Civil War Token: Franz Sigel & Oliver Boutwell?

Both of these CWT's are among the most common varieties encountered. The Boutwell card looks to have taken a damagng hit. I'd value it at but $5, retail, if that's the case. Some ebay sellers might surmise that it got that hit at Gettysburg. The patriotic token does portray Sigel, the "hero of Pea Ridge" - typically weakly struck as such above the rider's image. This one looks XF, and IMHO a $15-$18 token. Both could benefit from an acetone treatment which would likely remove most, if not all of the surface contaminants.

IMHO, there are many exceptions to what biggfredd wrote. Among patriotics, there are very common varieties that typically bring two or three times what other common ones bring; more specifically, the Monitor and cannon pictorials, slavery - die #36, primitives, the copperhead/pacifist issues ... Subject matter and historical significance exert a strong influence when it comes to the worth of many patriotics.

I agree with Exo about everything except the Acetone.

I listed these real cheap on ebay if abyone is interested. $4.99 for the pair, starting bid. Thanks

Hi Cheetah - I've been using acetone on coppers for over thirty years now, and I've never experienced a problem. Literally hundreds of my coppers have been wit me for 10, 20 and 30+ years in the same 2x2. Upon periodically revisiting them, I've yet to see any problem! I don't treat all coppers, just the ones that appear to have surface contaminants and/or came to me in mylar flips. I don't use the acetone that women use to remove fingernail polish. I get mine at the hardware store. I prefer Blue Ribbon which has an acetone base, but as my supply is dwindling, I reserve its use for better coins/tokens.

The key with acetone is to make sure that the host is dry before repackaging, I've found. Perhaps, the ruined coins you saw, Cheetah, weren't fully dry and/or were subjected to other inhibitors like heat, humidity, etc.?

All coins or tokens, from colonials on up, Cheetah. I'm more inclined to use it on the lower grade coins that have surface residue, come in old flips or otherwise appear to have been contaminated. I regard this more as a form of conservation than of cleaning; this, as my role of caretaker. IMHO, this process is akin to an antiquarian who might have an old book rebound. Generally though, I ascribe to the philosophy, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."