What Is This 'Rust' Like Stuff On My Poor 1920 Lincoln Wheat Cent / LWC ?

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Author	Replies: 5 / Views: 1,389
rking007 Pillar of the Community United States 784 Posts	Posted 12/12/2013 1:05 pm Got this one off the bay along with a few other keepers for dirty dirt cheap so it's not really worth the hassle but what's going on here? I know pennies can't rust per say but it's the best description I can find for it. Any clues? I'm thinking some kind of environmental damage but it doesn't look corroded. He took a 24 hour acetone bath (12 hrs on each side) and a light poke with a new q-tip had no effect. Any other thoughts? Xylene? Verdicare? This thing rings in at about AU53/55 so it would be a shame to see it ruined! For comparison, the rims and wear spots would be a normal brown color. The lighter area on 'Liberty' is just a lighter version of the orange 'rusty' color of the overal appearance. Report this Post to the Staff

just carl Bedrock of the Community United States 20753 Posts	Posted 12/12/2013 1:13 pm Although in rather nice shape, it could end up costing you more in chemicals to attempt to clean it, than it is worth. Remember it is only a 1920 Cent. 310,165,000 minted. You could easily get a almost new one without all the fuss trying to fix this one. And if you do continue trying to fix it, the value of a massively cleaned coin like this would be worth a lot less. Report this Post to the Staff
rking007 Pillar of the Community United States 784 Posts	Posted 12/12/2013 1:19 pm I hear that wisdom for sure Carl. I think I'm more curious as to how it could have got this way and if there was another simple solution to fix that would be a plus, but it's not a total downer if not. It's that thing inside me that was kinda excited to fill another hole but now I have to go searching again...! :( :) Report this Post to the Staff
rachums107 Pillar of the Community United States 3345 Posts	Posted 12/12/2013 2:08 pm I think it's just a combination of corrosion and dirt coagulated together to form an unidentifiable mass, I know, that doesn't help much Edited by rachums107 12/12/2013 2:09 pm Report this Post to the Staff
solotime Pillar of the Community United States 2311 Posts	Posted 12/12/2013 8:30 pm I'd just leave it alone. It's still pretty good. Report this Post to the Staff
AllezRoubaix Valued Member United States 143 Posts	Posted 12/12/2013 10:30 pm Probably some form of corrosion like rachums107 said. I doubt solvent will take it off. Anything that could take it off will most likely damage the surface of the coin as well. Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 5 / Views: 1,389

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What Is This 'Rust' Like Stuff On My Poor 1920 LWC?