Epic day at the park. A little bit of something plus my oldest US silver! (key date)

Truth

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Welcome guy of course had to got to my spot for just one more .58 3 ringer which I accomplished, but I’m trying to take it easy on that spot, so I drove around the park. I happened to see a spot where they were doing some sewer repair and saw a lot of dirt and old bricks within the plastic mesh gate they had surrounding it. I decided to park a detect around the fencing and boy am I glad I did. Not sure if this was mud that was from with in the huge hole but a couple inches down I hit a 1897 O Barber dime only 666,000 ever minted. All I’ve done was sprayed water on it and put it in the car wash. So much back patina not sure what to do but 100% sure it’s a 1897 O. Also got a .36 cal 2 ringer from the same spot but very deep and a cool toy car which I love. It’s from England. I can’t believe I found this coin but not sure what to do with it if anything. Pictures do not do it justice. Any suggestions please feel free. Thank you for experiencing this with me. IMG_2221.JPG IMG_2222.JPG IMG_2230.JPG IMG_2231.JPG IMG_2233.JPG IMG_2235.JPG IMG_2236.JPG IMG_2226.JPG IMG_2228.JPG IMG_2229.JPG IMG_2227.JPG

Spot where I was. I would love to go through all that clay they have there. IMG_2220.JPG
 

Upvote 49
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Truth

Truth

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Truth

Truth

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He's already washed it off as stated "All I’ve done was sprayed water on it and put it in the car wash."
So that's been done, secondly it's has so much environmental damage the grading would be a return to sender coin.
Looking at the grading of the dime its hard to tell, but it wouldn't grade that high in the first place.
I would say it's a nice keeper, congrats and save your money onto the grading.

[h=1]1897 O Barber Dimes[/h][h=2]Early Silver Dimes[/h]
Mintage: 666,000
Minted at: New Orleans

Designer - Engraver: Charles E Barber
Metal Composition: 90% Silver - 10% Copper

Diameter: 17.9 mm
Mass / Weight: 2.5 grams

What this coin looks like (obverse, reverse, mint mark location, special features, etc.):

Good
(G-4)
Very Good
(VG-8)
Fine
(F-12)
Very Fine
(VF-20)
Extremely Fine
(EF-40)
About Uncirculated
(AU-50)
Uncirculated
(MS-60)
Uncirculated
(MS-63)
Proof
(PR-63)
$67$118$281$385$481$594$928$1,708-


Coin value chart: Typical coin prices, values and worth in USD based on grade/condition

So pepper what would you do leave it like this? I think it deserves better. You must be knowledgeable I would appreciate your opinion. Thanks
 

Jason in Enid

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Ok not knowing if it has environmental damage or just patina, plus I did spray water on it and used my tongue to clean it up enough to know what I found I heard that might have not been good. So are you just supposed to send the mud clump to get graded without knowing what you have. And if it’s not worth doing at this point is it worth more like this (unreadable except under a high microscope) or do a good none abrasive home method so I can enjoy its beauty because I’m not selling it anyway. See what I’m saying?

in my opinion formed from 35 years of detecting, clean it as much as you are comfortable doing. You have to clean coins in order to even know what you have and whether or not it has any real collector value. I don't think you did any harm whatsoever in removing the dirt from it.

the black patina on it is the environmental damage, and if you send that in to a grading service (along with your $$) you will likely get it back un graded and labled as heavy environmental damage. If you have no plans on selling, then clean it as much as you want. A completely cleaned coin will tone naturally sitting in a collection anyway. so in a few decades it will look like any other un-cleaned coin. My only caveat would be to stay away from methods such as rubbing with baking soda or other types of abrasive cleaning.

Its yours, you make the call.
 

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Truth

Truth

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in my opinion formed from 35 years of detecting, clean it as much as you are comfortable doing. You have to clean coins in order to even know what you have and whether or not it has any real collector value. I don't think you did any harm whatsoever in removing the dirt from it.

the black patina on it is the environmental damage, and if you send that in to a grading service (along with your $$) you will likely get it back un graded and labled as heavy environmental damage. If you have no plans on selling, then clean it as much as you want. A completely cleaned coin will tone naturally sitting in a collection anyway. so in a few decades it will look like any other un-cleaned coin. My only caveat would be to stay away from methods such as rubbing with baking soda or other types of abrasive cleaning.

Its yours, you make the call.

Thank you Jason any suggestions on the best way?
 

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Truth

Truth

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I did a test drive on a silver quarter that had the black tarnish on it and I did the boiling water, aluminum foil and baking soda treatment done by aquachigger and it didn’t do a dang thing. IMG_2237.JPG IMG_2238.JPG
 

Jason in Enid

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You have very, very thick black encrustation. It will probably take multiple attempts and MAY take more drastic measures. Heres the bad part.... if your coin is like the ones I have in that condition... when you get the black crust off, you will likely have a frosted look to it. The black is a form of corrosion and can become much more apparent after it has been removed.
 

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Truth

Truth

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You have very, very thick black encrustation. It will probably take multiple attempts and MAY take more drastic measures. Heres the bad part.... if your coin is like the ones I have in that condition... when you get the black crust off, you will likely have a frosted look to it. The black is a form of corrosion and can become much more apparent after it has been removed.

Jason give me the all mighty answer!!!
 

Ogre1190

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It's a tough call, Truth. Damned if u do...damned if u don't. But...I agree with everything Jason said. U hafta decide first...do I keep it? Do I sell it? Is what you'll get for it gonna make a big difference in ur situation? I don't have any key date silvers, but I've had some n that same shape. I've done the soda/foil/water method n had good results...but on occasion, it's taken 4 or 5 tries. What have u got to lose?
 

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Truth

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It's a tough call, Truth. Damned if u do...damned if u don't. But...I agree with everything Jason said. U hafta decide first...do I keep it? Do I sell it? Is what you'll get for it gonna make a big difference in ur situation? I don't have any key date silvers, but I've had some n that same shape. I've done the soda/foil/water method n had good results...but on occasion, it's taken 4 or 5 tries. What have u got to lose?

I gonna do this quarter again and again and see where I’m at.

I’ll never sell anything I find. I have enough other bought gold and silver coins to sell if I ever get strapped. You never know.
 

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Truth

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It's a tough call, Truth. Damned if u do...damned if u don't. But...I agree with everything Jason said. U hafta decide first...do I keep it? Do I sell it? Is what you'll get for it gonna make a big difference in ur situation? I don't have any key date silvers, but I've had some n that same shape. I've done the soda/foil/water method n had good results...but on occasion, it's taken 4 or 5 tries. What have u got to lose?

Yeah I came out a little frosty on one side
On the quarter
 

MrBlueSkyNM

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That's so sweet! Glad you get to hunt down there! I vacation there a fair bit. I drool over the parks I've visited. Congrats to you! :occasion14:
 

atomicscott

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Great hunt! Congrats on the awesome finds!
 

Jason in Enid

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I gonna do this quarter again and again and see where I’m at.

I’ll never sell anything I find. I have enough other bought gold and silver coins to sell if I ever get strapped. You never know.


Truth, when you get one thats really stubborn you can try alternating the foil method with rubbing the coin between your fingers with DAMP baking soda. If that isnt getting any results you can make an electrolysis cleaner from a 2-wire type battery charger (I always have a lot laying in drawers from dead phones, etc.) just make sure it has less than 1 Amp of output so you dont fry your coins.
 

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Truth

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Truth, when you get one thats really stubborn you can try alternating the foil method with rubbing the coin between your fingers with DAMP baking soda. If that isnt getting any results you can make an electrolysis cleaner from a 2-wire type battery charger (I always have a lot laying in drawers from dead phones, etc.) just make sure it has less than 1 Amp of output so you dont fry your coins.

Jason PM me a picture of what you’re talking about I’m gonna do some trial runs with the electrolysis. The baking soda and liquid soap didn’t do anything on this quarter. Now I’m all focused on this quarter! Lol Thanks buddy
 

Al Bundy

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Sweet. A couple of weeks ago it looked like they were tearing up part of the drive near the esplanade entrance. You should try to get permission to check it out if they haven't paved it yet!
 

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Truth

Truth

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Sweet. A couple of weeks ago it looked like they were tearing up part of the drive near the esplanade entrance. You should try to get permission to check it out if they haven't paved it yet!

Yeah I saw that! They’re making that walkway there.
 

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