I didnt know this could happen to old silver.

[GioTheGreek]

I didn't know this could happen to old silver.

I hunted an old junky spot today in two tone ferrous mode. I heard a high tone and thought I'd investigate. At first I thought it was a bent modern dime... but once I got back to the car, I noticed it was an 1871 Canadian dime with a strange corrosion.

I've never seen silver do this before. Perhaps because it was bent? Damn, I wish she was in good shape...

 

[testing123]

Looks like it was in a fire

 

[GaRebel1861]

Looks like it was in a fire

I agree, that is what looks like happened to your coin.

 

[GioTheGreek]

Well, that makes sense considering I was in an area where there was a "great fire" in 1877. Thanks for the information guys.

 

[SusanMN]

I pulled a seated dime out a couple of months ago that looked just like yours. It was so crusty and brown I thought it was a corroded penny. Give it a good long soak in lemon juice and the crud should fall off.

 

[GioTheGreek]

Ok, thanks Susan.

I also came across this info for silver that's been in a fire.

Use the aluminum-soda-salt-water method as an alternative or supplementary way to remove tarnish gently. Fill an old aluminum pot (or a stainless steel pot loosely lined with a sheet of aluminum foil) with boiling water and submerge our silver in the water. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup baking soda (some people add 1 to 2 tbsp. salt, although the Society of American Silversmiths warns that salt can be very corrosive to silver). Let the soda froth completely. Drain the water and remove your silver. You should notice some lessening of tarnish. Again, be prepared to repeat the process several times to remove very heavy tarnish. This old kitchen-chemistry solution works well on ornate pieces because it lessens the rubbing needed to remove tarnish. Do not put old silver table knives into the solution because heat may damage the joints between the handle and the blade.

 

[ticm]

Nice anyway. Hope you show it cleaned

 

[GioTheGreek]

I'll give those cleaning methods a shot after work, ticm, and I'll keep you posted.

 

[jewelerguy]

I agree, fire damage for sure. The fire didn't even really have to be significantly hot (like a house fire for example). I've found fire damaged coins in similar condition in places where people burned their household trash. (small, short-lived fire)

 

[CRUSADER]

Yeap fire!

 

[Gunrunner61]

Like er'body else "FIRE". Cool find though..................HH