1793 1/2 cent

RelicRick · Jul 21, 2007

Hey everybody!

I was out w/ Mike in PA and his Dad (also Mike) today and we're pretty sure I've uncovered a 1793 1/2 cent! I need some advice...how do I properly clean this coin to verify the date w/o damaging the coin? Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!

Happy hunting!

Goalrush

BuckleBoy · Jul 22, 2007

Don,

Please put a link in this thread to your cleaning post when you get around to making it.

Regards,

Buckleboy

jeff of pa · Jul 22, 2007

Don in SJ said:
If the coin is that bad that you are not sure, like not seeing HALF CENT on the back, and if you cannot read the letters on the edge, you would be wasting your money sending it to NGC/NCS in my opinion. I am not too impressed with all I researched on whether it is worth it or not to send a coin to them, and believe me, I have many that I have thought of doing so.

But to send one away that you don't even know for sure what it is, does not make any sense at all.

I have to agree, they will charge
you & send it back as you sent it.

titan · Jul 22, 2007

nice find, now post a pic.

waseeker · Jul 22, 2007

Although you can send it to a regular grading service and it would come back in a body bag, NGC does offer a conservation service which I think is NCS. They will preserve it the best way possible and then slab it if it is genuine.

Starting 1800 they look left again

Actually they don't start facing left again until 1809

Believe it or not the best way I have found to clean old large cents is to carry them around in my pocket for a few weeks. the movement against other change and keys helps to clean them up and even knock off a bit of the corrosion. However, I would not do it with a 1793 HC

West Jersey Detecting · Jul 23, 2007

CLEANING LARGE CENTS (and other copper coins)

Here is the link to Don's Post. http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,39135.0.html

N.J.THer · Jul 23, 2007

First of all congrats on your find no matter what it turns out to be.

As most people already stated - Don't Clean It....I hope it turns out to be a half cent for you. So far I've only found two old large coppers and both are from fields where the ground was not too nice to the coins so at best I'm guessing what I have but I still love those coins.

NJ