Morning Indian

pointdlr · Feb 6, 2008

I owe this coin to Capn_SE. I owe him many of my finds. I noticed the post from LI with the quarter video, and Capn_SE saying that zinc pennies and Indian Heads sound the same many times. With this in mind, I remembered a few "zinc" penny sounds from the voting booth location. I didn't dig them b/c I know that sound pretty well. This morning I snuck out real early in between rains here, and tried my luck. Only dug one coin before the rain came back, but it was this really nice 1881 Indian. Only 4-5" deep. If there is any wear on this coin, I can't find it. Any missing features in the picture are a result of my photography(light source from right side created some hot spots). There is a little dirt/grime that I think would come off. Anyone have any suggestions on how to lightly clean an indian?
Regards,
Jon Dickinson
www.prehistoricartifacts.com

Bridge End Farm · Feb 6, 2008

beautiful coin congrats

Thomas007 · Feb 6, 2008

Wow Jon

that coin looks to be in wonderful shape. Even looks to still have the luster to an extent.

What kind of ground was it in? Usually around here the copper takes a beating.

thanks for sharing and a good tip from the Captain too.

HH

Sanat

FLNative · Feb 6, 2008

Nice find! I wouldn't clean it at all, it looks fine. You only run the risk of damaging it if you clean it. HH

Andy.

BuckleBoy · Feb 6, 2008

I wouldn't clean it--this is a nicer IH Cent than I have ever found, and I've found over a roll of 'em. Leave it as it is. Any cleaning will only damage it. I wouldn't even use the peroxide method on it--it already looks great. Congratulations!

Regards,

Buckleboy

allen · Feb 6, 2008

THAT IS A GREAT LOOKING INDIAN HEAD.
WAY TO GO...

pointdlr · Feb 6, 2008

Thanks for the replies. I wouldn't say the coin has the original luster, it is just the photograph. I am still learning how to take highly detailed pics.
If I only use the camera flash, I can't get the detail, but I get the color right. I attached a pic of the actual color of the coin. You may not even want to believe it is the same coin, but it is. The coin is a great olive green patina.
If I use a high power halogen light set at angle to the picture, I can get the detail, but it puts an orange/brown color over everything. In the case of a copper coin, it makes it look like original luster.
Anyway, I am getting better at the photography, and the detecting, so things are good.
Regards,
Jon Dickinson
www.prehistoricartifacts.com

Nana40 · Feb 6, 2008

Beautiful coin, Jon! I agree with the others, I wouldn't clean it anymore either...it looks great!

Southern_Boy · Feb 6, 2008

Sharp looking injun there...keep up the good work.

mermiss · Feb 6, 2008

I've probably dug 40 or more indian head pennies and this example looks better than any. I have dug some with similar detail, but no matter how good the detail the color has always been very dark brown. I would be interested to hear what type of soil lends itself to such a high degree of preservation. Very nice coin and I cannot believe you put your detector down to type your message!! Congrats and good luck!!

Burdie · Feb 6, 2008

Snow snow go away so I can find an IH penny every day. Just dreaming thanks for posting. HH
Burdie

John Deere Digger · Feb 6, 2008

Great find, the first indian I found was also an 1881
JDD

dgaughan · Feb 6, 2008

wow that is in great shape congrats my afternoon indian is in terrible shape still fun to find good luck and hh

I_Dig_NYC · Feb 6, 2008

I agree that penny looks unbelievably preserved, what kind of soil was it in?, grassy or not? Don't clean it you may ruin it...

kdismuke1 · Feb 6, 2008

GOOD LOOKING INDIAN HEAD. LEAVE IT LIKE IT IS. I HAVE A FEW THAT DOES NOT LOOK VERY GOOD BUT I DID NOT TRY AND CLEAN THEM. GREAT FIND.

shanegalang · Feb 6, 2008

Guess I need to start digging all those zinc cent signals I get! Great find, Congrats!

pointdlr · Feb 6, 2008

I haven't been doing this long enough to know what Indian Head's typically look like coming out of the ground. I knew the one I found today was in great condition, but you guys have me more excited. I have found 4 Indian's since I started looking in November, and 3 of them are in awesome shape. I was thinking that they preserved better than Wheat pennies. Is this true? I took a long range pic of the ones I found to get the color true. I'll describe how each was found, maybe that will help answer the condition question. Each piece is described from a diamond pattern.
Left side: Todays find. About 4"-5" down on a downslope of a hill. Earth was dark and loose. Olive green color
Bottom: First one I found. 1908. Condition terrible. Found at about 3" on a flat spot at bottom of hill. Bright green and crusty. Found my first day out with my machine.
Right Side: 1907. Found in a "hunted out park". About 6" deep again on downslope in an unplanted garden area. Brown color(almost original color I think)
Top: 1889. Found at a home site. Again on a downslope of hill(very steep). Not more than 3". Can't remember what soil was like. Awesome deep green color that has a polished look.
Hope that helps,
Jon Dickinson.

Brendan M. · Feb 6, 2008

Your local soil conditions definitely agree with Indians. That's a rarity, so enjoy! Around by me they come out very dark, and sometimes the details are crumbling away...

Like the others already mentioned, you may not want to clean the Indian in question, but in general, a really effective method of cleaning Indians and Wheats (and LCs) is to heat a bowl containing a little peroxide in the microwave for about 1:20 or so, then drop the coins in and leave 'em until the fizzing stops. Take them out and use Q-tips dipped in the same peroxide to wipe off the softened crud. Rinse thoroughly afterward. Works like a charm and is pretty safe.

Forgive me if you knew all this already.

Cheers and HH,
Brendan

nebstater · Feb 6, 2008

Really nice looking Indian. I've never even found a wheatie that came out of the ground looking that good. WTG

BuckleBoy · Feb 7, 2008

mermiss said:
I've probably dug 40 or more indian head pennies and this example looks better than any. I have dug some with similar detail, but no matter how good the detail the color has always been very dark brown. I would be interested to hear what type of soil lends itself to such a high degree of preservation. Very nice coin and I cannot believe you put your detector down to type your message!! Congrats and good luck!!

I have gotten PLENTY of IH Cents from Virginia soil that had a nice even green patina on them--just none with both that nice patina AND very little wear on the coin.

Again, a GREAT IH there!

Oh, and as far as the peroxide method goes, I've found that it works best on coppers that have a green rather than brown patina--but you should always try it out on some wheats you don't care about first. It seems to work pretty well at removing green lumpy corrosion in some cases. I cleaned up an 1818 LC with this method last month, and honestly when I found it (even though I knew what it was) I couldn't see anything for the lumpy crusty corrosion all over the coin. Now 85-90% of the crusties are gone.

Regards,

Buckleboy