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 Replies: 13 / Views: 915 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6454 Posts |
  I got this Indian Head cent at a coin show when I was a kid. I used to pick through the dealer cups of damaged and super cheap coins, and then try to find the oldest dates (because to kid me, older=better). It is corroded as heck and also bent. I would like to soak this in acetone and see what's underneath. But good sense says to check with you folks first to see if there is even a shred of numismatic value before I clean this coin and maybe scrub it with a toothbrush. Proceed?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10029 Posts |
Acetone can in no way harm the metal. It cannot physically or chemically interact with the metal. Also...an easy way to take focused coin photos: A Phone, A Light, Some Books, And A Bottle Cap For Good Coin Pictures http://goccf.com/t/422658 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Can't hurt, but no way will acetone help that coin!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
I think this is a case where you're not going to make it worse, no matter what you do.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
24923 Posts |
Brandmeister, please keep us posted on your progress with this project coin. Do take pics in between whatever treatments you use.
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6454 Posts |
As the frog predicted, acetone had no effect. So the cent is currently soaking in white vinegar saturated with table salt. The surface was already pitted and corroded, so I don't think I could make it much worse. I can see it getting shinier. I will post the after pics tonight, when the solution has chewed at the corrosion for a good long while.
As with the copper-colored nickel thread, I just want to make clear to any lurkers: DO NOT DO THIS TO YOUR COINS. This is an experiment with a worthless penny. It will 100% ruin the monetary value of a coin, and quite likely will physically ruin it as well.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6454 Posts |
Before: After vinegar and salt soak:   Buffed on leather, on windowsill in indirect sunlight:   Well, that concludes my experiment. I might try to look at markers on the cent, just for fun. But it has lived in my coin box for decades, so I think I might release it back into the wild. Maybe drop it near a play area in the park for some little kid to find. |
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Moderator
United States
16677 Posts |
Besides sentimental value, your coin is basically worth nothing (FMV wise).
I actually think you did it a favor. Harsh cleaning? Yes.but, it looks better than all that encrusted verdigris IMHO.
I've done this to a couple FEC's that were low grade and pitted.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Moderator
United States
94765 Posts |
nice changes with tour 'preservation attempt'
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
Interesting results.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
676 Posts |
You could always carry it as a pocket piece to get rid of some of the harsh cleaning marks!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73667 Posts |
The funny thing is it looks better after you used vinegar and salt. It was a pretty interesting result.
Errers and Varietys.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6454 Posts |
The vinegar and salt pictures were on the bathroom sink, where the light has a yellowish tint. I think it made the copper reflect a nice warm glow. The sunlight on the windowsill was harsh by comparison.
The downside was that my bathroom stank like an old penny until I lit a scented candle. =)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
The general rule of "never clean a coin" goes out the window with a coin like yours.
Some coins can only improve with cleaning.
Well done.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 915 |
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Posted 08/13/2023 12:13 pm
