First Barber Half:cry:

[Neil in West Jersey]

I went hunting one evening after work last week to an old swimming area which has always produced sad looking silver, and today was no exception.

The lake was a popular spot from about 1890 to 1920. The picture is the site from a 1907 postcard. People would come out from the city for the day by train for swimming and boating. The lake was drained a few years ago and the coins spilled out down an embankment. I guess the water is very mineralized; almost all of my silver has come out black, and today was no exception. I always end up going back there to feed my MD addiction because I know I will always have silver finds, but I know the coins are gonna be in sad shape. Somehow the Barber Half got bent. The picture of the Half is after some electrolysis treatments.

Totals for the day...1952 Washington Quarter, 1902 Barber Half & Barber Dime, a very sad looking 1912 Barber quarter, unreadable date Merc, 5 Wheaties.

1907 Postcard
[attachment 52624 clmntnlakeboats07.jpg]

Barber Half
[attachment 52625 2007_0331Image0001.JPG][attachment 52626 2007_0331Image0002.JPG]

Barber Dime
[attachment 52627 2007_0328Image0004.JPG]

Barber Quarter
[attachment 52628 2007_0328Image0015.JPG]



Note: I have yet to break the 20th century barrier in my own county, although I have that date beat by well over 100 years in the surrounding counties

 

[awhitster]

The Franklin half I pulled out looked like that. First I soak it in liquid silver cleaner for about 30 seconds, scrub it with a tooth brush (the wife's )and then use a silver polishing cloth. Here is the before and after.[attachment 52633 ScreenHunter_003.jpg][attachment 52634 ScreenHunter_007.jpg]

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

Thanks for the tip...I had tried it and the stains are from a high sulfur content, so the electrolysis was the only option.

I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND ANY OF THESE CLEANING TECHNIQUES ON COINS WITH ANY VALUE! I would recommend brushing lightly with a lens brush or a similar soft brush and/or rinsing with warm water. NEVER RUB WITH YOUR THUMB!