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 Replies: 32 / Views: 5,769 |
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Valued Member
United States
54 Posts |
The first one I would leave as is. It looks pretty good. The second one was too far gone to worry about it having any value. Cleaning it could only make it better.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
968 Posts |
That's pretty nice for a dug coin. My dug Buffalos and the one V I've found were in such rough shape I didn't have to worry about cleaning hurting it. I wonder if a short vinegar dip (a few hours) might give you the best balance of removing some of that discoloration without affecting the grade of the coin. I see a couple people are giving the "don't clean" advice as a blanket statement about coins. While it is debatable if this particular coin should be cleaned, I find it very misleading to say NEVER clean a coin. To me that is advice for a new numismatist to keep them from running off half cocked and ruining their collection. I'd say very, very few coins should be cleaned, and most of those shouldn't get anything worse done to it than an acetone rinse or a dip in olive oil. There is a big exception to the cleaning rules though. Dug coins (primarily from metal detecting). These coins have been sitting in the ground for 50, 100, 200 years or more. In Europe they still find 2000 year old coins! When exposed to moist soil (which has many dissolved salts and minerals) for years and years nasty things happen to metal. Some coins are unrecognizable due to the covering of corrosion developed over the years. A good and proper cleaning can restore value to them. Check out this website to see some good examples. http://metaldetectingworld.com/clea...n_coin.shtml |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
11951 Posts |
Very interesting website Saruma. I will have to take the time and try to read though it. I have messed up quite a few dug large cents in my early attempts at cleaning coins. I also have a early Half Cent and Two Cent coin that I have soaking in olive oil for last couple years .. maybe I can try something new |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
870 Posts |
Cool - so noted! Thanks, Saruma! Based on what you're saying (and a hunch) I'll leave my crown alone. ; )
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
Is it any better? I did the vinegar. Then carried in my pocket, off and on for over a month. before:  After:  Reverse Before:  Reverse After :  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4000 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2120 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1388 Posts |
NICE!! I have a 1901 with the same problem... I had no idea vinegar could do that...
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Valued Member
United States
420 Posts |
it looks a lot better !
how long did you leave it in the vinegar?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
It was in for about a week. I changed the vinegar every other day.
You really have to keep checking the coin, I think it could get bad, if left in to long.
This is not really something I would recommend someone doing, I have only been doing it to coins like this that I found metal detecting. Ones that have little or no value, but look better if cleaned up a little bit.
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Moderator
 United States
189340 Posts |
I have to say that I am impressed with the improvement.  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
4849 Posts |
That definitely looks better! The surfaces look much less porous too. Looking at the coin in hand, did it seem to reduce the porosity? Congrats!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
I would say, that is does not look as porous as some I have seen. I do think there are only a certain condition nickels this process helps. I have tried it on a few Buffalo nickel and did not really like how they came out. I think the rim ding and the damage to the nick (of Liberty) is what really hold this coin back, as far as value. This one and the 1908 I cleaned have really changed my mind about Liberty head nickels. Today I went through a box at my local coin store. He let me have my pick for .80 cents each. I was very surprised that a few of them are in pretty good shape. I did not have my reading glasses but once I got them home, there were are few that could go fine one maybe very fine. I saw two 1912's that had mint marks, but once I got them home they were both D's. One a 1902 good shape but has a hint of PVC damage. Going to try acetone first, them maybe a very short time in the vinegar. I will have to check out the nickel boxes more often. I think it is nice to get all the nickels from 1898 to 1912 plus the two 12 D's for $15.00. All because I was looking for some nickels that might be good to clean/restore. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
870 Posts |
hey - quick question about "circulating" a less than pretty coin in one's pocket - do you carry it just in the pocket by itself or alongside a leather wallet or with other change? I'd presumed you'd keep it from other change to keep from getting dings...
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
delaner,
Maybe others have more input on this. I did it on this coin at the suggestion of other.
Most of the time I carried this coin in my watch pocket, problem I had with that is I carry my pocket watch. Sometimes I did have it in the main pocket with other coins and keys. And I do think it did get a new ding. I also lost it twice, well misplaced, but found it within a day or two.
The wear from having it in my pocket for a month did cause more wear. If I hold the coin at a angle I can see a couple of flat spots that are more "shiny" but that does not show looking straight on.
I think a few weeks on the dash of my car will tone that back out.
Where some people put coins on a window sill, I put them in a wet manila envelope on the dash of my car.
I have has success getting a toned look with this method.
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Replies: 32 / Views: 5,769 |
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Posted 05/06/2010 11:19 pm
