Questions on 1909-S VDB Wheat Penny

[taltexan]

I dug this coin yesterday along with several other wheat's and 3 silver dimes. Didn't know what I had until I started to clean the wheat's. Coin is in relativity good condition. Any idea to a realistic value and would olive oil remove the remaining dirt without harming the value of coin? Thanks

 

[Tuberale]

I actually found one of these in a collection 2-3 years ago. Had it professionally cleaned. Witnessed the cleaning and advocate it, but it's your coin, and you've got to make the final decision.

A coin with soil on it will not show original surfaces. The ONLY appropriate method of cleaning this coin is with Q-tips, acetone, and patience.

Dip the Q-tip in acetone and gently wipe the surface while twisting the Q-tip. Acetone affects only organic material. Soil, by definition, is feces. (That's from a soil scientist, not my opinion.) But soil can also have sand, rock chips, and other hard material in it. So slowly wiping the surface with acetone-soaked Q-tip (extra fluffy if you can get them) is the best method. Keep in mind that acetone and Q-tips are cheap. Use several. If the Q-tip gets slightly discolored, discard it and use another. Better to use too many than not enough.

My coin had tape residue still on one surface. It took 4 Q-tips to clean on the taped side. Sent it to PCGS, returned slabbed, not graded, identified as "Authentic, environmental damage." That will happen with your coin as well. But having it confirmed authentic should increase the value of the coin by several hundred dollars in a collector's eyes.

You will need to have it authenticated by PCGS, ANACS or other grading service. If you find a friendly member of PCGS already, or if you decide to join PCGS ($200? or so) you will also have free grading/slabbing for 10 coins. I paid $30 to get mine authenticated. If you have a good coin dealer near you, he might have a shipment about to go out, and might be willing to include your coin with his shipment.

It takes about 1-2 months for the coin to be returned.

Whatever you decide to do, you've likely got a find of a lifetime there.

 

[hellfirebluefish]

Correct me if I am wrong, this guy on ebay, is selling a 1909 VDB, but in the pictures of the coin, I do NOT see the VDB...

http://cgi.ebay.com/1909-S-VDB-NGC-...l&hash=item588f1d0a8f&clk_rvr_id=251980707026

 

[dallgire]

Correct me if I am wrong, this guy on ebay, is selling a 1909 VDB, but in the pictures of the coin, I do NOT see the VDB...

http://cgi.ebay.com/1909-S-VDB-NGC-...l&hash=item588f1d0a8f&clk_rvr_id=251980707026

very crappy pictures hard to see much of anything IMO

 

[thrillathahunt]

That is an exceptional dug coin. You will glean a lot of information about conserving (cleaning) in the following web page. Note particularly the heading "Where we stand today".

http://www.ncscoin.com/pdfs/conservation_guide.pdf

 

[DrJoePrime]

I shuddered when I read your olive oil question. It would destroy the patina...make it darker.

Get it cleaned professionally...it's way too valuable to work on (by an amateur) .

Oh...and CONGRATS! Great Find! I mean GREAT FIND!

HH Joe

 

[pastorals]

Great find...Congratulations!! Definitely have it professionally graded and, if you want, professionally cleaned (conserved)

Google - ANACS

 

[SeaninNH]

Nice find! Too bad they wouldn't give you the banner or I'd give you a vote

 

[ncsilverspider]

BANNER FOR SURE! That is a GREAT FIND! A BIG Congrats!!!

 

[High Plains Digger]

I concur with Diggingthepast. It is back in the thread, but he says he had a coin conserved and it was ruined. I sent a buff in (18-D) and although it was ugly, it came back uglier. Same place for grade conservation I believe.

 

[taltexan]

Thanks guys for all the information and opinions about the coin. You just can't beat the hobby or the camaraderie as shown by all the posts to this thread..

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

Wow,

Great find !!! Do not clean it anymore and have it graded to best protect your asset !!
I'm giving you banner vote too !! Make sure you post after grading !!

Keep @ it and HH !!

 

[DigginThePast]

Thanks for all the replies and information, will not go any further with the cleaning....lol

Found the thread I referred to above:

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,369328.0.html

 

[CoilFisher]

I used to clean my finds via electrolysis.

All you need is a glass of water, a battery, salt, and some clip leads.

Always worked good, but not sure with something as valuable as that.

You might want to look up how to do it.

Worth a try.

 

[goatofwonder]

Great find! Everyone who enjoys coins would KILL for a find like that.

 

[Mobes]

Great find

 

[PI PETE]

WOW.
when I was a kid I always bought rolls of pennies hoping to find one of those.

that's the first one I have seen that was not in the Red book -(before the internet)

congratulations on a once in a life time rare coin find!

 

[AMorgan]

I used to clean my finds via electrolysis.

All you need is a glass of water, a battery, salt, and some clip leads.

Always worked good, but not sure with something as valuable as that.

You might want to look up how to do it.

Worth a try.

Thats a very quick way to decimate the value of a collectible coin... It might work to bring out detail, but that pleasant green patina of copper sulphide would dissolve and make the surface porosity become more visible. I would never recommend electrolosys unless something is completely encrusted with no other means of determining what is under the crust. This is based upon my first hand experience cleaning with electrolysis and my connection to the professional coin collecting community.

 

[taltexan]

Thanks Digging the Past for the thread on "professional" cleaning. After all the input from the members I will not do anything to the coin as long as I own it.....I like the patina. My original intent was to remove any remaining dirt-debris that was stuck to the coin to be able to see more detail if possible. After a closer look with magnification I don't see enough to worry about. I am not a coin collector and this coin will be traded for circulated silver in the near future.

 

[Aghead]

Clearly you need to get the coin authenticated. There were 4 mint dies used to strike this series of coins. Based on location of the S it can not be from three of the dies as the S falls well below the date mark. It is hard to tell but the mint mark does not look right. The upper and lower serifs should be parallel with the upper and lower S-curves. Both serifs in your photos appear to be inset, which is common in the counterfeits. Better photos would help.

 

[taltexan]

authentication is in the process. Will post when I get the results.