Cleaning a large cent

[EddieB]

Does anyone know the metal of a large cent and the best way to clean them. Thanks, EddieB HH

 

[mattockman]

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[EddieB]

Thanks Mattockman!!

 

[jeff & Maria]

Eddie, just clean it as best as you can with dishsoap on a toothbrush. ANY other types of chemicals will remove the details of the coin as will electrolysis. What you see as crud is actually the remaining details of the coin. removing that will leave you with a shiny copper slug. I have found that it's best to leave well enough alone. The coin in the photo is a good example. Had I used peroxide it would burn away the remaining details just waiting to flake off. Heated Peroxide works great on copper coins, but only if they have a solid base and are not too deteriorated. Also, the green patina or slight crust is what makes the coins look like what they are OLD! Don't ruin what mother nature took a hundred years to do. Good luck and hope you find more!

 

[mattockman]

www.coinfacts.com
look up a coin and in description and pictures to boot it tells you metal and where mint marks are located.etc........there are other good sites also.google it and see what you get.....

 

[SNOWY]

Eddie this might be of use for reference,
maybe a hint or two to be found....

Thought I'd share it.

http://www.digbible.org/restoration.html


HH

Snowy

 

[garyflal]

Eddie,

I agree with most of what Jeff & Maria wrote, except that any cleaning done should be done as noninvasive as possible until an accurate ID can be made. Unfortunately many coins and tokens dug look little better than dirt slugs. More than likely you

 

[EddieB]

I thank you all for the information. I found 2 1847's stacked together, the bottom one is in great shape but the one on top the front of the coin was on top and the date is really not visible. I was hoping to clean it to make the date stand out. Thanks again to you all!! HH EddieB

 

[MikeK]

Eddie: A common method is to soak the corroded large cents in olive oil for a week or so. In fact, you should pop the coils in olive oil QUICKLY after digging them to minimize the sudden change from the ground matrix to open air. I use a medicine (pill) bottle as do all my hunting buddies. After about a week, soak a SOFT bristle toothbrush in the oil and VERY carefully dab it at the details. This will remove any dirt without taking away the corroded details; the dirt has been given a sealed environment to loosen and the coin has a slippery surface to avoid friction. I stay away from soap, water and peroxide for coins in such condition.

The only caution is that olive oil can darken a porous object such as corroded copper; that said however it's the best choice and also makes details pop if they're still there.

HH Mike (Boston)

 

[digitrich]

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