To Conserve Or Not To Conserve, Classic Head Large Cent?

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Author	Replies: 15 / Views: 2,743
Steelers72 Pillar of the Community United States 1448 Posts	Posted 10/21/2017 12:32 pm I recently purchased a nice straight graded PCGS Classic head cent for my 7070. I was going to keep all of my old copper in slabs since they tend to get affected by environmental damage more than other coins. This one has some verdigris on the obverse visible under light. I use verdicare extensively on my copper coins and it always works well. Would you crack it out and apply some verdicare in an attempt to conserve it? Since this coin seems undergraded, I was most likely going to crack it out anyway but I appreciate any input on this matter! * Edited by Staff to Add Year / Mintmark / Denomination to Title. Titles are Important! * Edited by Steelers72 10/21/2017 12:34 pm Report this Post to the Staff

moxking Rest in Peace United States 17900 Posts	Posted 10/21/2017 2:46 pm A straight 10 Classic isn't one I'd mess with. Report this Post to the Staff
Coinfrog Bedrock of the Community United States 94367 Posts	Posted 10/21/2017 4:02 pm Right, leave well enough alone. It's a nice coin! Report this Post to the Staff
oriole Pillar of the Community Canada 5239 Posts	Posted 10/21/2017 7:39 pm I thought that only the TPG can conserve a coin. Collectors are only capable of cleaning! Report this Post to the Staff
amida17 Pillar of the Community United States 4897 Posts	Posted 10/21/2017 8:27 pm If I were going to jailbreak it and put it in an album I would absolutely Verdi Care it. Nice example and I agree nicer than VG. Report this Post to the Staff
paralyse Bedrock of the Community United States 12057 Posts	Posted 10/21/2017 8:58 pm It looks VG10 to me, I don't see any surface disturbances that would benefit from Verdi-Care, the copper doesn't look dry. You might inadvertently disturb some older patina and reveal something less attractive underneath. Leave it alone, or crack it and leave it alone. Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis Report this Post to the Staff
paxbrit Pillar of the Community United States 992 Posts	Posted 10/21/2017 9:13 pm Your risks outweigh any potential benefit, even if you did manage to eke a F-12 out of a re-slab, the cleaning could result in a disaster. Report this Post to the Staff
spru Bedrock of the Community United States 12477 Posts	Posted 10/21/2017 9:24 pm I'm not seeing anything there that warrants cracking it out to use Verdi-Care. I would leave it as is. In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020 In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020 In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024 Report this Post to the Staff
basebal21 Bedrock of the Community 13014 Posts	Posted 10/21/2017 9:48 pm Regrade if you want, but don't mess with it Report this Post to the Staff
Steelers72 Pillar of the Community United States 1448 Posts	Posted 10/22/2017 6:39 pm Thanks everyone! I plan on one day cracking it out for the album (once I get a new page 1 for my 7070....the coin holes are too big for the large cents and they wind up lopsided). I will refrain from disturbing the coin...you are all right that it may do more harm than good. The top of the hair was my concern Edited by Steelers72 10/22/2017 6:41 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Coinfrog Bedrock of the Community United States 94367 Posts	Posted 10/22/2017 6:51 pm Good decision. This is a 200-year old coin that has survived with an evenly toned mellow look. I wouldn't disturb it in any way. Report this Post to the Staff
jbuck Moderator United States 188213 Posts	Posted 10/23/2017 12:05 pm Quote: Good decision. This is a 200-year old coin that has survived with an evenly toned mellow look. I wouldn't disturb it in any way. I agree. Wise to leave it alone. Coin Collector Since 1978 Avatar Old Avatar 7070 Eisenhower Australia Canada World CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
bandsdean Pillar of the Community United States 2125 Posts	Posted 10/30/2017 08:27 am I've had many successes removing light verdigris. This coin verdigris I'd describe as a slight annoyance. If it were mine and I had VG money in it, I'd try to remove it. Gently of course. Last week I picked up a nice 1783 Washington cent and it was loaded with verdigris. After removal it's appearance improved dramatically. IMO if you remove dirt, verdigris or other contaminants from a coin's surface without disturbing the original metal it's okay. But yes when you remove contaminants, you may expose something ugly. I can go into detail of how I remove verdigris but that's another post :) Report this Post to the Staff
Conder101 Bedrock of the Community United States 17884 Posts	Posted 10/30/2017 08:52 am Quote: (once I get a new page 1 for my 7070....the coin holes are too big for the large cents and they wind up lopsided). A new page won't help. You have to remember these were struck in oen collars and every coin is a slightly different size. So they do an average size on the hole. Some coins will be too big and some will be too small. If it is too small now it will be too small in the new page too. Report this Post to the Staff
nfine Pillar of the Community United States 3469 Posts	Posted 10/30/2017 09:16 am Preserve, don't conserve. It's wonderful as is. Report this Post to the Staff
NH collector Valued Member United States 127 Posts	Posted 11/06/2017 10:01 am Unfortunately, the verdigris will keep growing in the slab, although at a very slow rate. Crack it out. Let it breathe. An oil will keep the verdigris from "growing". Lightly put a drop or two of oil on the coin with a q-tip, evenly coating the surface. Then wipe off the oil with a clean q-tip. The micro porosity of the copper will hold some oil, even tho the coin appears dry. Trying to remove the verdigris may result in damaging the coin, lessening the appearance and value. Report this Post to the Staff
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