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 Replies: 18 / Views: 3,694 |
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New Member
United States
11 Posts |
 Is there anyway to clean or enhance a date on a copper coin to make it more legible with out destroying it so it can be sold? Edited by Lt1stone
03/25/2010 12:08 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4846 Posts |
do NOT clean a coin, EVER!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
Don't ask Popeye, but Olive Oyle may know.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1534 Posts |
Sometimes, cleaning is necessary. In 95% of cases, cleaning should not be done, and will ruin the coin. But there are some exceptions. Photos of your coin will definitely help.
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New Member
 United States
11 Posts |
Here's the pic. I don't want to short change anyone or get short changed myself when I sell it, and don't have the money to send it off for grading. It appears to be an 1804 but can't be certain.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Nothing is going to help that coin, it is severely corroded and I cannot see anything resembling a date in that pic.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
I've manipulated the image in my photo editing program, and I can make out the 1, the 8, and the zero....but can't get a firm fix on the 4. Try different lighting schemes.
Chance
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New Member
United States
11 Posts |
This is with turning it to a negative  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19948 Posts |
That coin has already been harshly corroded and cleaned. Biokemist is right, there's nothing you can do without completely destroying what is left.
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
585 Posts |
Can I have the email on the lucky buyer, please? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
This is a 1798 Draped bust large cent that I excavated here in my home town. It was nearly unidentifiable....worse than yours. All I did to this coin was rub it between my fingers for a couple days. When I dug it, I could faintly make out the lower loop of the 8....and that's it. Chance  |
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New Member
United States
11 Posts |
Chancellor. I may try that. Can't make it any worse.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
With my coin,I figured there was nothing to lose....and it's still nothing to write home about, but at least I can tell what it used to be.
Chance
Edited by Chancellor Sutler
03/26/2010 4:42 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
When a coin is that bad remember that attempting to sell it you'ld really have be lucky to find anyone to buy it for any price. In most instances a coin that bad would take more money to do something with it than it's worth.
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Valued Member
United States
436 Posts |
electrolyze the coin in a salt water and lemon juice solution at 12-18 volts for 10-30 minutes then rub VERY lightly between your fingers with baking soda for a few minutes. After you get the results you are looking for rinse completely with distilled water and pat dry with a terry cloth towel. After that you might want to apply some darkener followed by some MS-70. This process (IF DONE CORRECTLY) will bring back some of the original detail. Another "Trick" to darkening the coin after electrolyzing would be to soak it in some olive oil with REALLY dirty copper cents for a month or two.
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Valued Member
United States
436 Posts |
LT1stone PM me dnstim(at)gmail.com I will explain the process in more detail.
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Replies: 18 / Views: 3,694 |
Posted 03/25/2010 12:13 pm
