Green Large Cent

[thursdaythunder]

I dug this little gem over the weekend. I scraped the dirt crust off after it dried, now here we are.
Just based on what you see in the pics would you go any further or leave it alone? It looks like there's good detail but the reverse looks kinda sketchy.
Please let me know what you think, and a simple method if you have one

Berfore


After

 

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[richtink]

I don't know much about how to preserve the value, but that is a cool find. Could you get the date?

 

[thursdaythunder]

Unfortunately with the way it sits I cannot get a date. Hopefully with some insight & a cleaning method I will!

 

[GoldieLocks]

Sometimes you can see in a rubbing with Sometimes you can see using charcoal on thin paper as a rubbing what you cannot with the naked eye.

 

[VTColonialDigger]

I personally would leave it alone. You have an ID and you can see the front pretty well. I know that I have damaged coins in the past trying to clean them further, and wished I had just left the coin as-is.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Nice find, congrats!

I find these old coppers all the time, many in this condition. Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do to make it right!

Never use water on old coppers. I have found that leaving a slight coating of dirt to add contrast sometimes shows more.

 

[thursdaythunder]

I think I'm going to leave the old girl alone. I've already got the ID which is better than most coppers I've dug.
I did experiment with some electrolysis on a few IHP's that ended in some 50/50 results. Also tried a couple other methods I didn't care for.

Thank you all for the replys & Happy Hunting!

 

[eman1000]

I've tried to clean large cent's like this with Olive oil before and I have also used hot vinegar soak and neither works well usually just darkens the copper and you lose all details. Best is as is with a little dirt for contrast as Professor already stated.

If you have already worked it with a toothpick then that is as good as it will get. They make a special tool kit/pencils but I haven't got enough coins to justify the cost.

 

[A2coins]

All up to you even if it was a key date it is eviornmentally damaged and in that condition would not be worth much. Coin collecters are extreamly picky even a hairline scratch and knock of 90 percent of the value. I collect for me thats an awesome coin

 

[Trezurehunter]

I let my coppers sit in olive oil for a week or so. Some people on the forum do not approve of this, but I've never had a problem with the coin looking any worse, and in most cases it does bring out the detail and maybe even a date.