Old Coin or Button

[Moe (fl)]

Is this an old coin? Found it at a Florida beach last week. It is smaller than a dime.

It rang as a solid VDI=15 on my Nox 800.

It is flat and feels heavy for its size. I see yellow parts (gilded?). It is about 15mm in diameter and weighs under 2g.

I am afraid to clean it too hard. Thoughts?

 

[river roamer]

Most encrusted coins I have found in salt water are already damaged.
I would clean it. IMO

 

[Moe (fl)]

Could this be a gold coin? It certainly looks like gold on one side but would it have green crust unless it is gilded or has copper. The VDI was 15 which is gold range for the Nox 800. It is very small (~15mm).

 

[oldmxrat]

A few minutes in the electrolysis tank and all that crusty stuff should come right off, then you'll know. Post the results.

 

[Moe (fl)]

A few minutes in the electrolysis tank and all that crusty stuff should come right off, then you'll know. Post the results.

Started treatment with distilled water and will go from there. If gold gilded button wouldn't electrolysis damage it?

 

[oldmxrat]

Started treatment with distilled water and will go from there. If gold gilded button wouldn't electrolysis damage it?

It could. The trick is starting with quick dips and checking the results often. If gilding started to flake off at all, I believe you'd see it pretty easily. Use no more than a 6-9v 500mA phone charger, or similar, for a power source.