Penny? ID a copper coin covered in mystery crud

[Bev]

Here is a coin that I've been working on for a few days. It's copper and could be a penny but it's been in hot peroxide, soaked in oil, toothbrushed, q-tipped, toothpicked and the crud is just not coming off. I think a deer ate it and it went through the motions if you know what I mean. I've photographed it in comparison to a nickel and penny and one shot has it sitting on the penny. It's slightly larger but I think it may be because of the crud. I can't weigh it though, sorry.
I'd love ideas on how to remove the crud and test it on this coin for future mystery finds.

[jeff of pa]

Definately Tuff call.

It could be a Fatty Indian 1959, I Guess
Or Flying Eagle

Or just Thicker because of the Crud

But without detail, just a Oddity at this point

[Nirros]

well if you arent overly worried about value you could use electrolisys. I did that in this token which was very cruddy. keep in mind though that it may be very pitted when you are done

[jeff of pa]

well if you arent overly worried about value you could use electrolisys. I did that in this token which was very cruddy. keep in mind though that it may be very pitted when you are done

Well Value Right now is Zilch.

you will either Destroy it it trying to clean it.
Clean it enough to ID it & Find out it wasn't worth Cleaning,
Or clean it enough to Say Hey, It's rare & Cool Enough
that somone will Want it & say

What do you got to Loose

a 1909-S VDB in Bev's condition is a Slug,

A cleaned S VDB With Pits, is worth more then a slug

Nirros, I Bet that's worth More Now

[Nirros]

yep I would get it clean off enough to identify it......upon further inspection I see a crack in the crud....maybe a toothpick can pick that little bit off.

[Bev]

well if you arent overly worried about value you could use electrolisys. I did that in this token which was very cruddy. keep in mind though that it may be very pitted when you are done

Well Value Right now is Zilch.

you will either Destroy it it trying to clean it.
Clean it enough to ID it & Find out it wasn't worth Cleaning,
Or clean it enough to Say Hey, It's rare & Cool Enough
that somone will Want it & say

What do you got to Loose

a 1909-S VDB in Bev's condition is a Slug,

A cleaned S VDB With Pits, is worth more then a slug

Nirros, I Bet that's worth More Now

That's my thought. Right now it's a zero, which is why it's a good coin to test on. I'm dying to do electrolisys but I havent quite got there. Maybe that could be a nice indoor project to set up today!

[Nirros]

its a rather easy process just takes time and patience .

[SeaninNH]

It's an indian.
I've found quite a few that come out of the ground looking like that.


Use some hot peroxide and a tooth pick. It may take 5 or 6 trips into the bath, but you should be able to identify it at some point along the process.

[Bev]

What's telling you it's an indian? I'm wicked curious now!

[Nirros]

thats funny I thought the same but didnt want to jump the gun.

[Bev]

Holy smokes!
This is getting really interesting now! I put the coin in my jewelry cleaner for 3 minutes and look what's happening! This is getting really cool!!!!

[jeff of pa]

Nice !

Only a hunch But think I see Indian or Eagle reverse

Definately Not Wheat

[SeaninNH]

What's telling you it's an indian? I'm wicked curious now!

2 things, first is the fact that I've got about 6 of these this year and they all end up coming out as indians.

Second is the shape of what appears to be a bust on the top picture.

[Don in SJ]

Since you already tried most methods, the only thing left to do that will work is electrolysis.

There are numerous posts on the cleaning and preservation forum, but for coins, keep it simple and it should not take too long either on one coin. When we first started doing electrolysis on beach found silver, we used just salt dissolved in hot water in a beaker and used a dry cell battery and a only stainless steel spoon.
Nowadays everybody seems to have an old battery charger from a phone or other device, but if you are uncomfortable with using that then buy a dry cell battery......

The only thing I could make out from the photos was a possible D on the back side, do not see signs of an Indian, but sure could be a fatty, or even a foreign coin. My first thought was a modern zinc penny heavily corroded, but the thickness looks somewhat legit. Hope it cleans up enough to ID, think we all are curious.
Don

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.p...,407784.0.html

http://gometaldetecting.com/electrolysis_cleaning.htm


OK see you posted a new photo at the same time I posted this reply, sure looks like that crud will peel off just from more of whatever you just did.........

[Nirros]

lol.....gotta love the anticipation. toothpick ready yet?

[SeaninNH]

No need for electrolosis on that coin.

[jeff of pa]

lol.....gotta love the anticipation. toothpick ready yet?

That or Push the top of your Fingernail
to Break the Crust.
If your Not afraid of Breaking one

Just Chip away where I Circled above

[jeff of pa]

Could be a Circa '30's Canada

[Nirros]

or the top of the head dress on and indian

[SeaninNH]

Watch this Bev. The indian that I found yesterday looked close to (but not quite) as bad as yours.

A little peroxide, an toothpick and a tooth brush and now it looks nice and pretty.