Is there any hope for this 2 cent piece

gameoftag · Aug 13, 2011

Went out this morning very early to hunt a side walk tear out downtown. I never dreamed i would find what i did. The very first signal i dug was this 2 cent piece. I believe the date is 1867 but i cannot be 100% sure.
It is very brittle, and i am not sure if i can save this. I soaked it in soapy water, used a toothbrush with baking soda, and finally resorted to a hot peroxide bath. I was trying to scrape some of the crud off the reverse with my nail and part of the coin just fell off.
The detail underneath is gorgeous, does anyone have a sugestion to save this coin. I fear it is beyond help. Of course I'll keep it but i would really like to see what i can do to clean it and preserve it for many years to come.

Coin_Master · Aug 13, 2011

soak it in olive oil for one month

Bonesquat · Aug 13, 2011

Leave it as is, you're only going to make it worse.

gameoftag · Aug 13, 2011

Bonesquat said:
Leave it as is, you're only going to make it worse.

That was my thought as well. I'm afraid even soaking it in olive oil will hurt it because of how easily it flakes off. Is there a way to preserve it from getting worse? I was going to just put it in a cardboard 2X2 and leave it alone unless someone has a miracle cure.
It may be ugly, but it's my baby and i Love it.

Capt Caveman · Aug 13, 2011

Looks fine to me. I'd put in a 2x2 and put it in the safe. Congrats.

Bonesquat · Aug 13, 2011

gameoftag said:
That was my thought as well. I'm afraid even soaking it in olive oil will hurt it because of how easily it flakes off. Is there a way to preserve it from getting worse? I was going to just put it in a cardboard 2X2 and leave it alone unless someone has a miracle cure.
It may be ugly, but it's my baby and i Love it.

Put in a 2x2 and forget about it. Things can only go downhill if you try to fool with it further. I've ruined some coins that looked like yours by cleaning them.

AceGVSU11 · Aug 13, 2011

It gives it character... slab that baby in the 2x2 and start telling everyone about all the adventures that coin has been on and what it has seen!!

Bonesquat · Aug 13, 2011

AceGVSU11 said:
It gives it character... slab that baby in the 2x2 and start telling everyone about all the adventures that coin has been on and what it has seen!!

I think for the past 145 years or so it has seen dirt! :yes:

gameoftag · Aug 13, 2011

Bonesquat said:
Put in a 2x2 and forget about it. Things can only go downhill if you try to fool with it further. I've ruined some coins that looked like yours by cleaning them.

I agree. It's an awesome find, and i'll leave it as is. The last thing i want to do is destroy the only 2 center i may ever find.

milco · Aug 13, 2011

Wow, if you gotta find one coin on a sidewalk tearout, that's a good one to find! Congrats on that and way to sieze the opportunity on the tearout. You just never know so it pays to hit those sidewalk construction projects. Keep hitting them as they tear them up, that's an old part of town.

CTTodd · Aug 14, 2011

I think you've got all your gonna get better stop. You will get another.

gman · Aug 14, 2011

It must have been hit by some salt/ chemicals or something .
Most of the time the 2 center holds up pretty well.
I think i would leave it.
When you find a better one you can experiment with this one.

PhotoRob06 · Aug 14, 2011

It's actually quite beautiful with all the different colors it's got going on. I agree that anything you do to it is going to end badly.

I always thought that being under a sidewalk would protect it some. :?:

gemmy1 · Aug 15, 2011

It has character on it. Leave as is

Charlives · Aug 15, 2011

Naa..too ugly, throw it back. Haha nice find.

LookingHawk · Aug 15, 2011

i agree leave it as is as to protecting it if you r concerned about britleness...befor putting it in a 2x2 or a hard coin shell...if you are ok with the idea spray each side lightly with a crystle clear acrilic from a craft store...yes it may make it glossy but it will creat a mini shell around the coin also bonding the surface from scratches and more chiping...also should creat a moisture and air sheild around the coin

Burien · Aug 15, 2011

well, I am still aching over the 1867 i found and lost last month. so if it is a 67 .....

simonthesearcher · Aug 24, 2011

It has got desease and if you leave it it will get worse as time goes on.Take it to someone who knows how to treat it,,dont do it yourself

PhotoRob06 · Aug 30, 2011

simonthesearcher said:
It has got desease and if you leave it it will get worse as time goes on.Take it to someone who knows how to treat it,,dont do it yourself

Bronze disease? I had no idea they were bronze. Now I'm worried mine is infected...

http://metaldetectingforum.com/picture.php?albumid=1705&pictureid=20022

hssea · Aug 30, 2011

I would leave it alone--it does have a lot of character . When we first started my husband found a 1903 large Canadian cent. I was able to wash it off to get all the detail but then decided it would look "better" if I used copper cleaner--Wrong--now you can hardly see the detail and the smooth dark patina of course it gone and we are left with a very rough coin. I'm hoping that it will oxidize again and that wonderful patina will come back :no:

Is there any hope for this 2 cent piece

gameoftag

Attachments

Coin_Master

Moved On

Bonesquat

Elite Member

gameoftag

Capt Caveman

Full Member

Bonesquat

Elite Member

AceGVSU11

Sponsor

Bonesquat

Elite Member

gameoftag

milco

Elite Member

CTTodd

gman

Senior Member

PhotoRob06

Attachments

gemmy1

Elite Member

Charlives

Elite Member

LookingHawk

Full Member

Burien

Elite Member

simonthesearcher

PhotoRob06

hssea

Senior Member

Similar threads