V Nickel Today...Perhaps I shouldnt have cleaned it....

[Cool Hand Fluke]

V Nickel Today...Perhaps I shouldn't have cleaned it....

Dug this 1908 V nickel in a construction site today. I have three pics showing different stages of cleaning. I probably made it worse trying to clean it. Should I have left it alone? What do you all think?

 

[aquachigger]

Re: V Nickel Today...Perhaps I shouldn't have cleaned it....

I like the first picture best. But you never know how it will turn out until it's done. Nice find!

 

[Goes4ever]

Re: V Nickel Today...Perhaps I shouldn't have cleaned it....

I like it cleaned better, dug nickels are not worth much if not a key date, so might as well make it more presentable for you to look at it, nice find by the way

 

[kevkirki]

Re: V Nickel Today...Perhaps I shouldn't have cleaned it....

who knows?. I see post where coins are cleaned and look like the came from the bank

Cool find

 

[7creeks]

Re: V Nickel Today...Perhaps I shouldn't have cleaned it....

Most of the time I don't even see a date...looks good

 

[Oilfield Diver]

Re: V Nickel Today...Perhaps I shouldn't have cleaned it....

I found an 1883 V nickel. Cleaned it a little too aggressive with water but stopped. I wasn't too concerned with cleaning it. It is not like it is worth hundreds or thousands. What is this 1883 worth anyway?

 

[watercolor]

Re: V Nickel Today...Perhaps I shouldn't have cleaned it....

Nice recovery on the V

V-Nickel cleaning results can be a crapshoot. Their shallow, "flat" relief
compounded with different ground conditions that may pit their surface
make it difficult at best to get something that looks decent. And as "Goes4ever"
indicated, you may as well make it look presentable for you to look at.

I used to clean the nickels I found in worchestershire sauce but have since
been using a fine, brass-bristle brush and lightly brushing the surface.
After brushing for only a minute or two, all the dirt, crud, and reddish stain
can generally be removed.

The three nickels below (excluding the Buffalo in the middle) were cleaned using
a brass brush. . . the center Buff was cleaned with just a toothbrush & water.

Take care & good hunting!

 

[Roland58]

Re: V Nickel Today...Perhaps I shouldn't have cleaned it....

Thanks for the tip, WC......your results look very good.

 

[jewelerguy]

Re: V Nickel Today...Perhaps I shouldn't have cleaned it....

nice find. I've always liked V nickels. As for myself, a toothbrush and soapy water is usually the extent of cleaning I give them. But, as already stated by others, it's not a rare coin so I see no harm in cleaning it to your desire.

For anyone interested, this wiki link has some interesting information on V nickles...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Head_nickel