Nice three center. Lot a detail. I don't know how to clean it but I'm sure someone will be along shortly. The guys from the UK have some good cleaning methods for silver. Maybe they can help.
Well, that's a great find! I've never found one. Personally I'd leave it as-is.
But if you really want to clean I would imagine that there are several possibilities for cleaning... I have not tried any of them but the last one (and I wasn't pleased with that) so I'll leave it to others to speak about their effectiveness.
1. the aluminum foil trick
2. aluminum jelly applied and then rinsed off
3. baking powder soak (there is a post in the Cleaning section by EU citizen about this method)
4. baking soda rub (I have tried this one before and I wasn't pleased. It was too abrasive and gave the coin a polished look)
Regards,
Buckles
P.S.--you could try soaking it for a while in lemon juice too
Leave it be trapper bob Why you might ask. Well then it will have two problems maybe three. #1 problem is environmental damage. #2 problem cleaned and #3 scratched rubbed etc...
Nice find. Cleaning is a personal decision. Most coin buffs only clean a little. I evaluate the cleaning process this way. Clean enough, with soap and water to see date and ID coin. Check price. If is is over $100 don,t clean any more, maybe get professionally done. If $25 or less clean repeatedly until cleaning process does not make a noticeable change. If during the process y see a lot of detail, I may leave it here. most of my good finds end up being shown at my club so I usually stop when the detail is good, completely cleaned or not.
A note on the price of a coin. A dug coin usually won,t be worth the lowest price listed in a price guide. Environmental damage can play havoc on buried coins. I have never personally found a coin over $25. Everyone likes to think there finds are worth a lot, me included.
The bottom line is this a dug coin or any for that matter is really worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
Great find Trapper. Nice looking coin just the way it is, but if you do decide to clean it, let us know how it turns out. Found a two cent once, never a three cent-er. Maybe I'll get to upgrade some day too. HH
I'd try heating peroxide in a small cup in the microwave until it starts to boil, then drop it in. Mainly used for copper coins, but it;s the least damaging act you can do. other than leaving it as it is. Which is what I'd do. She's a beauty!
Carl
Thanks for all the congrats! and cleaning ideas. This coin is Redbook about $40------finding one ,after hunting on and off since the 70`s, with all the warts and greeny globs is PRICELESS.... I am not going to clean it and will show it off, brag, smurck, snicker, hoot and holler, 8) and maybe find another one in the next 30 yrs.