1852 U.S. Braided Hair Liberty Head Large Cent

[SilverCoinHound]

I found one IHP and my buddy found this Large Cent. I wanted to show the difference between it coming out of the ground and with the outer layer chipped off. I couldn’t even see any date when it was in hand.

Here’s how the shell forms: first the copper in the coin reacts with oxygen to form a dark patina (cuprite) then the cuprite reacts with soil water to form green patina (malachite) then over the years the malachite bonds with and cements fine particles around the coin. This is why it’s green underneath the dark shell.

 

[lenmac65]

Nice work on the cleanup - she’s a beauty! Congrats!

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Looks like it came out of a area that was wet most of the time - great job on the L.C. !

 

[Mr. Digger]

Love it when that outer shell just flakes off like that. Looks great! I give them a lite rub with Renaissance Wax after that for a final touch. Congrats.

 

[Almy]

I have only had one find with the corrosion loosely attached and easily removable like yours. I was detecting near a working excavator and when the operator took a break, I showed the coin to him. I can still see his thick, horny thumbnail popping off the coating! It was a New Brunswick 1 penny token, 1842. Yours must have had little wear when it went into the ground to look so good after corrosion removal.

 

[jewelerguy]

very cool, I'd sure like to find some of those

 

[oldmxrat]

Very nice, congrats!

 

[Mike N Tn.]

Beautiful coin! Congratulations!

 

[KyleStar]

Great post, and thanks for writing up the patina breakdown. That cuprite to malachite progression is the clearest explanation I have seen posted here, and it is exactly why large cents come out of the ground looking like rough stones and then turn green once the shell comes off.

Congrats on the 1852 Braided Hair, and the IHP too. I would keep the cleanup gentle from here. A soak in olive oil for a week or two usually loosens whatever is left of the shell, then a soft brush. I would stay away from anything abrasive. The date and the Liberty are right under that crust, and the detail disappears fast once you start rubbing.

Big copper also has a habit of ringing up like junk on some machines, deep and scratchy. I dig anything repeatable in that range now, because sometimes it is a large cent instead of another piece of pipe.

Nice hunt for both of you.

 

[Digger RJ]

I found one IHP and my buddy found this Large Cent. I wanted to show the difference between it coming out of the ground and with the outer layer chipped off. I couldn’t even see any date when it was in hand.

Here’s how the shell forms: first the copper in the coin reacts with oxygen to form a dark patina (cuprite) then the cuprite reacts with soil water to form green patina (malachite) then over the years the malachite bonds with and cements fine particles around the coin. This is why it’s green underneath the dark shell.


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Very Cool!!! Congrats!!!