finally ruined one...ruined it good

[Blind.In.Texas]

I am not even going to post the picture of it. I dug it up at Camp Logan in the dark. I knew right away it was a coin. The crust on it was so thick you could barely see the edge. I soaked it in canola oil all night and chip at it with my finger nail.

The ELECTOLYSIS ruined my coin. It wasn't even in there very long. My oldest coin yet. A 1918 no mark wheat. I am sick... I have electrocuted many coins before. At low low voltage and current and have never had one do this. Maybe I'll post a picture of it when I am not so mad. After letting the coin soak over night a good bit of the crud had come off. I needed more off and was in a hurry. There was no need to be in a hurry because it had lain there for about 88 years. I am such a retard.

You should have seen it. All the lines where in the wheat!! There was only slight wear on the hair. The back of the coin had full embossing!!!! The date was nearly perfect!!!!! I will never electrocute anything but iron from this point on out. I have spent hours out there and this is the first coin from that period. That kind of stuff is so hard to come by. It looks like it went through a rock tumbler. So much work. So much digging. And now this.

It's not a high dollar coin, but, it was nearly at the top end of it's circulated condition value. I'm not kidding when I say it looks like it had just come off the press. No more No more No more.

I did however find a bowl which I think was used to melt lead. I must consult my map of the area to be sure that an armory of sorts was near there. I did not find any lead in the area though. Pics of the bowl later.

Laater...

 

[bazinga]

The issue is that finding stuff around here older than the 40's is near on impossible.

I'm really sick of hearing people on this forum saying that...

"Houston was granted incorporation on June 5, 1837. By 1860, Houston emerged as a commercial and railroad hub for the export of cotton."

Your area is LOADED with history.

 

[captinharry]

Your area is LOADED with history.
[/quote]

while that might be true, it is also true that it is either covered by concrete or off limit to hunt,

 

[bazinga]

while that might be true, it is also true that it is either covered by concrete or off limit to hunt,

If you try hard enough I'm sure you can find something.

 

[captinharry]

If you try hard enough I'm sure you can find something.[/quote]

maybe, need to get a Minelab & an attitude problem

 

[bazinga]

maybe, need to get a Minelab & an attitude problem

Or the positive attitude that the old coins are out there to be found.

I just started a year ago and for the longest time had the attitude that all of the old coins had already been found. Now I go out with that cocky attitude telling myself that some good coins will come out of the ground, and they do more often than not.

 

[Jagdpanther]

I've done it. Started out with what could have been a nice coin with just a little more oil soaking and light brushing and took it right down to a shiny blob. It now sits on my work bench as a reminder.

 

[Blind.In.Texas]

while that might be true, it is also true that it is either covered by concrete or off limit to hunt,

If you try hard enough I'm sure you can find something.

I am very sure you are right. I have only been at it since July. All four of my dug silvers came from my own yard. About 40 of my 45 or so wheats came from my yard as well. There are also many many parks to choose from here too. Hundreds of them. Two of them I know for fact are heavily used just blocks from my house. The problem for me is the fact that the ground is just soooo hard here in non-wooded areas that digging is more frustrating that relaxing. I steer clear of the parks normally unless it has rained within a week. In the last couple of years that rain has just not come nearly as often as it used too. That leaves wood chips and forested areas. Almost all forested areas in the region are nearly virgin. Once land is cleared it RARELY RARELY ever used for anything other than buildings and concrete. I am not sure of the actual rules for or against MDing here. I do know for fact that the city's rules for the area parks make no mention of MDing or excavation. That is a plus. There are only a few parks here in town where there are wooded areas near them. I refuse to kill myself over clad.

Sooner or later I am bound to hit that spot where it hasn't been stripped.

Laater...

 

[Gribnitz]

Unfortunately, that's how we learn, Will.

I ruined a gorgeous 2 center and an 1860's indian....both in the same day. I did use hot peroxide on both of them...but should have left them alone. I'm still kicking myself...because I haven't found a 2 center in as good condition as that one was....or an indian that is as old.

Wow, really ? I have never had peroxide ever hurt a coin besides ones that you couldn't get a date on with a soap and water scrub anyway. If you can't see much detail with soap and water, it probably means there isn't much detail left anyway. Hot peroxide has always made my old copper come out looking better than leaving them alone.

 

[hollowpointred]

maybe, need to get a Minelab & an attitude problem

Or the positive attitude that the old coins are out there to be found.

I just started a year ago and for the longest time had the attitude that all of the old coins had already been found. Now I go out with that cocky attitude telling myself that some good coins will come out of the ground, and they do more often than not.

i would have to agree that the old coins are there somewhere. around here old finds are hard to come by for sure due to urban sprawl, but even i have managed to find some oldies, maybe not in large numbers like i would like, but even in the hunted out spots that are mainly available around here, there is still a keeper or two to be coaxed out.one spot that i have found to be super productive is private yards. the trick is in getting the permission. if you do that, the coins are definitely still there.

 

[bazinga]

maybe, need to get a Minelab & an attitude problem

Or the positive attitude that the old coins are out there to be found.

I just started a year ago and for the longest time had the attitude that all of the old coins had already been found. Now I go out with that cocky attitude telling myself that some good coins will come out of the ground, and they do more often than not.

i would have to agree that the old coins are there somewhere. around here old finds are hard to come by for sure due to urban sprawl, but even i have managed to find some oldies, maybe not in large numbers like i would like, but even in the hunted out spots that are mainly available around here, there is still a keeper or two to be coaxed out.one spot that i have found to be super productive is private yards. the trick is in getting the permission. if you do that, the coins are definitely still there.

AMEN!

 

[damz68]

Hey coolbreeze,
that penny dont look too bad. rub it down with some superfine sandpaper. Anything over 5000 grit. An old tshirt might do and will help if it is wet.

 

[Mirage]

Hey there. Do you know Bazooka or TXTim? They both have DFXs and have been hunting camp logan(Memorial Park) the last few months. They have pulled some nice stuff out of that spot. Barbers, V nickel, Walking Half, a sweet 1919 gold ring, etc.
You are hunting the right spot.

That wheat penny doesn't look that bad.

Good luck.

Mirage

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

I think if you use anything BUT a hydrogen peroxide bath (see this post for easy directions; http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,39135.0.html) you risk frying a valuable coiin. The only time I will use home electrolysis is when dirt or sand is concrete-like. Even then, I limit to a few one minute increments.

Here are results from THREE different digs. The 1909 in the picture had not finished the treatment yet. Although the coin is worn, the details are sharp.

 

[Blind.In.Texas]

Neil, thanks for that article. I remember reading that now. It is so long between coins that are worth cleaning that one can forget that stuff. The reverse of that 1909 is awesome. I am gonna grab one of my old cruddy wheats and hit it with peroxide again. I tried it once before and was not happy with the results. I probably didn't have it hot enough. I'll get it right sooner or lter before I wcrew up another coin like that. I don't care what anyone says. A 1918 wheat in the condition mine was is still a find. If not for anyone else, then, for me. Thanks again.

Laater...

 

[WheatbackDigger]

I personally dont use electrolysis anymore on copper coins. I turned a few indians and LC's into slugs. Good old fashion olive oil soak on my Indians and LC's. Peroxide bath on the wheaties, rinse, air dry and a coat of oil. This one was probably lost shortly after the Cival War

 

[dugupfinds]

I find things that are nearly 2000 years old. I never clean with anything other than cold water & soft brush. If you don't mind ruining it then use what you like.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Folks, I've been a coin collector since I was 8 years old. Here's my stance on this.

NO ELECTOLYSIS ON COPPER COINS! Electrolysis can, and will remove copper from the surface of the coin, depending on your voltage, amount of time, etc. Electricity flows through wires. Sure. It does also have the capability of damaging copper coins.

NO SANDPAPER! Coin collectors wouldn't touch them with a ten-foot pole. And whether YOU sell them or not, they will end up in someone else's hands eventually. You are the guardians of history for future generations.

NO SILVER COIN DIPS OR CLEANERS! Just hard running water on land-found silver coins and at most a soft camel's hair makeup brush. And DON'T FIELD-CLEAN THEM! Seen so many silver coins on this site that were scratched by improper pinpointing and wiping the dirt off it makes me sick.

Dugfinds, I agree with you. Water and light tooth-brushing for coppers. I'm not sold on olive oil or peroxide, although I've seen nice results in some posts. I have a friend that rock-tumbles his Buffalo and V Nickels lightly. Those coins are definitely improved from their "dug" states by the process under his skilled supervision. Although "prettier" to look at, they all unfortunately remain quite worthless to collectors.

This is why I think we need to get that "Before and After" heading up on the website.

Personally, I'd be much more worried about scratching that nice Mercury dime TWICE than what happened to your wheat. Either get a soft plastic coin probe or work on your pinpointing technique, whichever applies to the situation.



-Buckleboy

 

[bk]

Don't feel too bad. I destroyed a whole tumbler full of wheat cents by letting them tumble for more than a day.
(I forgot that the tumbler was still running).
They all looked like copper slugs with a faint outline of Lincoln. :P

 

[Ed-NH]

Bummer on the coin. Keep hunting that area and you will find some more nice stuff. I hunt the same spots many times and always come up with something that I missed just like the colonial buckle I found this weekend. It came from the same spot I've hit 10 times as did the 1864 Indian Head penny from a different spot that I've hit 3 times. Don't give up, trust me there is more to be found. Good luck out there next time.

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

You can buy a 1918 in any coin store in VF condition for under $2. Dont sweat it!