1863 Indian Head

[strycker]

Nice hunt from yesterday yielded me this coin. Not really expecting it to pop out of a highly hit area (hunted for probably well over 20 years according to the owner.). Not much else found. Just a Spencer casing.

Should I leave it alone or try to get dirt off? It appeared to flake as it dried out. Hoping it is just dirt and not the coin.

 

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[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

I just use a soft dry bristle brush. My coins are generally that level of clean. So I think its good.

Keep @ it and HH !!

 

[dig kzoo]

I would soak it in olive oil, light brush with a soft bristle tooth brush and not much more. Great find! HH!

 

[BigWaveDave]

leave it alone... you know what it is, and you're not selling/spending it, so appreciate it for what it is

 

[strycker]

leave it alone... you know what it is, and you're not selling/spending it, so appreciate it for what it is

This is what I was thinking. You can see how it dried out in the pic from out of the ground to the coin flip. I like the detail as is. Newer year ones I've cleaned because they are common but I don't like messing with things from Civil War period that much.

 

[Tired Rooster]

Really nice IH....congratulations.

Goes to further prove that no place is "totally" hunted out.........good dig.

 

[vpnavy]

Thanks for sharing...

 

[park pirate]

Thats an old one, nice job..

 

[detroitdigger]

Nice Indian.

 

[ivan salis]

gotta love those civil war era artifacts ...

 

[hunting deer]

One that old I like to gently brush with a soft brush to remove surface dust and dirt. A soft toothbrush is my favorite. And then with a soft cloth. Then rubbing between my fingers and back to a cloth. Seems like the detail improves using the oil from my hands and repeating this method several several times to me anyway. I've used water before and ended up giving the coin a pitted look. Seems like water can be harsh on the older ones especially. So I "never!" use water. Most people say leave them alone but I like to at least brush the dust and dirt off. Nice coin! You don't find the older indians like that all that often.

 

[strycker]

One that old I like to gently brush with a soft brush to remove surface dust and dirt. A soft toothbrush is my favorite. And then with a soft cloth. Then rubbing between my fingers and back to a cloth. Seems like the detail improves using the oil from my hands and repeating this method several several times to me anyway. I've used water before and ended up giving the coin a pitted look. Seems like water can be harsh on the older ones especially. So I "never!" use water. Most people say leave them alone but I like to at least brush the dust and dirt off. Nice coin! You don't find the older indians like that all that often.

Water is probably harsh because it contains more chemicals now than most cleaners probably. I know mine is treated with tons of things, one of which is chlorine. I'm sure that it not very good for any coin, especially this old.

 

[RobRieman]

They have one on ebay in VG condition for $8.99 buy it now so I would think you are not going to do the value of a dug coin any harm by cleaning it. It's been pounded by minerals and water in the ground for over 100 years now. Clean it up to your satisfaction and enjoy the find you made!