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JobIII
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1507 Posts |
 Posted - 02/23/2010 : 06:56:27
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Subject says it all. Found a really poor 1909 cent last night. It has a little green on it, and rust and some other blackish stuff covering it.
The date is clear enough to tell the year, but the reverse is basically covered in this black gunk. I used my finger nail and rubbed the coin under water and found the stuff didn't come off in either case.
Any thoughts about cleaning it. And what would you use? This would require something pretty abrasive i would think. As it is the coin is in pretty bad shape so i don't see why it would be worse off looking half decent even if it was cleaned.
~JobIII
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Selling Copper cents. $0 FV available at 1.4xFV. Also interested in trading for wheat pennies and other coins Please pm me for requests or inquiries.
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uthminsta
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1872 Posts |
Posted - 02/23/2010 : 08:58:16
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| is it gooey or hard and crusty? have you found out if it has the VDB initials or is that obscured? |
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Slapshot
Penny Sorter Member
USA
63 Posts |
 Posted - 02/23/2010 : 10:27:09
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| I found a 1916 this weekend and it was covered in green and black corrosion. I could tell it was a wheat and could only read 191 of the date. I normally don't clean any coins but this had some pitting and didn't think I had any collector value. I put it in a lemon juice and salt mixture and rubbed it with my fingers. it came cleaner but still really ugly. I used a 4X magnifying glass it just make out the last 6. I really want to know exactly what it was because my earliest find previously was a 1926 found earlier this month. |
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wolvesdad
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
2164 Posts |
Posted - 02/23/2010 : 10:59:27
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| if you are very patient, I heard that soaking them in Olive oil for about a week or month if necessary can do a great job of cleaning coins without causing any damage to them. Though i have never tried it myself!!!! |
"May your percentages ever increase!" |
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rakattack
Penny Pincher Member
105 Posts |
Posted - 02/23/2010 : 11:01:18
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| Yes, soaking in olive oil works well |
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wolvesdad
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
2164 Posts |
Posted - 02/23/2010 : 11:01:34
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I forgot to mention you then need to go over it with a SOFT toothbrush.
And it is supposed to work for green corrosion too! |
"May your percentages ever increase!" |
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JobIII
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1507 Posts |
Posted - 02/23/2010 : 11:19:27
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anyone heard of leaving the coins in baking soda and water for a long time?
Uth, i couldn't make anything out on the back. I used 4x glass and a microscope. The obverse doesn't appear to have a mint mark... But it's in such bad shape perhaps the coin would do better with a cleaning. |
Selling Copper cents. $0 FV available at 1.4xFV. Also interested in trading for wheat pennies and other coins Please pm me for requests or inquiries.
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AGCoinHunter
Penny Hoarding Member
USA
685 Posts |
Posted - 02/23/2010 : 12:27:42
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| I am experimenting with olive oil on a 1909 VDB i have that has a lot of verdigris (the green stuff). I know there is a product on the market called verdi-gone which is supposed to help to restore the copper. Personally I would only go as far as soaking, due to loss of numismatic value. Scrubbing with anything will leave cleaning marks on the coin which will diminish the value. Just my cents worth... |
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wolvesdad
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
2164 Posts |
Posted - 02/24/2010 : 11:46:43
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has anyone tried scrubbing with a soft tooth brush?
SOaking isn't going to get the corrosion off, only weaken it and its hold on the coin. You'll need to apply SOME pressure, and I guess a soft toothbrush would do much less(if any) damage than a fingernail, etc.
Sounds like a good experiment for someone. Better done on a common date lincoln or wheat cent. |
"May your percentages ever increase!" |
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JobIII
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1507 Posts |
Posted - 02/24/2010 : 15:47:19
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AgCH,
How long has your coin been soaking? Any progress yet? |
Selling Copper cents. $0 FV available at 1.4xFV. Also interested in trading for wheat pennies and other coins Please pm me for requests or inquiries.
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fb101
Administrator
USA
2856 Posts |
Posted - 02/24/2010 : 18:35:18
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Olive oil depending on the rating has a mild acidity. Extra virgin has a 1% acidity max. As you go down grades, more acidity.
I suspect not as harsh as a vinegar bath. |
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Found a really grungey 1909 last night
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