Short hunt semi key date

[Flanaganj25]

Decided yesterday that i would wake early, which I did, and hit the sleepy little town of sumner. It's the next town over and dates back to the 1860s roughly. In the center of town is a old large park with lots of really really old trees. One of my goals has been to pull at least a wheat back from there and until today, nothing. I have hit this area probably 5 times in the past and have found SOME cool items but no older coins. I always set a goal at certain locations of a wheatie, and until I find one, or better I never give up. So I arrived and noticed that where a massive old growth stump once sat was just fresh dirt now! Ok game on I thought to myself and skipped the tot lot. 3 targets were found, first was a 1902 IH, then up pops another 1914 wheat! I had found one a few weeks back but just a philly. I saw a mint mark as I wiped the dirt away and slowly put it into my pocket hoping for a D upon cleaning! Well it was a S which is still a good grab! And for once I found a key date I can place into my penny book. I know the pic dosent do it justice but it actually is in good shape, if I could just get it back to copper instead of green I'd be happy. Last was a zinc Lincoln in bad shape. Finding IHs is a rarity for me, so that was my high point for the weekend! I hope everyone enjoyed the memorial holiday and had fun hunting!

 

[chuckciao]

Great finds along with a good story!
Congrats!

 

[PSS1963]

Decided yesterday that i would wake early, which I did, and hit the sleepy little town of sumner. It's the next town over and dates back to the 1860s roughly. In the center of town is a old large park with lots of really really old trees. One of my goals has been to pull at least a wheat back from there and until today, nothing. I have hit this area probably 5 times in the past and have found SOME cool items but no older coins. I always set a goal at certain locations of a wheatie, and until I find one, or better I never give up. So I arrived and noticed that where a massive old growth stump once sat was just fresh dirt now! Ok game on I thought to myself and skipped the tot lot. 3 targets were found, first was a 1902 IH, then up pops another 1914 wheat! I had found one a few weeks back but just a philly. I saw a mint mark as I wiped the dirt away and slowly put it into my pocket hoping for a D upon cleaning! Well it was a S which is still a good grab! And for once I found a key date I can place into my penny book. I know the pic dosent do it justice but it actually is in good shape, if I could just get it back to copper instead of green I'd be happy. Last was a zinc Lincoln in bad shape. Finding IHs is a rarity for me, so that was my high point for the weekend! I hope everyone enjoyed the memorial holiday and had fun hunting!

There's 3 ways I know of to clean up an old wheat. In order of increasing aggressiveness/effectiveness:

1) Brass brush it under the faucet until the desired amount of crud is removed. This doesn't always remove all the green corrosion but its the least intrusive method.

2) Tumble with water and fish tank gravel (the 1/16 to 1/8 grain size stuff) for a few hours. If the desired effect is not achieved by 12 hours it probably won't be.

3) Give a short bath in hydrochloric (muriatic) acid. This WILL remove all green corrosion but will also remove any trace of desirable patina in the process. HCl doesn't eat copper unless you oxygenate it or apply electric current. Follow up with a good rinse under the faucet and then rub the surface with damp baking soda to neutralize any residual acid and shine things up a bit. After the acid dip the surface will have a dull pink appearance and the baking soda rub will get rid of this too. If the corrosion has compromised the coin's surface and produced pitting, there is nothing you can do about it - the final surface will be rougher than a new coin.

I find that the longer they are in the ground, the more pitting I tend to see. Mild black loam is usually kinder to them than redder soils with lots of iron content. YMMV

Practice on some common dates to get a feel for these techniques.

-pete

 

[Wheat Cent]

Nice finds

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Congrats !

I also put my Wheat's - Indians - clad Dimes - State Quarter's - etc. in Harris Folders.
It's fun to collect even the newer / common coins - seems like a good way to learn about coins !