Metal detecting find 1872! Indian Head Penny

[GatorBoy]

I had quite a surprise when I looked up the date to see what value it had.
I dug this up just a few days ago I would like to ask you folks with some knowledge if this still meets a standard well enough to have good value and also ask your opinion on whether or not I should do anything about the bits of material adhered to it

 

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[Iamrussell]

Very nice find
DO NOT DO ANYTHING TO IT- Take it to a professional to have it professionally "cleaned" the right way- or leave as is

 

[payload77]

Old bronze is easy to chip on the rim. He's right...don't do anything to it! Nice save!

 

[payload77]

By the way, great year!

 

[vpnavy]

Great find! Thanks for sharing...

 

[GatorBoy]

Thanks!

 

[huntsman53]

Congrats on a nice find! A quick bath in Acetone to arrest the verdigris and then a soak in Mineral Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Kroll Oil will likely loosen some of the dirt, grime and encrustation will do wonders for the coin. If cleaned correctly with not detriment to the coin, it's appearance or toning, then it is possible that you may be able to get somewhere from $50 to $100 for it.


Frank

 

[GatorBoy]

Thank you...
You just mirrored what I've read as the best method.
I have acetone and mineral oil already so ....that's it.
Thanks again!
I never knew verdigris needed water to grow til last night...good to know

 

[Iamrussell]

I still say DONT DO ANYTHING to it- take it to a professional-

 

[huntsman53]

I still say DONT DO ANYTHING to it- take it to a professional-

A quick Acetone bath will not harm the coin and is used only to arrest the verdigris (i.e. starve it of moisture which allows it to continue to grow and do damage to the metal of the coin). However, if a coin is placed in Acetone and forgotten (i.e. left in it too long), it is possible that the Acetone may damage it. Mineral Oil will not harm the coin in any way whatsoever. Even Extra Virgin Olive Oil will not harm the coin but it can darken a coin if the coin is left soaking in it too long. I prefer the latter on dirty, grimy and somewhat encrusted coins as the slight acidity in the oil is better for loosening these which makes their removal much easier. It is up to Gator Boy to do with the coin as he wishes but IMHO, the coin is not really valuable enough to warrant a Professional Cleaning due to the wear, corrosion and probable pitting! If after a Professional Cleaning, the coin would grade out to an EF-40 or higher grade, then yes, a Professional Cleaning would be worth the costs! However, Gator Boy's coin will never grade anywhere near that high!


Frank

 

[GatorBoy]

I just say..... I dug an 80 FREAKING DOLLAR PENNY!! LOL!
I'll get more for this than a lot of those old worn out large cents... So Nana Nana boo boo .. Haha

View attachment 1174702

 

[GatorBoy]

When was the last time any of you dug a penny worth that? Just saying...

 

[huntsman53]

I hope the Bravado and taunting does not endure you with the "Curse of the Stinkin Zinclons" and they will be mainly the only coins you find for some time!


Frank

 

[GatorBoy]

No bravado... Just a sense of humor about it...
Com'on I've found much better things... Just being honest actually... How many pennies have you dug?
How many 1872 Indians?
They are pretty darn rare when looking at the numbers
Taunting?

 

[GatorBoy]

This is taunting :-)

 

[GlenDronach]

The metal detecting gods have now relegated you to can slaw finds for the next 10 years.

 

[huntsman53]

No bravado... Just a sense of humor about it...
Com'on I've found much better things... Just being honest actually... How many pennies have you dug?
How many 1872 Indians?
They are pretty darn rare when looking at the numbers
Taunting?

I understand all too well the feeling about making such a find! I felt the same way when I detected and dug a honker of a European made 22kt Gold "Men's" Wedding Band on a Beach in Key West. Sorry, I don't remember which beach as that was back in 1981 or 1982! I dug so many Indian Head and Lincoln Cents back in the day, that there is no way I would ever remember the count. A lot of my' finds when I lived in Key West, went to paying bills and putting food on the table as I started out low on the Federal Pay Scale as an Upper-Air Specialist Trainee, then later a Meteorological Technician Trainee. After leaving Key West for West Virginia, there were not as many opportunities to make good finds and I let my hobby suffer. Once I moved back to Tennessee, I began to concentrate on Gem and Gold prospecting and have been accumulating metal detectors for mainly finding Gold. Although I want to metal detect around here for Civil War relics, a lot of the areas have been cleaned out or are off-limits due to being posted or protected. The exception is my' own yard which I am sure saw a lot of Union and Confederate Soldier foot traffic but I have not done much in the way of finding out if there are Civil War relics here. I have found quite a few coins (mostly Quarters) in my' yard every time I go out to test a metal detector I just purchased but that is about it. I have found a few things in the yard that may have been related to the Civil War but not knowing much about them, they were tossed out with the trash. I could kick myself for not finding this site long ago because I could have learned so much more and learned not to be so quick to dismiss a find and toss it!


Frank

 

[huntsman53]

This is taunting :-)

View attachment 1174825

You bet!


Frank

 

[GatorBoy]

The metal detecting gods have now relegated you to can slaw finds for the next 10 years.

Nooooooooooo!

 

[GatorBoy]

Frank... I love the military stuff I don't get any civil war items over my way... second Seminole











war though