Not from today - but a couple old coppers...

[Cubfan64]

2 weeks ago I had an opportunity to meet someone in western Mass and he took me to a site he's hunted in the past that's given up old coppers and other misc. relics.

We hunted hard through the farm field and pasture for a good 6 hours or so and didn't find a whole lot of targets, but I was lucky enough to have found the first two old coppers I've ever dug in my life!

They were really crusty and even with some cleaning when I got home you could barely make out any detail at all. I recalled that he suggested trying some 600 grit sandpaper and just rub them slightly - especially in as much as they were so far gone nothing I could do was going to make them better (no, olive oil would not have worked on these ones).

Here are the results - I know they don't look too great, but they are 100 times better than before I used the sandpaper. I was really hesitant to do it as they were the first two (possibly) pre 1800 coins I've ever found, but as I said, nothing was going to hurt them and it's not like they have much value to anyone but me

The first pic is the reverse of the smaller one - the obverse is just worn too smooth to give any indication - the person I hunted with thought it was probably a King George Half Penny.

The second pic is the larger and more substantial one - in this case, the reverse is worn totally smooth, but the bust on the obverse really became visible after the sandpaper - it was hardly noticeable before.

I know they can't be identified or dated, but they're my 2 favorite finds for the year anyways

I'm hooked now btw - I love water hunting for jewelry, but the lure of old coins has gripped me hard!! This winter I'm going to be doing a ton of research and asking of permission for spring!

Thanks for looking

 

[silverfinder]

You've got a Connecticut copper, circa 1785-6.

 

[Evolution]

Nice finds. I'm not sure i would have used the sandpaper method but I can say that it is very frustrating to find an old coppa and not know what it is. I've found 2 like that this year so far. I also found a King George II this year. Your friend was right. Thats a King George. 8)

 

[John (Ma)]

Nice looking finds, sounds like it was a good time.

 

[COUNTRY GIRL]

WOW! Those are great in any condition! I hope you guys hunt that spot some more. I'm pretty addicted to the old coins now myself .

 

[Iron Patch]

Yes, Geo. I & William III. Both real oldies.

 

[Cubfan64]

Thanks for all the comments and info. I know what you mean about the sandpaper idea Evolution - but in this case with my first ones and in such lousy shape I honestly don't mind cause I wouldn't part with them for the world anyways. It's definitely not something I will ever do on a regular basis.

CG - Not sure whether I'll get a chance to hunt there again or not. It was sort of a one time thing - at least for this year as he has a regular hunting partner, I think I just "hinted" to him online enough times that I'd love to find an old copper that he felt some pity for me and invited me out for a day

There's plenty of old spots around where I live as well - I just need to research, make some connections and ask for permission. I've noticed the permission thing seems to be the hardest part - where I lived in Illinois and Wisconsin before it was generally really easy to get folks to let me hunt, but here in the NE, they're a little more (maybe even alot more) private and wary of someone who doesn't have a NE accent

Won't stop me for continuing to ask though - eventually someone will say yes!

 

[Johnny Cache Hunter]

BIG TIME congratulations go out to you Cubfan!

Those coins are awesome!
It's great that you were able to find them during that hunt.
Those two coppers would ignite the coin hunting bug in anyone.

Like yourself, I'll be doing my share of research this winter as well. I do hope that we can hook up next year and hit a few spots.

Happy Hunting,

JCH

 

[Colonial KirkPA]

Awesome, bud, those coppas are nice! It is a thrill to see that green disc in the hole. I wish you many more!

 

[geckokid]

I would of used Electrolysis, it removes the corrosion.
I never would of used sandpaper.

 

[RELICDUDE07]

make you a small coin cleaner.take a cell phone charger cord around 9 volts.cut the small end off ,add stainless alligator clips to the pos. and neg . get a stainless fork or spoon put it in a small clear glass of water so you can see it working fill glass about half full with a little lemon juice and salt. hook pos.to top of fork and neg to coin. make sure the coin is in the water all the way .you should see the rust bubble away .maybe a toothbrush to help a little, it works so much better then sand paper?if you find something really great you dont want to take sand paper to it?very nice old coppers just worn alot in good shape would be worth alot of money?

 

[Cubfan64]

I have an electrolysis setup that I use regularly on gold and silver items and it works great. It's not something I want to use on severely corroded copper coins however as it basically just removes EVERYTHING as it progresses - including any details. Even though I knew what it would do since I'm a chemist, I tried it once on an old IH I found and took it out on a regular basis to examine it. It gradually went from being severely corroded but able to see details of the head and barely see the date (1898) to being completely pitted to the point where I could identify nothing.

With some of those old coins, it's actually the corrosion that's holding the detail together.

I'm not stupid and I know using sandpaper on a coin is a big no-no, however in this case the coins had virtually no details showing and the folks I hunted with who've found many many colonials suggested I use the 600 grit sandpaper just enough to see if any raised details could be identified.

I am more than pleased with the finds - they look 100 times better than they did when I found them and 100 times better than had I tried electrolysis on them and totally destroyed them

 

[RELICDUDE07]

i have tried it on some of my coppers with great results?maybe you let it soak to long or over juiced it .it takes mine about 30 min. anyway they are very nice finds and i hope you get some more ?

 

[Cubfan64]

i have tried it on some of my coppers with great results?maybe you let it soak to long or over juiced it .it takes mine about 30 min. anyway they are very nice finds and i hope you get some more ?

I had it set on the lowest settings - perhaps the IH was just so gone that it didn't work on it. I'll definitely give it a try on the next bad coppers I find - I'm hoping to find many more

Thanks

 

[hollowpointred]

nice find! i have to admit, i cringed a little when i read about the sand paper but they were only slugs and now you can partially ID them. i understand your reasoning. again congrats on a great find!

 

[Cubfan64]

nice find! i have to admit, i cringed a little when i read about the sand paper but they were only slugs and now you can partially ID them. i understand your reasoning. again congrats on a great find!

Yah I know about the cringing thing - trust me though, I would NEVER use or recommend anyone using sandpaper on a coin that had potential value.

I plan to find lots more so I'll be able to try a few different cleaning methods on them as I find em

 

[Evolution]

I've changed my mind about the sandpaper. I'm gonna use some right now on the coin in my avatar picture and see if I can bring out some more detail. Wish me luck! Like I said in my first post, i understand about the frustration of the no detail copper disc. Neither of those coins was worth alot (at least not value wise) and it is nice to know what they are. Besides, if you're not going to sell them what does it matter right? I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that you find another in better shape that doesn't require the sandpaper method. Good luck bud and Happy hunting.

 

[Johnny Cache Hunter]

I have an electrolysis setup that I use regularly on gold and silver items and it works great. It's not something I want to use on severely corroded copper coins however as it basically just removes EVERYTHING as it progresses - including any details. Even though I knew what it would do since I'm a chemist, I tried it once on an old IH I found and took it out on a regular basis to examine it. It gradually went from being severely corroded but able to see details of the head and barely see the date (1898) to being completely pitted to the point where I could identify nothing.

With some of those old coins, it's actually the corrosion that's holding the detail together.

I'm not stupid and I know using sandpaper on a coin is a big no-no, however in this case the coins had virtually no details showing and the folks I hunted with who've found many many colonials suggested I use the 600 grit sandpaper just enough to see if any raised details could be identified.

I am more than pleased with the finds - they look 100 times better than they did when I found them and 100 times better than had I tried electrolysis on them and totally destroyed them

Cubfan, without question, you are absolutely correct on this matter. If your taking about a heavily corroded coin, coppers in particular, and you use the electrolysis setup on it, you will absolutely loose most, if not all, the detail that is still visible on the coin. Been there, done that, period the end.

Now if you were talking about a silver coin that wasn't so much corroded as it was encrusted, or even a copper coin that wasn't truly corroded, then the electrolysis may be of some value. But on corroded coins it really is a different story all together.

For those corroded finds I personally like to use 0000 steel wool the effect is the same as the sand paper. I think you might find that the steel wool can be just a little easier to work with. I buy the 0000 steel wool off eBay, as sometimes it's hard to find it in that grade in the local stores. Once again, this is only on coins that clearly possess no monetary value above face.


Johnny Cache

 

[Cubfan64]

I have an electrolysis setup that I use regularly on gold and silver items and it works great. It's not something I want to use on severely corroded copper coins however as it basically just removes EVERYTHING as it progresses - including any details. Even though I knew what it would do since I'm a chemist, I tried it once on an old IH I found and took it out on a regular basis to examine it. It gradually went from being severely corroded but able to see details of the head and barely see the date (1898) to being completely pitted to the point where I could identify nothing.

With some of those old coins, it's actually the corrosion that's holding the detail together.

I'm not stupid and I know using sandpaper on a coin is a big no-no, however in this case the coins had virtually no details showing and the folks I hunted with who've found many many colonials suggested I use the 600 grit sandpaper just enough to see if any raised details could be identified.

I am more than pleased with the finds - they look 100 times better than they did when I found them and 100 times better than had I tried electrolysis on them and totally destroyed them

Cubfan, without question, you are absolutely correct on this matter. If your taking about a heavily corroded coin, coppers in particular, and you use the electrolysis setup on it, you will absolutely loose most, if not all, the detail that is still visible on the coin. Been there, done that, period the end.

Now if you were talking about a silver coin that wasn't so much corroded as it was encrusted, or even a copper coin that wasn't truly corroded, then the electrolysis may be of some value. But on corroded coins it really os a different story all together.

For those corroded finds I personally like to use 0000 steel wool the effect is the same as the sand paper. I think you might find that the steel wool can be just a little easier to work with. I buy the 0000 steel wool off eBay, as sometimes it's hard to find it in that grade in the local stores. Once again, this is only on coins that clearly possess no monetary value above face.


Johnny Cache

Yah, thats been my experience too with copper items. I didn't think about the 0000 steel wool - I might have to stock a bit of that myself.

I hope we get a chance to hunt some next year as well!

 

[shootist]

Those are some really great finds,must have been very exciting to pull them up out of the ground. There is a guy on here I think it is DoninSJ South Jersey I think. He finds a lot of old coppers and large cents. About a week ago he posted his process with before and after,I believe he used peroxide and a Q-tip but dont quote me on that. I do know for sure that he some some beat to death looking coins and made them quite presentable,perhaps he will chime in here or if not I think there is a restoration section here at Tnet that may provide some other alternatives.Keep finding the good stuff and letting us see...Shoot