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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,217 |
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Valued Member
United States
78 Posts |
Hello and thanks for the help. I'm rather new to Flying Eagle cents and coin collecting in general and would like to get some thoughts on this 1858 cent I bought at a coin show yesterday. I had my reservations buying it with the green build up around the details and I wasn't sure if it had been cleaned. The dealer told me, no, it's all natural. It was $35 so not a lot of money but looking at it today I'm worried about the green build up and think it might have been a bad buy... will that keep spreading? Should I do anything about it? Should I refrain from buying such coins in the future? Thanks!   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
878 Posts |
Welcome to the CCF! It looks like a well circulated natural environmentally damaged coin. I bought a heavily corroded IHC a few years ago and spent some time working to remove the corrosion. Link below if you want to see what I managed to do with my coin. However, once ED, always ED. https://goccf.com/t/456578&SearchTerms=1860 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6484 Posts |
Looks like an 1858 small letters obverse, low leaf reverse.
We have lots of coin restoration pros on the forum like BadThad and DOCC. My guess is that they will recommend an application of VerdiCare to halt the corrosion damage.
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Valued Member
 United States
78 Posts |
Thanks! I think I would like to try it. I'm worried this will just keep getting worse. I'll find some common cents to practice on first. Where do you get the acetone and verdicare? I wouldn't do this to a super expensive coin of course.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6484 Posts |
You can get pure acetone at hardware and auto parts stores. [i]Pure[/u] acetone, not nail polish remover.
VerdiCare, I assume is available on the website.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1871 Posts |
not a bad looking coin for the price--you can get verdi-care at---wizard coin collecting supplies--
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73903 Posts |
It's still a nice Flying Eagle cent, even with the corrosion. As stated, try Verdi-Care. That'll help with the corrosion. Errers and Varietys.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
10497 Posts |
It's definitley a $35 cent if you can get rid of that green junk - Try an acetone soak and a toothpick before spending money on the Verdi-care.
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Valued Member
United States
78 Posts |
Just a little update here. I got my hands on some acetone and distilled water at the store and some Verdi-care. After practicing on some wheat cents with acceptable results I gave it a go. This is with a 24 hr acetone bath followed by 10 mins in distilled water. Then, the "spot" Verdi-care treatment with tooth picks after a 10 minute soak, as per the directions on their website. It has been drying for a couple days:   I've done a spot treatment to several Indian Head cents I have too. It got rid of a verdigris spot on a 1871 IHC perfectly, as well as a really nice 1901. Unfortunately a verdigris spot on a 1872 IHC I have proved too stubborn even after the acetone and 24 hr verdi-care soak. It is what it is at this point. I don't want to risk damaging it. I played around with wheats in various stages of corrosion and condition with some nice results. I didn't see much difference in coins after 48 hrs in acetone. My take on the Verdi-care is that it is going to do what it is going to do within 10 minutes of application... I didn't see any improvement after a 24 hr soak with my coins that didn't happen within 10 mins. Edited by HackerJC
12/01/2025 06:46 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
25062 Posts |
Excellent job with the conservation, HackerJC! Your coin looks much better after the treatments.
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73903 Posts |
It looks so much better now, HackerJC! Nice work!  Errers and Varietys.
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Moderator
United States
95403 Posts |
Quote:
'll find some common cents to practice on first That was a great idea to pratice first Nice job on the restoration! |
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Moderator
United States
188001 Posts |
Looking good! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10497 Posts |
Very nice job! |
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Valued Member
United States
81 Posts |
Very nice eagle. Clearly a 1858 weak strike (esp. "ONE" on the reverse), but that is part and parcel of collecting flying eagles (my slabbed 1857 is also a weak strike, but 1857 weak strikes are more expected).
I am very cautious/concerned about any treatments, but will read about treatments done on this forum with interest, and see what works and what is an issue.
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,217 |
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Posted 11/23/2025 4:02 pm
