Draped Bust -Key date?!?

[Hunting_Dad]

I found this Draped bust and posted it last night having initially thought the last digit in the date was a “2”, with the extra little curl to the 2 that is seen on the Matron cents. After looking at it a little more today the second to last digit does not look at all like a “0” and Draped Bust cents do not appear to have used the “2” with the extra little curl. To my eye it looks like a “99”..... which I just found out while trying to compare fonts, is a key date!!!
Am I seeing things?!? I am new to all of this so I certainly welcome any suggestions as to what to do next... Thanks, HD

 

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[mbcuce]

Nice find. Looks like 99 to me. Congrats

 

[1235CE]

Great find, congrats!.....I think your initial thoughts were correct, 1802.....that's not the way the 9's should look......surface pitting will definitely play tricks on your eyes!

HH all!

Greg

 

[Centsless Detecting]

Nice save. Since its seen better days I suggest a 10 minute soak in lemon juice. Should be able to read it after that. I've done that with what I thought were slick coppers.

 

[birdman]

Hard to tell, still on my bucketlist

 

[Silvermonkey]

A very nice find. Honestly, I'm having a hard time making out a date. Congrats to you.

 

[Hunting_Dad]

I am fairly certain that the third digit is a “9”.
The fourth digit looks most like a “2” but the only possible combinations are 96, 97, 98 and 99. At the very least i figure i have a twenty five percent chance it is a key date. In its current condition, it has little value to a collector but my bragging rights go up a good couple notches if it is in fact a 99. So leave it and wonder? Lemon juice? Olive oil? Peroxide? Andes pencil? Obviously any bragging right i gain go away quickly if i ruin a key date coin so I want to proceed carefully.
For what it is worth, here’s what my eye sees...

 

[Coinstar magnet]

At first glance at a distance I can see a 2 but then I can see 9....hopefully a 9...lemon juice may solve the mystery...look forward to hearing it was a 9

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!!! Congrats!!!!

 

[jewelerguy]

sorry, I vote 'no'. Looks more like 1798 to me

 

[Hunting_Dad]

sorry, I vote 'no'. Looks more like 1798 to me

You are probably right, but I can keep hoping for now.....

 

[l.cutler]

Try taking a smooth new piece of aluminum foil, place it over the coin and carefully make a rubbing. This often makes details easier to see than on the coin itself.