Need some assistance on how to properly clean a mid-1600s London token

[Bill D. (VA)]

A while back I found this 27mm brass penny token issued by Edward Jarvis around 1670 in an early trash pit here in southeast Va. Jarvis was the landlord of The George Tavern located in Cheapside, a section of London. On the obverse is depicted St. George on horseback slaying the dragon with the legend "EDWARD IARVIS AT THE GEORGE". On the reverse is an elaborate monogram in the center, with the legend "IN CHEAPSIDE MARKETT" on the periphery. Below are pics of the actual recovered token along with a more detailed pic of a better grade example. Mine has a nice gray patina, but so far I've only used dry cleaning methods. However, it looks like this token could be cleaned a bit more to improve its appearance and details, but I'm a little hesitant as I certainly don't want to damage it. It was suggested previously that a warm peroxide bath might do the trick, but I haven't had much success with that method on coppers. I also have some blue ribbon coin cleaner which is by far the best product I've ever used on old coppers, but not sure how it would do on brass. Anyway, I'm totally open to suggestions at this point, and hopefully I can find a way that I feel confident about, or I'll just leave as is. Thanks for any input.

 

[Ahab8]

I definitely agree with your no contrast comment Abe, but I think I'm not going to chance doing anything with it and will leave as is. That gray look isn't half bad anyway.

I think that's a great decision. We can never go back

 

[mangum]

I may have to try that sometime Josh, but certainly not with a unique find like this. Might practice on an old copper first, but based on the input I'm receiving I think I'm gonna leave the token as is, which I was leaning toward anyway. Thanks for the info.

good call, I think it looks good as is

 

[CRUSADER]

Cheapside Market - very famous London Market, & Cheapside means 'Market'.

The obv legend has no 'E' at the end - EDWARD IARVIS AT THE GEORG

What is nice is that its a 1d, not a farthing or halfpenny, I have no 1d 17th C tokens - book price £28

 

[Iron Patch]

Cheapside Market - very famous London Market, & Cheapside means 'Market'.

The obv legend has no 'E' at the end - EDWARD IARVIS AT THE GEORG

What is nice is that its a 1d, not a farthing or halfpenny, I have no 1d 17th C tokens - book price £28

Very surprising being a penny and from London and valued so low, so obviously it's relatively common as far as 17th century tokens go.

 

[CRUSADER]

Very surprising being a penny and from London and valued so low, so obviously it's relatively common as far as 17th century tokens go.

Most London tokens were produced in large numbers compared the the small rural shops etc..

 

[Iron Patch]

Most London tokens were produced in large numbers compared the the small rural shops etc..

Then it makes sense why the rarer London ones tend to book very high.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

I'm not really concerned at all with the value. I just think its really cool that something like this found its way to colonial Virginia only to be rediscovered almost 350 years later. Not too often things like this turn up in the US.

 

[wecoyote]

Does anyone clean their finds with ultrasonics? At my work we have ultrasonic cleaning tanks from desktop units to some you could take a bath in. I know most jewelry shops clean rings and such in small ultrasonic units.

 

[Iron Patch]

I'm not really concerned at all with the value. I just think its really cool that something like this found its way to colonial Virginia only to be rediscovered almost 350 years later. Not too often things like this turn up in the US.

I'm also not concerned about value, but being someone who also has the book on these like Cru does, it seemed like the London pieces do quite well... but obviously it was just the rare stuff I would notice.

 

[rjw4law]

I know the advise on relics and relics...softly clean the surface dirt off, don't scour or polish with chemical .... damage would be to the value.

 

[CRUSADER]

I'm not really concerned at all with the value. I just think its really cool that something like this found its way to colonial Virginia only to be rediscovered almost 350 years later. Not too often things like this turn up in the US.

I know, I was just giving background, its the ones with no price that are the rarer ones. But as you alight to its a very rare US find.