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 Replies: 16 / Views: 2,171 |
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
I bought an 1848 large cent that was in a case. Not really a pretty coin. But the price was low and I figured that when I get my hands on a better one, I'll pass this one down to some kid who is just starting out collecting and has that desire for a coin in the 100+year range. Anyways, it has a bit of a bend the seller forgot to tell me about and the case hide too well. So how would you go about flattening the coin without further damage?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3848 Posts |
Not much you can do. I would leave it as is.
Suffering from bust half fever. Want to learn how to attribute early half dollars by die variety? Click Here: http://goccf.com/t/434955Shoot me a PM if you are looking to sell bust halves. |
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
1557 Posts |
I would return it to the seller.
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Moderator
 United States
15428 Posts |
 to the CCF. Agreed - it's damaged beyond repair. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Agree, can't unbend a large cent. to the CCF! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
I never tried this, but always wanted to. Put it between 2 pieces of wood, and clamp down on it gradually with a vice or a clamp or something. Nothing to lose on a cheap bent cent.
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Moderator
United States
15428 Posts |
@ edweather - I realize your idea sounds appealing but the physics of materials science will not support your approach.
The modulus of elasticity (think stiffness) of copper is way larger than wood and what you are going to achieve is dents in the wood with no noticeable change in the cents shape.
Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
To CCF , Well besides slamming it with a sledge hammer against a concrete pavement I would seriously try putting the coin between two thick pieces of rubber and just keep hitting it with a medium size hammer softly until you get desired flatness .  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3546 Posts |
Check out the 'dinger' to remedy the abnormality. 'Ding it with the dinger' to find big money from junk coins http://goccf.com/t/421724 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
The wood method might work, but not with a vise. And you willneed a fairly dense wood such as oak. You will need two pieces of oak and a sledge hammer. Put it between the pieces of wood and hit it HARD with the sledge. As nickelsearcher said it is going to dent the wood but it should also take a little of the bend out of the coin. You will probably have to do this multiple times and move the coin to a different undented location of the wood between each blow.
The vise doesn't work because it give the wood too much time to conform to the surface of the coin and to accept the denting. You are trying for the sudden transfer of energy to the coin before the wood has a chance to deform.
Edited by Conder101
05/11/2022 5:52 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
My ignorance on this erudite topic is obvious.  |
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New Member
 United States
5 Posts |
Can't return it and probably should have known better. I went back there a few days later to look at a gun (it's a coin and gun shop). The guy showed me an early cent. I asked him what happened to the date on it (it was missing). He tried to tell me that before the 1800's they didn't put dates on coins. I hightailed it out of there before the bs became so deep that I'd drowned.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Good for you. What a load. to the CCF! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
Quote:
The wood method might work, but not with a vise. .... Put the coin between two small oak blocks and take it to a nearby truck stop. Then, see if some drivers will run over it at the pumps. Heavy construction vehicles might work, too, but the base would best be concrete, methinks. If at first, you don't succeed, just keep on truckin'  BTW, to the CCF |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3546 Posts |
Quote:
...before the 1800's they didn't put dates on coins. I'd nail this guy to the wall by submitting an anonymous claim to the BBB to keep you out of the mix. I would not mention the exact denomination but would wait a couple of weeks to blur your connection with this incident. Pleading ignorance would be a non-starter for this guy just because of the type of business he routinely deals in. Just imagine how many numismatic neophytes he must have already taken to the cleaners? For the benefit of this exclusory hobby this would be your numismatic 'Do a good turn daily' like the Boy Scouts have as their slogan etc. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I have straightened a few bent coins, but evidence always remains of the bent area even for modern bronze coins.
A 'comments' would be "bent", or if flattened, it would be "bent and later flattened".
I have used two thin plastic sheets with coin between in a vise, mostly used for European hammered silver coins.
However, there is a risk: due the possibility of silver crystallisation. the coin may snap into two or more pieces
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Replies: 16 / Views: 2,171 |
Posted 05/09/2022 03:43 am
