Found my 1st Indian Head

[Coin_Surfer]

I was looking through a box of pennies and saw the back first. I flipped it over slowly and saw the year. 1881


We are wondering what the blue/green stuff is. Does it come off with anything like soap in water? I don't want to put it through the tumbler because of the damage. Any thing to get it off?

 

[BuffaloBoy]

nice find!!! I remember my first(and only, so far) IHP, was a reverse when i dumped out the roll. The green stuff is probrably corrosion.

 

[ckrakowski]

The green stuff is probrably corrosion.

my guess as well if you look at where the blue green stuff is anything it is on is a different color and it looks like the wreath on the right side is completely gone under the blue green stuff.

 

[dossier]

The green stuff is copper oxide like the statue of liberty.

Congrats and HH

 

[gordon and tanner]

We have only found one IH. Great Job!!!!
Tanner and Dad

 

[synapse]

If you're not worried about affecting the collector value of the coin (and even though it's a cool find, there really isn't much value there ), you can soak it in ketchup for a while and the green oxidation will come off. Once it soaks for a while, you can rub it with a q-tip to help get the green off, it may take a few rounds of cleaning, but it should clean up nicely.

 

[Bigheed]

ya its just regular oxidation corrosion and then it says the sulfur is actually what causes the greenish hue.

good description here

http://www.corrosionist.com/why_does_copper_turn_green.htm

bigheed

 

[Delta2187]

I thought that 'cleaning' any collectable coin (in any manner, way, shape or form) is counter productive (from a value standpoint) and always reduces that value of the coin?

 

[ckrakowski]

you can soak it in ketchup for a while will

and if you like ketchup it can be quite tasty.

 

[boxhunter]

Nice find! I wish I could find one of those.

 

[synapse]

I thought that 'cleaning' any collectable coin (in any manner, way, shape or form) is counter productive (from a value standpoint) and always reduces that value of the coin?

Yes, it is. But since this coin has very little collector value (like 50 cents maybe), if the owner wants to polish it up a little, it's not going to really ruin anything...
Plus it's in the eye of the beholder - This coin is now part of the finder's collection, and if they want shiny coins, then shiny coins they should have!!

Now, If they had a 1909s indian head and asked if they should clean it, there would be a collective scream of "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" on here