Cleaned one of my Large Cents Before and After pics

[CharlieT84]

I don't try to clean my coppers as I have found that normally they are in such bad shape that I lose what detail they may have. This coin had quite a bit of detail so I tried to get aggressive with it. I first picked at it with a toothpick and scrubbed it with a tooth brush and water. It looked faded and less detailed than when I started. I then soaked it a few days in olive oil. Just putting the oil on it brought back the detail until I wiped it dry. Once dry I rubbed it hard with a large pencil eraser. I was surprised at how that removed what was left of the dirt and made the letters on the reverse pop. Then I rubbed it in my fingers with the oil again and wiped off most of the oil. It came out looking really good. The eraser had the biggest positive effect. I think it came out good only because it had so much detail to begin with.
WARNING- be advised that putting water on copper coins usually ends up with less detail than what you started with! The dirt you leave on those worn out coppers is what helps you see the details.

 

[markinmichigan]

Wow what a big difference. Thanks for the advice.

Mark in Michigan

 

[MasonDixonMding]

Great job. Your warning is correct. You have to have a lot of detail to us water on a copper. Nice coin.

 

[CharlieT84]

Great job. Your warning is correct. You have to have a lot of detail to us water on a copper. Nice coin.

You sure do! I tried it on another Largie with just a little less detail and it looks much worse than when I started.
I don't recommend using water or even cleaning much... I was very surprised how this one came out.

 

[metaladdict]

That cent is in very good shape! Your dirt was kind.

 

[The Rebel]

Nice job on the cleaning!

I would also add that you should coat it with Ren wax to preserve it.

 

[hoser]

Well done on the cleaning. Turned out great.

 

[bottlecap4u]

Great detail on that braided hair. Water does darken the coin for sure which seems, for the most part, to lesson viability on existing detail. Oil rub too but the giveback seems to bring greater detail in pulling grit stick between and along coin detail lines. It’s a trade off. I’ll have to try the erasure idea. Some folks only pick or use fingernails and face oil. Recently saw aquachigger video on how he cleans old coppers this way. Great job cleaning. Great coin.

 

[Sorthious]

Grats on a great looking coin! Every time I've used water, I end up with a coin that looks worse than when I dug it, and I only attempt it if there isn't enough detail to identify it. I will have to remember to try the eraser and see how that works; sounds like a good idea!

 

[Bajanick]

Very nice work, Looks great.

 

[Xxray]

Water does no harm, would be advisable to use purified water though.
Dug coins have been drenched in water for decades, any damage done has long ago been done and a few more drops are not going to change anything. Its the minerals, chemicals and impurities in the soil that do the long term damage, not water.

I have been using olive oil to soak gunky coins for years, in fact I have a batch that have been soaking for well over a year, going to have to take a look at them some time.

 

[Travbob]

Great job restoring the coin! Is it possible that someone was trying to turn this into a home made brothel token? It's odd that the 'E' in CENT only has an I with the rest obliterated and no other major damage.

 

[Fredneck]

Nice !!

 

[CharlieT84]

Great job restoring the coin! Is it possible that someone was trying to turn this into a home made brothel token? It's odd that the 'E' in CENT only has an I with the rest obliterated and no other major damage.

Yes I absolutely think so. A few guys in my detecting club believed it was in the process. One of them actually has one he bought at a coin show. From what I understand they use a "graver" to alter the E into a U.
Look under the Thread Coin Shooters and Relic Hunters for a post titled "Large Cent Error" November 18th or so.

 

[BuckHill]

That cleaned up great, nice coin

 

[Kansashunter]

Wow!! Great job!!

 

[KingTotsalot]

KT applauds your cleaning efforts on this coin, and has a question.....On the reverse, where it says ONE CENT, the horizontal bars on the E appear to be missing. KT is wondering if that is due to a Mint Error, like a filled die? Any thoughts? KT collected Mint Errors for several years, so found that interesting. Great detail, too!

 

[Domoryder77]

Awesome coin and details

 

[FliesOnly]

That coin looks awesome...well done. I will say that someone on this forum (papapopper, I do believe) recommended using mineral oil as opposed to "vegetable" oils (olive, corn, peanut, etc), as those will eventually start to "spoil" and become stinky and sticky. I've soaked some of my coins in mineral oil, and it is working great.