Penny? ID a copper coin covered in mystery crud

[Bev]

Here is a coin that I've been working on for a few days. It's copper and could be a penny but it's been in hot peroxide, soaked in oil, toothbrushed, q-tipped, toothpicked and the crud is just not coming off. I think a deer ate it and it went through the motions if you know what I mean. I've photographed it in comparison to a nickel and penny and one shot has it sitting on the penny. It's slightly larger but I think it may be because of the crud. I can't weigh it though, sorry.
I'd love ideas on how to remove the crud and test it on this coin for future mystery finds.

 

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[Bev]

And the winner is....Abe. DARN~ Memorial...however, I wont lose sight of my original goal which was finding ways to clean a coin that looks like a total loss! I did learn don't use anything harder or sharper than a tooth pick and the jewelry cleaner worked great!
Here's my question. Is there any coin you would NOT use the jewelry cleaner on? Just so somebody doesnt read this and ruin a great coin!

 

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[Bev]

Watch this Bev. The indian that I found yesterday looked close to (but not quite) as bad as yours.

A little peroxide, an toothpick and a tooth brush and now it looks nice and pretty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEwal-xjQ8g

I laughed out loud! Some squirrel was drinking beer and having some peanuts? I found a gear just like the one you found the other day! Teeth on just one part of the edge, it was thought to be a piece off machinery or the gear to a handheld egg beater! Nice nice finds! Love the woods!

 

[jeff of pa]

LOL Never Thought Memorial
By what was peaking through

 

[SeaninNH]

LOL Never Thought Memorial
By what was peaking through

This.

I would have bet money that was an indian.

 

[Bev]

Since you already tried most methods, the only thing left to do that will work is electrolysis.

There are numerous posts on the cleaning and preservation forum, but for coins, keep it simple and it should not take too long either on one coin. When we first started doing electrolysis on beach found silver, we used just salt dissolved in hot water in a beaker and used a dry cell battery and a only stainless steel spoon.
Nowadays everybody seems to have an old battery charger from a phone or other device, but if you are uncomfortable with using that then buy a dry cell battery......

The only thing I could make out from the photos was a possible D on the back side, do not see signs of an Indian, but sure could be a fatty, or even a foreign coin. My first thought was a modern zinc penny heavily corroded, but the thickness looks somewhat legit. Hope it cleans up enough to ID, think we all are curious.
Don

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,407784.0.html

http://gometaldetecting.com/electrolysis_cleaning.htm


OK see you posted a new photo at the same time I posted this reply, sure looks like that crud will peel off just from more of whatever you just did.........

Those links are really good, thank you. Are there any links where they show people doing something larger like an axe head or something? Does the container have to be glass? Some fish tanks seem to have metal edging on them, are those no good? Good to know how not to turn some stuff pink!

 

[Don in SJ]

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,64349.0.html


Here is a post I did on iron trivets, worked OK for me and not too elaborate. I believe my comment on the red lead is incorrect I did have it set up correctly.

Don

 

[Bev]

I'm going to check out your link, Don and I found "Geoff's Science Garage - Electrolytic Rust Removal" on YouTube...

 

[Don in SJ]

I'm going to check out your link, Don and I found "Geoff's Science Garage - Electrolytic Rust Removal" on YouTube...

Yes there are many methods and procedures on the web, here is the Folger plastic coffee container setup that is good for smaller objects but again explains what to do.

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,10898.0.html.


Here is a link of a colonial axe that I did with the procedure in my iron trivet post, a stonger source would have been nicer but I do not have a car battery charger, so used another cell phone charger, but the plastic flower pot bin works great. The Crisco part which involved using a toaster oven, which now the wife says is my oven and not hers did bake the iron objects to "well done"..........

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,395599.0.html
Don

 

[Nirros]

ahhh....well its a perfect test coin to learn electrolysis. The only thing you will have to remember is to use oure stainless or you will end up with copper sulfate....which by the way you can use to make quarters dimes and nickels into copper plated coins. Its a fun project that I do from time to time just for kicks.

 

[Bev]

"remember is to use oure stainless"

Whats this?

 

[Nirros]

sorry....pure stainless....my meds were kicking in.

 

[Bev]

Didnt your mom teach you to share?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Electrolysis is great for ferrous metals but not the best choice for copper. http://antique-engines.com/electrol.aspMaybe the hot peroxide bath and/or jewelry cleaner. Dont use stainless for electrolysis it creates a hazardous waste..

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

To be safe, dont use stainless for electrolysis no matter how tempting it may be. http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,228533.0.html

http://antique-engines.com/stainless-steel-electrodes.htm

Always do electrolysis outside.

 

[Bev]

To be safe, dont use stainless for electrolysis no matter how tempting it may be. http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,228533.0.html

http://antique-engines.com/stainless-steel-electrodes.htm

Always do electrolysis outside.

My husband says he has a spray at work called "Rust Converter" that takes a few hours but does the same thing. Have any of you had any experience with this?

 

[Nirros]

I stand to be corrected. Do not use stainless.....I swear I didnt do that.......my bad but I did do it outside. As for sharing .....I was taught to share but not if I will get in trouble or worse yet you!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I used to use stainess all the time until I read that link. I remember my water turning nasty yellow. But yes, I always did it outdoors and I hope I havent done any damage. Then again I used to play with mercury as a kid.

 

[Stegner]

some new copper crud to talk about

I have posted this question elsewhere but have gotten no response. The members on this thread seem to be opinionated about copper and crud. Lets see if you can help me....

I found this thimble which, after some cleaning was determined to be copper. Other than a couple areas of unidentifiable crud, this is looking really nice. I was hoping to present it back to the property owner, so getting it to look as good as possible is my goal. You can see the very hard crud on the top - cannot move it with a toothpick - its soaked in peroxide, then separately in lemon juice. Any ideas on what to do to get that crusty mess off? I was thinking about using my Dremel buffer wheel, but wanted to get some other opinions before I end up botching this up. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

You might try soaking it in tabasco sauce to get the crud off of copper. It actually works pretty quickly.... Yeah we put hot sauce on everything around here.....