Early Half Cent Corrosion Questions
ffcoins
Posts: 518 ✭✭✭
So I have two early half cents, each with some corrosion. I would like to get opinions on severity, and if anything should be done (wooden toothpick, rose thorn, mineral oil?). The first is a 1795, with just one small spot. To the naked eye it looks like a small white spot, almost like a flake of ash, but is greenish in the photo:
The 1804 doesn’t seem to have any on the obverse, though it has a spattering of pockmarks (maybe from previous corrosion?). The reverse has green around the wreath and some of the lettering: 
These are both new for me, so I can’t say if it is progressing or not, but I do worry as I live in a place with somewhat humid summers. Thanks for the input!
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Comments
We conserve coins using a microscope and go very slowly. It is best not to try fixing these unless you have experience but much of that will come off. The pitted areas will remain.
Don't rub them. Start with a soak in a product such as Coin Care. They should come out nice.
Thanks @Insider2 I looked up Coin Care and it talks about “restoring luster” and “removing tarnish”… will that not affect the toning and original surfaces?
Also, I know harsh rubbing can cause scratches and hurt detail, but should any and all rubbing be avoided? I’m tempted to wipe the coins after handling so I don’t leave skin oils, but now I’m worried about that.
Coin Care only restores the luster (reflected light from a surface) in two cases:
There are better chemicals to remove tarnish. Care should not affect original tarnish (unattractive toning) much at all.
Acetone will remove oils and dull the surface. Many copper collectors/dealers brush their coins regularly with a jewelers brush.
NOTE: Virtually everything you are told NOT TO DO to a coin is done all the time by folks who know what they are doing! Cleaning coins is an art that can be learned. Until a collector learns either by trial & error or with an instructor/mentor it is best not to touch anything worth more than $10.
The contamination you have should (IMO) be removed, however, I would suggest you have it done by a professional...Our host has a restoration service that I have heard is very good. Good luck.. Cheers, RickO
Thanks, both of you. I think I’m more comfortable looking into the restoration service, though I would like to learn how to do it on my own, too.
What about storage? I currently have one in a cardboard 2x2 and one in what looks like a mylar slip. Also, is the jeweler’s brush generally safe to use, or is there any risk/learning curve to that?
Just to follow up with this, I touched base with the vendor (reputable dealer in EAC) and he also thought it was a hard spot; recommended a gentle touch with a toothpick for the 1795, nothing else. I found the verdigris to be soft, though, almost like toothpaste, and it came right off. There’s a small pit where it was, to the naked eye it looks just like a slightly darker spot. Question is, is/was it active, and it is likely to come back?
The 1804 I first touched lightly with a toothpick, but the verdigris seemed dry and powdery. I put the coin in mineral oil for three days, then rinsed with distilled water and now have it pressed gently between dry tissues. It looks a lot better, but time will tell if the green will come back.
Well done!
I’ve never had ‘green come back’, but mine have been brushed with the original Blue Ribbon (long off the market), and sealed in 2x2 holders.
PS - I live in FL....