Old LARGE Cent and Pocket watch

[towzilla]

Today I was detecting an old home close to where I live. I was working the sidewalk when I got a soild high signal On my Omega 8000. At about 5-6 inches out popped this pocket watch. Not sure of the age so if anyone has an idea let me know. Just five feet away I got a 93-94. Thinking it would be a silver. But I was surprised when I dug out this very crusted quarter size coin. Thought at first it was some sort of token. After some light cleaning I new it was a Large cent. I have cleaned it as best I can. Almost positive now its a 1835. Wow! my oldest coin. My other oldest was a 1853 Large cent.

[matmit]

Those are some great finds, I am still hoping for my first Largie
When I find pocket watches (3 this year) they are incomplete and really crusty

[WildDigger]

Awesome finds!! I love pocket watches. I have only found 1 complete and parts of a few more. I am waiting on my first LC also.

[joee5]

I'm liking that watch more than the coin. Nice finds.

[screwynewy]

Congrats on the large cent. What'd you use to clean it with?

[woodennickels]

I have found a few backs of pocket watches never had a face to them- cool.
I first saw 1818 but - now I see the 3 looks right.

[towzilla]

I found some liquid gel cleaner from Conklin products called Multi-surface cleaning gel. Excellent product. CLeans copper like a brand new coin. Removes rust and oxide in seconds. I used a non sharpened pensil to rub the coin with. I know some people will cringe because I tried to clean it but I wanted to try and get the date. The coin is prett much toast anyway you look at it. Here is the back side of the coin with out cleaning. Some one has defaced the E con cents now says a bad word. Some old practical joker maybe.

Originally Posted by screwynewy

Congrats on the large cent. What'd you use to clean it with?

[planerie]

If I was you I would never use any cleaning chemicals on coins like that. You completely ruin the coin no matter if it looks better its now cleaned and value is pretty much nothing. I would just soak it in water with dishwashing soap for awile and just lightly brush any dirt or grime from it with a SOFT tooth brush.

[JBEXPRESS]

nice finds!

[towzilla]

Worthless clean or worthless as it came out of the ground. They are both the same Worthless. No amount of dish soap, which also has chemicals in it was ever going to get this coin in any visible condition. Toothpicks, olive oil, vinegar, baking soda, tumblers and all the other methods posted on this site all have there do's and don'ts. Like many here I keep everything I find. Have no intention of selling anything. So to me it at least a part of history I can at least see now instead of a dark round clump of metal.

[ks coyote]

Congrats on the pocket watch and LC. Still waiting for my first LC.

[MClever]

Awesome save! Very few come out of the ground in nice shape

I clean my largies enough to id 'em, but that is finder's choice. Unless it is super rare, do as you please. Some are so toasted that any amount of further cleaning removes the corrosion that helps to id it. So what I do with them is on a case per case basis.

[pulltab crab]

I woulda thought that i would be finding more pocket watch or watch parts beings that darn near everybody had one back in the day, but ive only ever found parts to one. now harmonica reeds those ive found quite often. I think everyone had a harmonica back in the day and lost it

[rcb104]

That is one cool watch

[milco]

Very cool finds, congrats on the LC!

[Citiboy287]

I have found that when I find something odd like a pocket watch - pocket knife one of the best resources to get an idenity is E BAY --- In your case I would search -- vintage pocket watch ------- You will really be suprised the amount of stuff you can cross ref from the site

[scaupus]

most coins in such bad condition are worth very little at best. Once you are sure, very sure, that its not worth more than you're willing to waste, then sure, why not clean it? I think it's fine. I cleaned 2 indian heads, a v nickel, and a buffalo that were in bad shape, and I still feel fine about them.