Lady barber is my valentine.

[Bell]

Found this sweet 1902s barber half today after work. The detail is actually perfect but it has that nasty thick black coating on it silver sometimes gets especially when buried with iron. Any suggestions on how to get it off without hurting the coin? Peroxide does not help......

 

[traverdog]

Very nice!!

 

[Eric Willoughby]

Dont rub it, dont touch it, put it in a soft place until one of the coin experts on here can tell you how to clean it!! Otherwise, you may devalue the coin majorly.

 

[nova]

Man I,m jealous -- L.B still eludes my coil after 13 years. I would not clean it.

 

[Coin Stalker]

Wow what a nice valentine..... Some one will chime in eventually on how to clean that beauty ..

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Nice!!!!!!!! BIG silver

 

[Nutriasub]

beautiful find.

Cheers

 

[MiniMe]

Cupid did you right. Excellent find!

 

[Indiana Digger]

Lady Barber should be left as a dirty girl until you talk to a coin expert.

Until then, enjoy your "dirty valentine".

Great find...congrats!


~Indiana Digger~

 

[steelheadwill]

Lovely Coin!
Great Dig

 

[terpfan]

I agree with the others, don't do anything to this coin yet. It potentially could be worth several hundred dollars. http://www.numismedia.com/fmv/prices/barhlv/pricesgd.shtml

I'll keep an eye on this thread in hopes someone can give you a good cleaning solution that will not devalue the coin. Last year I found an 1858 Seated Liberty quarter with the same black discoloration. I left it "as is" and have grown to appreciate the unique coloring.

 

[allen]

good going on that sweet silver !!!

 

[FreedomUIC]

I would try soaking the coin overnight in Olive Oil then a gentle rinsing under the fawcet and nothing else. Some coin experts can
clean the coin using Acetone and Cotton swabs. I would take it to the nearest coin shop and see what they have to say.

 

[mj-air23]

Electrolysis should take most of it off or make a paste of baking soda between your fingers and lightly rub both sides of coin. That seems to shine silver up nice without being too abrasive. Nice one!

 

[Goes4ever]

Do NOT USE BAKING SODA! However I found a barber last year in the field black like that and electroylsis removed all the black from it without removing the patina

 

[september]

Nice find!

 

[civilman1]

Don't use electrolysis either.....1902 was my first and only

 

[freddy williams]

MMmm wait for someone who knows cause the value is anywhere fromm 300 to 900 depending on the grade that was EF to AU

 

[Bank Runner]

Excellent large silver find.

 

[gleaner1]

Found this sweet 1902s barber half today after work. The detail is actually perfect but it has that nasty thick black coating on it silver sometimes gets especially when buried with iron. Any suggestions on how to get it off without hurting the coin? Peroxide does not help......

Nice to find those Barber halves, Congrats to you. The coin is already hurt. Getting it off cannot possibly hurt it more. Cleaning it cannot possibly hurt it more.