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 Replies: 17 / Views: 1,215 |
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Moderator
 United States
189340 Posts |
Good luck!   |
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Pillar of the Community
  United States
6556 Posts |
Zero change after 2:15 in the acetone. Safe to say that acetone is not going to help here.
This is a braided hair cent, right?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
25478 Posts |
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This is a braided hair cent, right? Yes, it seems to be 183X. Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6556 Posts |
I had guessed 185x. To my understanding (which could very well be wrong), the braided hair cent started in 1839. But the 1839 coins had much smaller lettering on the reverse. The chunky letters seem more like 1850s decade letters.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3663 Posts |
Be very careful. This could be a copper-mercury amalgam layer. If so, it is toxic. That was done to form cheap jewelry that looked like imitation silver at one time.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6556 Posts |
Yikes. Thanks for the warning!
Edit: yep, I'm watching some videos and reading some articles now. I think that's exactly what this is. Glad I didn't try to rub that shine off with my fingers! I am going to take the coin out of the isopropyl alcohol it is soaking in. Then evaporate the liquid outside and seal the coin in a flip. Probably both will need to be disposed of correctly.
Edited by Brandmeister
09/15/2025 6:06 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
25478 Posts |
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Probably both will need to be disposed of correctly. Give paint stripper a shot first. And I don't think that you need to worry about the mercury volatizing from the coin. Just seal it in an air-tite. Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
74770 Posts |
Interesting purchase, Brandmeister. Hopefully you can somehow manage to get the stuff off of it. I love Braided Hair Cents. Errers and Varietys.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6556 Posts |
Hondo, I was more concerned about forming some kind of film on the surface that might be touched to skin.
After working in the semiconductor industry, I have developed a great caution around all hazardous materials (congratulations, mandatory annual MSDS and Hazmat training!). Many dangerous elements and chemicals are relatively inert unless you pair them with a delivery mechanism. Lacking any experience with mercury, I didn't really know what soaking a possible copper-mercury amalgam in alcohol might produce.
Maybe I will let the coin sit for a while, and figure out if there is some safe way to test the surface for mercury.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6556 Posts |
After some more research, it appears that a handheld XRF machine can detect mercury. So maybe a coin shop or precious metals dealer in this area can help me to determine what is on the coin.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10596 Posts |
If it was plated with mercury amalgams there is no need to worry.
Amalgamation involves binding the metal to another metal. It's not floating around there to get into your system.
Edited by Marv65
09/15/2025 8:42 pm
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Moderator
United States
34428 Posts |
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This could be a copper-mercury amalgam layer. If so, it is toxic. That was done to form cheap jewelry that looked like imitation silver at one time. That was my first thought too, although with the cause being dipping a copper coin in liquid mercury as a high school science experiment. It's interesting that the coin has seen some wear since this surface change was made, but after someone was angry with the date. "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6556 Posts |
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If it was plated with mercury amalgams there is no need to worry. Amalgamation involves binding the metal to another metal. It's not floating around there to get into your system. That's a fair point, although I am currently in the process of attacking this alterered surface with chemicals in the hopes of revealing the copper underneath. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10596 Posts |
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although I am currently in the process of attacking this alterered surface with chemicals in the hopes of revealing the copper underneath. Hopefully it's just paint and lacquer thinner can remove it. If it is mercury, then like is stated, it is bonded to the metal, aka: plated. |
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Moderator
United States
189340 Posts |
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And I don't think that you need to worry about the mercury volatizing from the coin. Just seal it in an air-tite. |
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Posted 09/15/2025 2:21 pm
