over 200 year old large us cent?

[w0otiez]

Well, while detecting along my local canal trail. I came across this "coin" object. I was very excited at first, but then soon realized after rubbing most of the dirt off... nothing could be seen. After arriving at home, my dad took a look and told me it was some fuse box interuppter.. I shrugged it off and put it back in my bag. Thankfully I didn't toss it.. a few days later I decided to wipe some more of the surface dirt off and low and behold I began to see markings.. its very faint and you probably wont be able to see it in the picture. But I have managed to make out some words "Liberty", "America" and a little bit of the head shape. Also the first thing that appeared to me was these branch type leaves. Anyone know if it would be "cleanable" or is it just too far gone. . I know its made out of copper.. because a few areas are a little scratched down to the copper. From what little I had to go on, I make it out to maybe be a 1798 US large cent?

 

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[bigfoot1]

on the first pic I can barely make out the liberty bust,I think........as far as cleaning I think you have little to lose to try.Sometimes a lemon juice soak can help on copper.then wipe with olive oil might bring a little more out.

 

[w0otiez]

Thanks, I'll try that.. so vigorously cleaning something this eroded wont ruin its value..? because it doesn't have much value anyway? could it be possible that there is nothing left to see on this coin?.. meaning that most of whatever was on there is just gone all together?.. sorry Im pretty new to this. I noticed that I can see things on it clearer when its wet though.

 

[cudamark]

I wouldn't do any vigorous cleaning at this point. Start with gentile cleaning and go from there. Check out the area on Tnet that deals with cleaning and preserving to get more ideas.

 

[charlives]

Gosh, the shape of the bust in the first pic looks just like a KG2.....but not if you could read those words. Good luck with it, nice find!