Finally broke into the 1800s with my first Indian!!!!!!! New pics added!!!

Jerry1NJ · Jul 28, 2009

I went out for a 45 minute hunt after dropping the kids off to karate. I hit the local park by my house which has some history. It used to be a civil war training camp in the 1860s. I dug a plug around 7 inches and out comes a 1860 Indian head!! I was shocked. What a great day for me :headbang:

Any ideas on cleaning it up a little? I just rinsed it up with a little water for now.

BandB1 · Jul 28, 2009

Re: Finally broke into the 1800s with my first Indian!!!!!!!

Nice, Congrats! :thumbsup:

Good luck,
HH.

spartacus53 · Jul 28, 2009

Re: Finally broke into the 1800s with my first Indian!!!!!!!

WTG on that IH, I am still looking for my first. Have you found any civil war items at that camp? I believe I know the area you are hunting and you should run into some spent bullets.

texan connection · Jul 28, 2009

Re: Finally broke into the 1800s with my first Indian!!!!!!!

Very cool dude congratulations

washingtonian · Jul 28, 2009

Re: Finally broke into the 1800s with my first Indian!!!!!!!

Great job! I'm still working to get into the 1800s myself

relic lover · Jul 28, 2009

Re: Finally broke into the 1800s with my first Indian!!!!!!!

Congrats! Try a hot peroxide soak for 10 min then rinse as you gently use a toothbrush to remove the loose crud. Don't over do it.

Michiganne · Jul 28, 2009

Re: Finally broke into the 1800s with my first Indian!!!!!!!

Congrats on that first IH! :thumbsup:

Keep digging!

DigginThePast · Jul 28, 2009

Re: Finally broke into the 1800s with my first Indian!!!!!!!

Score! :thumbsup:

Doesn't look too bad now, hope it cleans up nicely.

Evan/tn · Jul 28, 2009

Re: Finally broke into the 1800s with my first Indian!!!!!!!

peroxide can turn your penny dark a soft toothbrush and soap and water and Patience might work also :thumbsup:

Detectingfreak · Jul 28, 2009

Re: Finally broke into the 1800s with my first Indian!!!!!!!

Very nice job on the indian head penny!

Jeff(or) · Jul 29, 2009

Re: Finally broke into the 1800s with my first Indian!!!!!!!

WTG on the Indian!!!!!! :thumbsup:

vermonster · Jul 29, 2009

Re: Finally broke into the 1800s with my first Indian!!!!!!!

yes it was a great day 4 u keep on huntin :headbang:

watercolor · Jul 29, 2009

Re: Finally broke into the 1800s with my first Indian!!!!!!!

Excellent find!

As far as cleaning, I wouldn't use anything more than a toothbrush & water. From 1860 to 1864, these "variety 2" IH's were copper-nickel in composition and are a bear to clean. The bronze variety (1864-1909) are totally different and will usually clean up with less difficulty using heated, hydrogen peroxide.

Or, you can just take a brass wire brush to it if you're in a bad mood

allen · Jul 29, 2009

Re: Finally broke into the 1800s with my first Indian!!!!!!!

congrats on that nice looking indian !!!

garthbfan169 · Jul 29, 2009

Re: Finally broke into the 1800s with my first Indian!!!!!!!

WTG jerry sweet I.H. :notworthy:

tndigger · Jul 29, 2009

Re: Finally broke into the 1800s with my first Indian!!!!!!!

:icon_pirat:

great job still looking for mine!

CRUSADER · Jul 29, 2009

Re: Finally broke into the 1800s with my first Indian!!!!!!!

relic lover said:
Congrats! Try a hot peroxide soak for 10 min then rinse as you gently use a toothbrush to remove the loose crud. Don't over do it.

Yeap, good method.

Now time to aim for the 1700s

Jerry1NJ · Jul 29, 2009

Re: Finally broke into the 1800s with my first Indian!!!!!!!

Thanks guys for the replies!! I cleaned it up with a ultrasonic toothbrush and a gentle rubbing with a little soap. I gave it a little coat of WD40 to bring out the luster.