1885 V Nickel found yesterday

[jimmyzr1]

1885 V Nickel I found yesterday, unfortunately it looks like I might have slightly nicked it. In average condition I read it would be worth around $600. Is there a way I could slightly clean it without damaging it any further. Would water and a toothpick hurt?

 

[407floyd]

You can put some mineral oil or olive oil on it to bring out some of the detail and make it look more appealing. You can never bring back that old patina that flakes off those old nickels though. Once it flakes off, it's all over. That's a great find though. It's difficult to find them from the 1870s & 80s.

 

[jimmyzr1]

My buddy said it might be worth about $100 in it's current condition.

 

[jim tn]

That's a great find. The 85 is the key date of that series. Under the circumstances of its condition, I would bring a little peroxide to a boil and drop the nickel in the boiling peroxide and leave it set as the peroxide cools. Good luck! HH jim tn