Seated Half Dime Update and Restoration Question.

[Reelfoot Relics]

I have been slowly trying to clean the tacoed seated half dime I found a few weeks ago. I have revealed enough of the details to be pretty sure it a 1839. That would make it my oldest coin. The black tarnish very thick and very tough. I haven't worked on the back yet. The question now is can this coin be straightened? Any ideas?

 

[cellrdwellr]

If you anneal the metal (heat it up) and then stick it between 2 pieces of hardwood, you might be able to bend it back without breaking it. There will likely always be a crease, but at least you could put it in a 2x2 flip if you wanted. If you were to try to bend it without heating it first, it would likely break. Nice find!

 

[Reelfoot Relics]

If you anneal the metal (heat it up) and then stick it between 2 pieces of hardwood, you might be able to bend it back without breaking it. There will likely always be a crease, but at least you could put it in a 2x2 flip if you wanted. If you were to try to bend it without heating it first, it would likely break. Nice find!

Thank for the info I got similar advice from a local guy who makes coin rings. When I get up the nerve I'm gonna try it.

 

[metaladdict]

I hope you can bend it without breakage.

 

[hoser]

Cellrdwellr is correct. you have to heat it overall not just at the bend. Putting it in the oven on a high heat will "soften" the metal and you can start slowly unbending it. Like black smithing, heat and beat, so to speak. Congrats on the seated, and good luck on the straightening project.

 

[Reelfoot Relics]

Taco no more. I heated it in the oven too 500 degrees then I used my propane torch to heat it a little more. I quenched it in water then placed it on a piece of marble and used a wooden dowel and a hammer to slowly flatten it out. A coin ring maker told me to quench it before flattening it and it worked. I'm very pleased with the results. Thanks for the help .

 

[hoser]

Yeah the chances of getting away from cracking the coin are slim. I look at it this way, it is valid proof you found it . Personally I would take that any day. Well done.

 

[GeoAngelo]

Why heat it up only to quench it before bending? Seems counterintuitive to me. I would think hot metal would bend easier and a heat/quench cycle would only make it more brittle. Please help me understand the science here.

Personally I would have put it in a vise between two pieces of hard plastic and turned the handle a little each day over a period of a couple of weeks to slowly return it to shape.

 

[Reelfoot Relics]

Yeah the chances of getting away from cracking the coin are slim. I look at it this way, it is valid proof you found it . Personally I would take that any day. Well done.

It was cracked pretty bad before I started. I guess it's part of this coins story now.

 

[rreahard]

Nice job! That coin's got some stories to tell for sure!

 

[cellrdwellr]

Why heat it up only to quench it before bending? Seems counterintuitive to me. I would think hot metal would bend easier and a heat/quench cycle would only make it more brittle. Please help me understand the science here.

This is acaccurate. I probably would have skipped the quenching, but he was only following advice given by a coin ring maker. Which is likely what he would do with a coin ring, not a bent half dime. Either way, happy the OP got it straightened out, pun intended!

 

[Kansashunter]

I probably would not have unfolded this coin. Personal preference, it remains part of the coins story.