Sesquicentennial of American Independence Half Dollar found on beach. Clean?

[Digger54]

Hi; I found this Sesquicentennial of American Independence Half Dollar on a saltwater beach while detecting many years ago. The salt had begun to tarnish it. Should I consider the expense of having it professionally cleaned and graded?

 

[Terry Soloman]

YES! I found mine in an old cigarette case at about 5" deep, and it's not in as good shape - Congratulations!

 

[cudamark]

Hi; I found this Sesquicentennial of American Independence Half Dollar on a saltwater beach while detecting many years ago. The salt had begun to tarnish it. Should I consider the expense of having it professionally cleaned and graded?

Nope, not worth the cost. Only ones that will grade MS63 and greater would be worth it. A beach coin hasn't got a chance of grading that high.

 

[k0bgalan]

I'm not sure I'd do so. Even a very good circulated example hovers around $25. Cleaning up the patina might even reduce the price

 

[AU Seeker]

Nope, not worth the cost. Only ones that will grade MS63 and greater would be worth it. A beach coin hasn't got a chance of grading that high.

Hi; I found this Sesquicentennial of American Independence Half Dollar on a saltwater beach while detecting many years ago. The salt had begun to tarnish it. Should I consider the expense of having it professionally cleaned and graded?

I agree, not worth it, it will never grade high enough to be worth the cost, a MS63 grade(which yours won't get) it would only be worth around $175, it wouldn't surprise me if it didn't grade at all because they would most likely label it "Environmental Damage.

 

[Digger54]

Good points. I'm just going to slab it as I had no intention of selling it, that will be my daughter's decision after I'm swimming with the fishes.

Never quite understood the "Don't clean your dug coins" when they already have environmental damage to start with.

 

[AU Seeker]

Good points. I'm just going to slab it as I had no intention of selling it, that will be my daughter's decision after I'm swimming with the fishes.

Never quite understood the "Don't clean your dug coins" when they already have environmental damage to start with.

If they've been cleaned, they end up with both labels..."Environmental Damage" and "Cleaned" so you have 2 strikes against the coin instead of just one.

 

[cudamark]

Good points. I'm just going to slab it as I had no intention of selling it, that will be my daughter's decision after I'm swimming with the fishes.

Never quite understood the "Don't clean your dug coins" when they already have environmental damage to start with.

Depends on the coin, but, 99.99 % of mine get cleaned. Cleaning can (but not always) reduce some value, but, most dug coins would be worth even less if you don't clean them.

 

[Digger54]

Does licking them and sticking them to my forehead lessen value? I have a tendency to do that with early silver.

 

[AU Seeker]

Does licking them and sticking them to my forehead lessen value? I have a tendency to do that with early silver.

ONLY if they are permanently stuck!!

 

[cudamark]

Does licking them and sticking them to my forehead lessen value? I have a tendency to do that with early silver.

You do that in some of our polluted waters, you risk catching some dread disease! 🤮

 

[Digger54]

Do you think I ruined this Morgan Silver dollar by cleaning it?

Late 90s was digging a privy with a buddy in New Orleans. I always detect the dirt that is pulled out. Apparently privies are unkind to silver coins. Was able to see enough of the backside at the 2 o'clock to see the wing, wreath, and "AMERICA" to ID it as a Morgan.

 

[robertk]

Do you think I ruined this Morgan Silver dollar by cleaning it?

From the looks of it, I’d say it was ruined before you ever got to it. Still a pretty cool find. Whoever dropped it probably said something colorful when it happened.