Large Cent

[MSG Hoff]

This is my second large cent this year. This one does not have a date either. I found it two weeks ago and soaked it in olive oil the whole time, but I think it is just too far gone.

I was using the Coin & Jewelry program (modified). It was 10" deep and I almost gave up digging for it. When it first popped out of the ground there were shiny copper areas on the coin like it had been lost when it was brand new. It is an 1816 - 1839 Liberty Head (Matron or Coronet) Large Cent. The soil here in Pennsylvania is bad on copper coins!

 

[Larry (IL)]

Electrolysis will knock off the scale and do little damage to the coin JR, might be worth the try.

 

[MSG Hoff]

Got it going now...will see what happens. Worst case is it's still a slug!

 

[Larry (IL)]

I will be anxious to see the "after" picture too.

 

[MSG Hoff]

Still a slug.

Had to stop the process because the reverse was turning into shiny copper.

 

[Larry (IL)]

OMG that fried it........... was you using low voltage...... 6 to 7 volts? I'm sorry I lead you astray, I've never seen one fried that bad before. Usually a minute or two is all that is necessary.

 

[MSG Hoff]

Yep, low voltage, but it was just too far gone. I stopped the process 4-5 times to check the progress. When they are this pitted there is not much you can do. Typical for around here.

Last year I dug a large cent and when I reached in for it I thought I had TWO large cents...but it was just the scale that peeled away, along with all of the detail.

I dug a nice 1796 Liberty Cap in Virginia (in 1975). Nice clear date. Sent it in to be slabbed but got the same results as 650DJ - environmental damage. Still looks good and I still have it.

 

[nw1886]

One thing about it, you learned what result range to expect for a coin with those "dug" characteristics in your ground. Looking at the pictures, it looks to be a "Transitional Head" (1835 to 1839). Congratulations on a cool find.