Safely Clearing A Coin To Evaluate Potential Errors

Looks normal to me. So cleaning it will be no big deal. Clean at your own risk. Use a worn out, extra soft toothbrush and very mild soap under running water.
John1

ok the soap and old toothbrush worked. I continue to be bad at any types of rpm or doubles. it sure looked like there was doulbing on the s and under the western arms of the 3. oh well. thanks again

One of our members has the following list:
http://goccf.com/t/57008#447106

I have tackled many (quite the understatement) coins with this and other problems. I have rolls of old circulated coins I am going through for varieties.

If none of the above methods work, my tried and true method is to remove the gunk manually (most of the times it will) with a porcupine quill. The quill is much finer than toothpick and is soft enough it will not scratch the metal. The tip of most quills I have can easily scoop stuff from out of the curves of a mint mark.

However, I have made a very few scratches if I accidentally don't push/scoop the gunk, but rather put the quill directly on top of the gunk and side. But this only happens if the gunk is harder than the metal surface.

Where to get porcupine quills? ebay. Normally very inexpensive. People use them in crafts. My supply came from road kill (hey, I am not too proud!) before I knew they were on ebay.

A USB or dissecting microscope helps.