I found chain cent today.

[Ruslanmd]

I am afraid to clean it.....

 

[Erik in NJ]

"similar iconography had been utilized on the reverse of the earlier Fugio Cent and Revolutionary War era Continental currency"

How can you be sure it's a Chain Cent?

 

[Davers]

USA-USA-USA

As was said above ,an awesome/ once in a life time discovery, A great piece of American History . Noted only 36,103 minted in 3 varietys. Americas 1st coinage [I believe] ..Seek professional help with cleaning/restoration.

 

[Ruslanmd]

Eric in NJ .Fugio Cent and Continental currency do not look like coin I found yesterday.

 

[PeteWmass]

maybe send it to a professional coin restorer...

 

[arnofarrell]

I am excited for you. I and all of us her on Tnet can't wait to see more pics.

 

[RobRieman]

There is most definitely is something to lose if you go from identifiable to copper disc. Not all things cleaned come out better.

I agree Iron Patch but if you just run a little water over it and it goes to a copper disc it never had a prayer of being worth anything. I was thinking 200 years in a wet, mineralized, fertilized ground, frozen and thawed hundreds of times would have made it vanish many years ago if a little tap water is going to make it a disc.

 

[joeyfresh]

I've ruined more old coppers with water, even distilled, than anything else. The water removes or dulls any patina that may be retaining any detail at all.

 

[joeyfresh]

Nice find btw!

 

[BuckleBoy]

Do you really think cleaning it off with water is that bad? It's been subject to abrasive soil, weather, elements, etc., for over 100 years. I would say most coins I find aren't identifiable until I soak the crud off. What would you suggest as an alternative? Not trying to be confrontational, I'm sincerely asking... I'd have a ton of coins with caked on dirt without knowing what they were unless I soaked the mud off. Much better than rubbing it off I'd say!

Yes I would present an alternative. for coins in danger of losing detail, I recommend dry brushing and at most a coat of Renaissance Wax. That's the only way to keep the detail. Otherwise, water will remove the patina--and along with that, the detail. Someone was asking earlier in another post last month, why I was against water. I'm not, but folks don't seem to understand that using water IS a cleaning method. This coin is a good example of why that can be bad. With coins that haven't been in the ground 150 or 200 years, it usually isn't as bad, but sometimes the end result of water and a toothbrush is an unidentifiable lump of copper.

Best Wishes,


Buck

 

[Gunrunner61]

An Awesome find for sure...............Here's my Banner vote.

 

[relicmeister]

Congratulations on the chain cent, my friend.

 

[testing123]

Got my vote for banner. There might not be much detail left but it is still a chain cent!