxide again with a canlde underneath.

 

[teak]

Check this LC out that was cleaned with peroxide. I actually saw the coin in person and it was ruined by the peroxide, he then tried the other methods he talks about in his post. (the LC on the right in the photo)

The olive oil really brings out the detail.

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,226412.0.html

He doesn't state anywhere in the post that the peroxide ruined the coin. What he says is this:

Well, if you want a photo, here it is. I have used peroxide, Naval Jelly, and electrolysis on this coin, and I have tumbled it as well.

"He doesn't state anywhere in the post that the peroxide ruined the coin. "

I saw the coin, we belong in the same club, he had only used peroxide at that point. and it was pretty nasty looking for sure.

 

[nova]

Leave it alone your done. The coin was hammered to begin with. I feel you made it worse. Sorry to be so blunt
but that's my personal opinion. The coin has been buried more than 100 years. You have done all you can do.

 

[teak]

peroxide did that??

 

[Rare_Hunter]

peroxide did that??

Went to a coin guy in town here.. he looked at it for 2 seconds and said there is nothing i could have done or you.. its acid eteched from the elements.
so if the coin was bad it was bad.. cleaning it didnt make it bad.

 

[OPUS1]

Great find no matter how you look at it

 

[BuckleBoy]

I would avoid the toothbrush when cleaning a copper coin--it can remove detail. Peroxide by itself, or distilled water soak then rolling a Q-tip across the surface just enough to read the detail, if the patina is fragile.

Nice find. Yes, coppers are what they are. I have many LC's that are much, Much worse than that one looks.



Best Wishes,


Buckles

 

[nc-joe]

I would avoid the toothbrush when cleaning a copper coin--it can remove detail. Peroxide by itself, or distilled water soak then rolling a Q-tip across the surface just enough to read the detail, if the patina is fragile.

Nice find. Yes, coppers are what they are. I have many LC's that are much, Much worse than that one looks.



Best Wishes,


Buckles

Amen Buckles.

Water and Q-tip, maybe Peroxide IF the coin has little to no value. Peroxide will loosen up the crud, but also the weak details, and the toothbrush, never. It takes everything away!.

 

[texjim]

I was told that tap water on old copper isn't good for it because the chlorine turns it red you should use rain water or from a creek/spring. Has anyone else heard of this?