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

 

[Cubfan64]

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

Thanks - The peroxide option is the only one I honestly totally forgot about and would have tried if I had recalled it. DonSJ has definitely found quite a few older coppers and I've read his posts here as well as another forum. I'll for sure be trying the peroxide idea on the next ones I find first.

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Congrats on the old coppers! I often find them completely worn down. HH, Mike