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 Replies: 9 / Views: 12,467 |
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New Member
United States
4 Posts |
Finally got the photos cropped and on here. Ok, I have a collection of Indian Head cents, and tonight decide to lightly clean 2 of them which were in poor shape. This post is only regarding one coin, and all pics are of the same 1899...This coin seems to have a weak extra S or 5 (or one of these backwards) after 'cent'. I tried cleaning it off, but it is stamped on there, and has depth in one direction or another, very slightly. The clean was a quick shake in bottle with vinegar and salt. After a few seconds of that, ultrasonic (toothbrush soft)with 91% iso-OH, which doesn't seem to help so I might as well not use my toothbrush to clean crudded coins. I've been doing trial/error experimentation with cleaning lately; ketchup does work but only played around cleaning nickels and wheat cents; didn't want to with anything valuable. So here it is (I hope...) very much looking forward to educated opinion. Hope quality is good enough; had to lower it some but IMAGES NOT EDITED; size ratio tried to be maintained. a few cropped together.   UPDATE: I have it another diluted vinegar bath (>1%ace-H) with more ultrasonic brushing. The "5" or whatever it is looks about the same; however: ***Look below the N in cent... there is what appears to be a 9***. It's hard to see in these pics, i'll get better ones with request to if someone thinks it can help as to an idea  this is. Edited by Hoon
11/01/2011 10:45 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3345 Posts |
First off,  You probably know the number one rule for collectors is no cleaning. however that coin looks like an exception. Could be an old counter stamp that wasnt applied very hard and or wore down fast. Possibly a die clash. |
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New Member
 United States
4 Posts |
Thank you for reply; I'm not sure what a die clash is or if it is worth anything but now I have something to search. I'm going to post the "9" under the 'N' now on this post if I can. I don't follow the #1 rule always; I like to experiment with various multi-step cleaning with some of my less valuable, or valued-only-for-silver coins. Usually strong alcohol or gelatinized Et-OH hand sanitizer is preferred because it doesn't chemically alter. IHCents I consider old and special enough to leave alone and original but think I turned this one from PO-1 or AF-2 to G-6; the Ace-H diluted with salt water did quite well. So I shall ask for opinion on: Should I send this off to PCGS/NCG/ANACS? I'm not a member so may be a hassle; yet I do have a few others I'd like to have certified. Should I give it another mild acid-salt bath? Or some ultrasonic alcohol? Do you think this can fetch any significant value? (I won't be quick to sell but ouch am I broke right now)  Edited by Hoon
11/01/2011 11:00 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5833 Posts |
It looks like corrosion from environmental damages, or counter stamp from ages ago that worn off from circulation.
No premium in current condition, as doing more cleaning would only hurt the value further.
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New Member
United States
4 Posts |
Thank you for the input; I don't expect much money but convinced its not environmental... corrosion damage only turns into numbers and letters after hours of sleep-deprived searches in between long study sessions :)
I see what you mean from the pictures, wow that previous one came out bad. 100k isn't enough for a detailed photo with my small camera, but do certainly appreciate the image hosting; would have taken even more time to register for one of those places.
Keep the opinions/observations coming; I've been collecting 20 years but up until a few years ago the only error I knew was the 1955 double die, and the off-center worthless types. I browsed the lincoln resource center website and wow did that end up causing me hours of penny searching. Found some '72 milder types.
Anyways, going to try and get a better image, then post my strange reeded 20c piece.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2757 Posts |
Die clashes only fetch a premium in high grade examples on the Indians. I don't even think yours is a die clash though, the coin is in such rough shape that we can't tell. Your coin is in low grade plus it is damaged (corroded - forget about the acids you've subjected it to) and it wouldn't get a clean bill of health from any of the third party graders you listed. You see stuff like this on ebay regularly, and maybe 1/200 times you get 2 bidders who think it is a legitimate error and drive the price up, so that might be your best bet. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1081 Posts |
To my eyes, it looks just like damage/corrosion.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
What you are describing regarding extra random numbers and letters is simply not possible, that is just a normal heavily circulated and damaged coin. I would also recommend you not use salt and vinegar(much better on fish n' chips ) or ketchup(contains vinegar), you are only damaging the coin even more. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote:
corrosion damage only turns into numbers and letters after hours of sleep-deprived searches in between long study sessions The human mind is designed to see patterns so when presented with "random data" it will try to form it into patterns and it becomes very easy to "see" things which aren't really there. It also makes us very susceptible to suggestion so that present someone with that random data and saying you see a particular thing makes it much more likely that the new subject will see the same thing. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
968 Posts |
I think sending in to a TPG would be a waste of money, but if you are absolutely convinced you have something, and you don't mind potentially wasting $40 or more, go for it. If I remember correctly ANACS is the TPG most willing to slab problem coins and to do variety attributions. I really don't think you have anything but a really beat up regular IHC. |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 12,467 |
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Posted 11/01/2011 10:55 pm
