My First Draped Bust Cent!

[Erik in NJ]

Obtained permission to hunt a private property which has a house on it from ca. 1890. Did a random walk yesterday and only found a 1934 Merc and 1957-D Rosie both part of pocket spills containg multiple wheats. I also found some horse tack: a buckle and a ring as well as an interesting carved lead item which I think was some sort of weight and an cool brass relic that I thought was cabinet hardware (yet to post these). Oh, and the only period coin was an 1864 IH cent. I was convinced the front yard had been filled.

Went back this afternoon for a quick 2 hr. hunt and decided to grid a smaller area. I got a nice silver signal that turned out to be a 1930 Merc. Second good signal was a bit odd...shallow (4") but hit with a sweet sound on my Explorer SE Pro. Low and behold out pops a nice large copper. I couldn't tell what it was, so put it in my pouch and continued. Next good hit turned out to be a very large copper token by Hyvis Motor Oil....a little smaller than a half dollar! Then another Merc (1941) and finally just before I left a beautiful button about the size of a dime with a floral motif and full shank. Backmark says "Rich Gold Color".

I was very anxious to find out what the copper coin was as I had a feeling it was something good. On rinsing it with dish soap and water I could see a right-facing female bust--turns out is my first Draped Bust Cent (looks to be 1800), a bit worn, but I can clearly see the bust and wreath! This was a first for me so it was quite exciting...I have found older coins in this country, but this is my oldest American coin!

 

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[Erik in NJ]

Button guys, the button is much nicer in person than the scan makes it out to be...same with the token. I rubbed a light coat of bee's wax on it and the coin, but I don't feel as though I have mastered the technique. The bee's wax I have is pretty thick....is there a way to soften it while keeping it natural?

OK, so regarding the button, would you attempt a further cleaning with aluminum jelly? Please advise.

For the experts on restoring copper, the Draped Bust cent has had a few baths in boiling peroxide and cleaned with a soft toothbrush with liquid dish soap. Then I coated it with a light coat of bee's wax to try and bring out some detail. Any tips on better cleaning techniques?

Thanks.

 

[silverfreak]

SWEET dig brother

That is AWESOME

 

[hotrod]

nice finds

 

[MrSchulz]

Well for the Draped it would get slabbed as improp. clean anyway.. As far as restoring it I could not tell you. My attempts at restoring common wheats failed with a ugly bright copper color.

 

[FoundInNC]

Sweet Draped Bust Cent! Great detail, I say 1800 as well.

 

[Erik in NJ]

SWEET dig brother

That is AWESOME

Thanks Bryce! It was a bit of a surprise digging this one, and one dig I will remember!

nice finds

Thanks hotrod! I have pulled a few interesting things from this site so far. I'll post more here and on the "What Is It?" page.

Well for the Draped it would get slabbed as improp. clean anyway.. As far as restoring it I could not tell you. My attempts at restoring common wheats failed with a ugly bright copper color.

I'll keep working on it with some of the experts here to see if I can reveal a little more detail.

Sweet Draped Bust Cent! Great detail, I say 1800 as well.

Thanks FoundinNC! I was a real treat for me to find a Draped Bust around my area...typically the Large Cents when found around here tend to be the later ones. I appreciate your kind words.

 

[granthansen]

Congrats! Great find!!! Don't over toast it in peroxide :-) An olive oil bath (one week) helped an 1857 Flying Eagle I found. You can try that. But then I think you're cleaning attempts end there.

 

[Erik in NJ]

Thanks Grant! I've never had much luck with olive oil...soaked a few IH cents in some for over a year--the oil turned greenish, but there was still a fair amount of crud on them, though that was before I began using boiling peroxide. I'm curious as to what affect apple cider vinegar for a few hours would have on coins like this. Any input from anyone? I have a terribly crusted 1864 IH cent that I may try dropping in vinegar to see how it fares. Vinegar did wonders on that Livery Button w/ Griffin that I found in England. I thought it was toasted, but it revealed almost all the detail on the front and back!

Congrats! Great find!!! Don't over toast it in peroxide :-) An olive oil bath (one week) helped an 1857 Flying Eagle I found. You can try that. But then I think you're cleaning attempts end there.

 

[nsdq]

holy cow them be dang good finds like the draped it be purrrty

 

[granthansen]

I'm curious as to what affect apple cider vinegar for a few hours would have on coins like this. Any input from anyone? I have a terribly crusted 1864 IH cent that I may try dropping in vinegar to see how it fares. Vinegar did wonders on that Livery Button w/ Griffin that I found in England. I thought it was toasted, but it revealed almost all the detail on the front and back!

I've often wondered that too. I'd say go for it with your IH if it's shot anyway! I've also thought about putting a coin in the dishwasher to see what that would do... I just don't have anything of the era worth sacrificing right now. I have some buttons that I'm wanting to bring out the detail on as well, but nervous of the outcome.

 

[Erik in NJ]

From the electromechanical pinball collector's world I have also see (and done) some amazing things with a vibratory tumbler, crushed walnut shells, and a product called Flitz. This technique can be used to polish corroded and rusted items almost back to their original state. I have done this with common pocket-change quarters for a few days and they almost look like they came from a proof or uncirculated set (minus the original scratches) when you are done. I have never seen this technique discussed here. I know we don't want to polish the items we find to a high-gloss, but it may work well on buttons/crusty coins if they are not kept in the vibratory tumbler for too long.

I've often wondered that too. I'd say go for it with your IH if it's shot anyway! I've also thought about putting a coin in the dishwasher to see what that would do... I just don't have anything of the era worth sacrificing right now. I have some buttons that I'm wanting to bring out the detail on as well, but nervous of the outcome.

 

[granthansen]

Flitz, eh? I'll look into it. Cool.

 

[Erik in NJ]

There was a guy on eBay selling it...I found that to be a handy source. I'll see if I can still find it and post a link. The vibratory tumbers are relatively inexpensive. And the crushed walnut shells you should be able to buy at Petco or similar.

Flitz, eh? I'll look into it. Cool.

 

[VERMONTPACKRAT]

I say that the Draped Bust is as good as she is going to get. My opinion is, no more cleaning. There is probably no more detail to be had. Awsome find!!

VPR

 

[Erik in NJ]

Thanks VPR! Coming from you, with the kind of finds you make, that means a lot to me. Appreciate the kind words and I'll heed your advice on no more cleaning. It feels good having finally found a Draped Bust coin and I have to say that I think the obverse of the Draped Bust was among the prettiest US coins minted, if not the prettiest.

I say that the Draped Bust is as good as she is going to get. My opinion is, no more cleaning. There is probably no more detail to be had. Awsome find!!

VPR

 

[Sooper Dave]

Way To Go Erik! Killer Finds, The Draped Bust Is Awesome! Can't wait to see what you find next! Keep It Up!

 

[Erik in NJ]

Thanks for the kind words Dave! I knew it was something interesting, but when I found it I couldn't see any detail through the dirt and I didn't want to rub the "coin." I put it in my pouch, but I have to admit it wasn't easy continuing to detect as I wanted to drive back home to see what it was. Glad though I kept detecting as a couple other nice finds came after this copper.

Way To Go Erik! Killer Finds, The Draped Bust Is Awesome! Can't wait to see what you find next! Keep It Up!

 

[granthansen]

There was a guy on eBay selling it...I found that to be a handy source. I'll see if I can still find it and post a link. The vibratory tumbers are relatively inexpensive. And the crushed walnut shells you should be able to buy at Petco or similar.

Amazon has it too. I find plenty of toasted and corroded crap to test it on :-)

 

[granthansen]

Erik, did you use the liquid or paste form of Flitz?