Three cent piece

[pplinker]

Laying on top the ground like a lot of my recent finds. But the MD would have found it if my eyes hadn't of. The back looks in real good shape. Can't read the date on the front and don't want to mess it up trying because one time I ruined an Indian cent trying to clean it.

Red Top flour thimble sells on e-bay for 5.99, but this one was bent. The other thimble has printing on it, looks like good quality. Trying to get it clean.

 

[trojdor]

Very nice...

Yeah, when they're corroded like that, there's really not much (cleaning wise) you can do without inflicting damage.

Well done,

mike

 

[pplinker]

Used flashlight and big magnifying glass. Pretty sure the date is 1868.

 

[brianc577]

I soak in olive oil, for months sometimes and it is amazing what comes out. Just do not rub it hard when you take it out!!!!!! I have had one piece eagles with gilt appear after a couple of months. I do not know what the metal composition is so let the experts give some input

 

[JimmyCT]

Wow you have good hunting grounds if your finds are lying on top of the ground. I wish that was my case Yep that III center is toasted. Won't hurt to soak it in Olive oil and it might even aid in clarifying a little more of the date.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Pplinker, congratulations on your 3 Cent Nickel! They are rare finds. In over 30 years of detecting, I've only dug 2 - an 1866 and an 1870. I would hunt that site very carefully - there could be a gold coin or 2 there. I hope that the olive oil treatment helps bring out more of the detail.

Here is a little info on the 3 Cent Nickel: They were minted from 1865 to 1889 and designed by Longacre who also designed the Indian Head Cent , $1 Gold, $3 Gold and the $20 Gold Liberty Head coin.

The reason for the 3 Cent nickel was primarily to replace the unpopular "shinplasters" . Postage stamps at that time cost 3 cents and the shinplasters were a fractional. currency printed for their purchase. Incidentally the $3 Gold coin of 1854-1889 was minted primarily for the purchase of either a roll of the 3 Cent coins or a sheet of stamps.

Good find! Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[Bayard]

Aluminum Jelly will remove the corrosion from that coin.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

I have never found a 3 cent coin yet. That's an excellent find and it looks in good shape!

 

[CZconnoisseur]

Wow that's one helluva sunbaker! Way to go!

 

[xwyokid]

Great find. One of those has eluded me for 25 years!! As have many others! LOL.

 

[Sataro]

Congrats on some excellent finds!