1897 V nickel

[Tuggerman]

Only 3rd pre 1900 coin for me. Hit it with hot peroxide but that's it. looks to have been pretty worn when dropped. Think I'll leave it alone. Anyone had any luck with further cleaning methods on v nickels? Sorry for bad photos as could not upload from the PC and had to go with the phone route.

 

[asmerri]

That's got plenty of detail on it. Nickel is a very hard metal. Take an SOS pad to it. I found 3 yesterday with much less detail than yours. See the picture below. I think they look much nicer than a red disk. Just my opinion though. Many will say to leave it just like it is.

 

[Don Griffith]

great find, man!

 

[Tuggerman]

Thanks, I saw your post after putting up mine. Considering using the SOS as yours cleaned up very nice. We'll done.

 

[flatbutton]

Looks a lot better than some I've found in my neck of the woods! Congrats!

 

[Msbeepbeep]

Nice! And the date is readable!

 

[CladGrabber]

Always a neat coin to dig...wtg!

 

[cambria09]

Hello Tuggerman. Nice, I love finding V-Nicks. My very first 100-YR old coin was a 1905 model. C9

 

[CladGrabber]

That's got plenty of detail on it. Nickel is a very hard metal. Take an SOS pad to it. I found 3 yesterday with much less detail than yours. See the picture below. I think they look much nicer than a red disk. Just my opinion though. Many will say to leave it just like it is.

The SoS pad is the gospel truth! I found a 1912 awhile back with good detail and after seeing your results decided to give it a go. Came out nice! Thanks for the hint.















Before and afters.

 

[asmerri]

That worked out great. She's a beauty! If you ever dig up a shield nickel definitely don't use this method on it. Vs, Buffs and Jeffersons only.

 

[CladGrabber]

What's the composition of a sheild nickel?
How does it differ?

 

[asmerri]

I'm not sure nor have I ever found one. Everything I have read on TNet seems to highly discourage any type of cleaning on shield nickels though. I don't know if there is a composition change or if it's just because they are more fragile due to being in the ground longer.

 

[lastleg]

Shield nickels (1866-1883) are .750 copper .250 nickel. The Liberty head (1883-1913) were
unchanged in composition. Shields 1879 and 1880 are valuable. Liberties 1885 and 1886 are also
keepers and should not be cleaned by novices. These are low mintage coins.

 

[Tuggerman]

Those cleaned Vs look good. I think I'll have to try the SOS pad. I have one shield and it's pretty rough. It had the green patina out of the ground while the v did not. Perhaps more copper in those. Every post on shield does say the are usually pretty toasted.

 

[Tuggerman]

I stand corrected. Thanks for the info. The v I found was on some red clay rich soil (hilltop) and is residual from weathered limestone. The shield was in a floodplain and perhaps more acidic. Of course more time on the ground never hurts.