1864 IH (Better pics)

RPG · Jul 7, 2009

We've had a break from the heat here lately and yesterday was cloudy and rainy all day long. By the time I left work, the rain had stopped and the clouds were beginning to clear out. :icon_sunny:

I walked in the house, grabbed the vaquero, kissed the wife and took off. :-*

Of course I didn't have far to go.

There is an old home site in our hayfield and I have been hunting it for the last two years. Signals are few and far but every now and again I will find something mixed in all the square nails.

Yesterday I only had three good signals, shotgun brass, some sort of brass tack and an IH. The IH was really caked up with dirt so I dropped it in my shirt pocket and kept going.

When I got home I dumped the nails and trash I had dug and went in to eat. After supper I remembered the IH so I got a toothpick and gently worked off some of the dirt.

I scared the wife when I yelled.

1864. I couldn't believe it. :icon_thumleft:

I remembered Doug's 1864-L so I started working very carefully.

Here's where I need a little help from you guys. I think I see something where the "L" should be but this coin is not in the shape Doug's was. I tried to get some good close ups but by the time I got home today more clouds had rolled in and blocked the sun. Can anyone tell if this is a 1864-L by the shape of the bust. I have read that the bust was also a little different. :dontknow:

I will try to get some better close ups tomorrow. Thanks for looking.

Randy

Update: I got some better pics today. Still can't see what I see in the pics. There is definitely something on the ribbon where the "L" is supposed to be. Any suggestions? :help:

Should I try to clean it? :dontknow:

Goes4ever · Jul 7, 2009

Re: 1864 IH

the L is very hard to see on the coin unless it is in good shape, you may need to put it under a microscope, look at a real good shape indian that is newer than 1864 they all have the "L" after that date so you know what to look for

here is an indian I found today I circled where the "L" is I can see it clearly on this coin

RPG · Jul 7, 2009

Re: 1864 IH

Thanks for the reply Goes4ever. If you look at the largest pic I posted you can see the bump right where the L should be. Before I got most of the dirt off, it looked more like an L. Now it looks like a bump. If you look at it with a loupe, it looks better. There's definitely something there.

Randy

Goes4ever · Jul 7, 2009

Re: 1864 IH

I wish you the best, have you cleaned the coin yet at all?
I just clean my indians with warm water, dish soap and a soft toothbrush

RPG · Jul 7, 2009

Re: 1864 IH

Goes4ever said:
I wish you the best, have you cleaned the coin yet at all?
I just clean my indians with warm water, dish soap and a soft toothbrush

Only knocked a little of the loose caked up dirt off it. Don't want to do too much until I am sure.

Goes4ever · Jul 7, 2009

Re: 1864 IH

water and soap surely shouldn't hurt a copper indian, look at the one I found and cleaned today

RPG · Jul 7, 2009

Re: 1864 IH

Goes4ever said:
water and soap surely shouldn't hurt a copper indian, look at the one I found and cleaned today

I saw it. It's very nice and in great shape. That Ohio soil has been very nice to it.

I have seen some indians that came out of this Alabama soil turn a very ugly lime green color when washed.

RPG · Jul 8, 2009

Here's a little larger pic. What should I do. :icon_scratch:

jgas · Jul 8, 2009

F-12 would be around $139.00...I would "gingerly" clean it and get it under a microscope. The L is very very hard to see, even in a great condition coin. Still a killer find. Congrats and let us know if you discover the L.... jgas

RPG · Jul 8, 2009

jgas said:
F-12 would be around $139.00...I would "gingerly" clean it and get it under a microscope. The L is very very hard to see, even in a great condition coin. Still a killer find. Congrats and let us know if you discover the L.... jgas

Thanks for the reply jgas. How would you "gingerly" clean it? As I said above, I've seen these indians turn an ugly lime green color. I would rather leave it as is than that happen.

Randy

Goes4ever · Jul 8, 2009

as it is now it is kinda ugly no offense, I would try to clean it with water, I clean all mine with water, it has been in the ground being rained on for 100+ years what is water gonna hurt?

creeper71 · Jul 8, 2009

too be honest the coin is still way to dirty to see anything right now... it needs the dirt taken off an then another very close up pic... the closer the pic the better we can see if there is a L

RPG · Jul 8, 2009

Goes4ever said:
as it is now it is kinda ugly no offense, I would try to clean it with water, I clean all mine with water, it has been in the ground being rained on for 100+ years what is water gonna hurt?

Never thought of it that way. :wink:

I promise, I will do it "gingerly".

More pics coming.

Randy

olekyground · Jul 8, 2009

Always fun finding indian heads!! I have found 3 so far. a 1873, 1901 and one wasnt readable. good work on the great find!

RPG · Jul 8, 2009

creeper71 said:
too be honest the coin is still way to dirty to see anything right now... it needs the dirt taken off an then another very close up pic... the closer the pic the better we can see if there is a L

Yeap. I agree. I'm not going to sell it so why not. Any ideas on how to clean it? I'm new to this so any help is welcome. Maybe a wet q-tip rolled across it until some of the dirt lets go? I've cleaned a few indians and wheats with soap and water and soft tooth brush that turned out very bad.

creeper71 · Jul 8, 2009

RPG said:
creeper71 said:

too be honest the coin is still way to dirty to see anything right now... it needs the dirt taken off an then another very close up pic... the closer the pic the better we can see if there is a L

Click to expand...

Yeap. I agree. I'm not going to sell it so why not. Any ideas on how to clean it? I'm new to this so any help is welcome. Maybe a wet q-tip rolled across it until some of the dirt lets go? I've cleaned a few indians and wheats with soap and water and soft tooth brush that turned out very bad.

A very experience person at cleaning coins on here told me to use toothpicks to clean the dirt off an if not corroded bathe in peroxide...

Goes4ever · Jul 8, 2009

I have always cleaned every indian I have found using a soft toothbrush water and a drop of soap

DMN · Jul 8, 2009

Let it soak in the water for a few days and work the dirt off with a toothpick. Keep doing that before you go to any extremes, like the peroxide solution. It's a nice looking coin, try to avoid the hard stuff if you can.

MarkinIa · Jul 8, 2009

Very nice find.

Soak it in hot soapy water for about a 1/2 hr and then clean it with a soft toothbrush. If your not planning on selling it, then wipe some olive oil on it.

jgas · Jul 9, 2009

After experimenting in the peroxide method on injuns I have found that this way works great, but only on non corroded ones. Otherwise they will get fried and pitted beyond repair. If not corroded then they come out great. I have learned to soak them "gingerly" (or just a few seconds at a time) in hot peroxide. Pull them out and then clean with a soft toothbrush or toothpick. It takes some time but well worth the effort. Try it on a few crusty wheaties to get the hang of it. You will do just fine with it. And what the heck, you won't retire on the sale of this coin. LOL.....But I know how ya feel about not wanting to ruin it. Good luck with the "gingerly" cleaning...Ha....jgas