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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,150 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
Showing this just as I found it. My first thought was that the white residue is old fashioned metal compound and that it's since retoned, but I can't really see any evidence that the surfaces were indeed polished. In any event, I think whatever it is, this stuff probably needs to come off, so it'll have to get a soak in distilled water first, and then if that's ineffective, I'll try an acetone bath. There are 26 stars around the periphery - if that's any indicator, then it would put it in the period after the admission of Michigan (1837), but before Florida's becoming a state (1845). But I don't know if the number of stars in fact has any significance. There is historical information on Jacob Seeger and his enterprises that seems to conform generally to my speculation above as to a time frame, but asserts that all the various versions of these tokens actually date to circa 1851. See: http://www.novanumismatics.com/va-m...ting-tokens/My example's certainly either bronze or copper, and at 26.5 mm in diameter is just a smidgen smaller than the large U.S. cents that circulated during the first half of the 19th century. The edge is plain. I haven't ruled out the possibility that this is a reproduction of some sort.   Colligo ergo sum
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Valued Member
Canada
496 Posts |
It might be that the residue is what is left of someones attempt to polish the advertiser's silver plating.There could be traces of silver under the residue.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4883 Posts |
Quote:
It might be that the residue is what is left of someones attempt to polish the advertiser's silver plating.There could be traces of silver under the residue. Evidently these weren't silver plated even though that would've seemed like an obvious way to even better promote Seeger's tradecraft. I've already started a soak of this piece and the residue does appear to be water soluble, albeit stubbornly clinging to some recesses in the design. Where it's come off, the surfaces underneath are indistinguishable from the unaffected areas. Colligo ergo sum
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Moderator
 United States
188560 Posts |
Very interesting.  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Lovely token. There is no reason to assume this is not an authentic item.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
I thought I'd share the early results of my conservation efforts with regard to this token....   This reflects a mere 12 hours or so of immersion, with progress certainly evident, but also a good ways to go yet, and what's remaining may be more resistant to the process. I'm considering heating the water at some point. I'm now inclined to believe this specimen to be genuine, though. Colligo ergo sum
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Moderator
United States
188560 Posts |
Good work. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1795 Posts |
Try an alcohol swab I believe it may clean it up a bit better for sure!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
Well, I had anticipated that the deposits on this token would prove increasingly difficult to remove, but actually quite the opposite occurred - after a certain point in the soak, they turned gelatinous and started sloughing off quite readily. Never had to even go to hot water, or a different solvent for that matter. And I couldn't be a whole lot happier with what it looks like now, even though for some reason the toning of the coin seems to have gotten a little less even (which I imagine the passage of time from here on out will eventually remedy).   I hadn't mentioned it, but this was a "bargain bin" find, and I was actually very surprised that the particular dealer involved attached no importance or worth to this piece and relegated it there. As it turns out, I now think it ranks up there with some of my better Conder tokens in terms of aesthetic and historical, if not monetary, value. Colligo ergo sum
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Moderator
United States
188560 Posts |
Excellent! Your efforts have paid off as it looks really nice now. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2843 Posts |
That cleaned up very nicely. Neat token and a great bargain bin find.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
188560 Posts |
Very nice! |
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,150 |
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Posted 02/01/2018 08:14 am
