Large Cent and cleaning

[Molon Labe]

I have a large cent (Matron head) and I can't tell the date due to the crust/dirt. I can make out the last number which is a 0 and I think I see a 2 for 1820 but I'm not positive. I want to know how you pros would clean a large cent without making the coin un-gradeable or considered damaged by the coin collectors. Thanks!

 

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[treblehunter]

Any cleaning you have done so far, even running under water and rubbing with anything, is considered "cleaning" I'm not 100 percent, you would have to check, a matron head is probably not worth allot, if you can't see a date already it's more likely only worth 20 bucks (again you have to determine value) If I found it (of course you don't even have a pic of it here) I would hot peroxide bath it and pick the bejeasus out of it with a toothpick. NGC has a free membership online so you can use there reserch tab for there "coin explorer" to help determine a value, LC'c have allot of different varieties for different dates, so value can be hard sometimes to figure. How about good closeup photos in natural light so everyone can see? Here is a link to your coin

Coronet Cents | Coronet Cents | NGC Coin Explorer

 

[Molon Labe]

Thanks for the reply. I am a coin collector and know that it does not have much value but I just want to know the date for personal use. Water and rubbing it lightly with a q-tip would not get it into a details holder at PCGS or NGC. Also, I see you're in NJ too!