1790s half cent?

[Gregg3131]

Would this be a liberty cap? It's in rough condition...any tips on cleaning and potential value? I tried toothpick and toothbrush but no luck.

 

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[Nitric]

Drapped Bust 1800-1808

Maybe someone will tell you what to soak it in to bring out more detail. I think they use olive oil. I'm sure someone will tell you that knows and has done it.

 

[Gregg3131]

I used olive oil on a recent drape large cent and it made it worse so not sure what to do...

 

[Nitric]

I used olive oil on a recent drape large cent and it made it worse so not sure what to do...

Ya cleaning was never my thing. I used chemicals from the coin shop. I don't recommend it though. I tried to do a few Indian heads and large cents. I made a mess out of them. They now look like shiny pitted copper disks. They looked better before I touched them.

 

[Nitric]

If you use just soap and water, sometimes when they are wet you can take it under a light and see some detail or date. If it did end up as a rare date, there are professional cleaning services. It's been a long time and I don't know of any off hand. I'll see if I can find one and link it here as an example.

I guess I could have added that to my last post.

 

[Gregg3131]

Thx Nitric

 

[Dozer D]

Gregg: I clean all my silver coins and copper cents (intended for the grandkids folders) with just using a little DAWN liquid soap and hot water in an Rx bottle with several coins, shake every time I use the bathroom sink, for 2-3 days, rinse with hot water, tap dry with paper towel or napkin. It doesn't polish them, just takes the slimy oily film off the coins.

 

[Gregg3131]

This one has a lot of patina and is pitted and corroded. You think it would help find a date. If this happens to be a rare date Lib Cap I am afraid to touch. If drape then no big deal.

 

[l.cutler]

I am almost positive I can see the ribbon of a draped bust, did you try making a rubbing?

 

[Gregg3131]

I did do the rubbing but no luck. It's really corroded.

 

[Gregg3131]

Here is another close up

 

[Nitric]

The curl(looks like a C) below the Bun(?) is what I looked at to try to identify. It is a high spot so it still can be seen in your details.

also the neck/shoulder area is steeper on earlier designs.

I could be way wrong, I'm just mentioning the things that I saw, and thought they fit the drapped bust.

BUT! The nose to the chin looks different, like the earlier designs.

 

[Gregg3131]

This has me baffled. There are some on another site insisting it's a cap. Others a drape I hate not knowing!! Lol