Copper cent with corrosion - clean the coin or just live with it?

JWP

This 1797 large Cent has a corrosion issue and I plan to send it in to be graded. The large cent is an Off-Center and possibly a Die-Break error coin, so that is why I want to have it graded. My concern is the corrosion on the coin. If I send it to be graded in it's current condition it will be marked Corroded, and if I attempt to clean it and hopefully remove the corrosion, it may be marked Cleaned. Is the coin's value worth more as it is, marked Cleaned without the corrosion, or left alone and in it's current condition? I have never cleaned a coin or even thought about cleaning a coin. So if the way to go is to clean the coin, any advice on how to do this would be extremely helpful. Thank you for your thought and opinions. All comments are welcomed good/bad/ugly, I just want to get the advice on what to do. Thanks for your thoughts.

AUandAG

Soaking in pure acetone is warranted, I think. Won't harm the coin and won't do anything except attack that green gunk. You might be surprised what you see under that gunk, though. I would do a short soak to see how easily that "corrosion" comes off, if it does.
Problem coins are always problems. Do not "clean" it. If you think that PCGS restoration is in order and if they think they can improve it and ...... well maybe that's another option. Hopefully @MarkFeld and others will respond with some good advice.
bob

JWP

@AUandAG Does PCGS restoration cover coins with corrosion?

TomB

I can't tell if the coin is actually broadstruck vs. off-center, but it looks like you might have a tiny bit of the dentils showing throughout, which would be a broadstruck, if I recall correctly. As for the coin, do not clean it. Also, regardless of what the green is and if it can be removed or not, the coin still has substantial graffiti/scratches on the reverse and it will be labeled as such.

AUandAG

@JWP said:
@AUandAG Does PCGS restoration cover coins with corrosion?

You'd have to call PCGS on that one.
bob

Shamika

I have to admit that's tempting to fix. None the less, I would leave it be.

Walkerguy21D

They may be able to slightly reduce some of the verdigris, if they have the right material at their disposal, but the overall look likely would be minimally improved.
Regardless the slab label will likely say Broadstruck, Genuine, corroded, scratched.

JWP

@Walkerguy21D Is there enough area on the label for that description?

coinbuf

I would soak it in acetone for a day, acetone is not very helpful for verdigris but if there is anything active like PVC it will loosen that up and off. If you send it in you can check the box for conservation and PCGS or NGC will do so if in their opinion the coin can be helped.

Honestly knowing that the coin will come back as a details coin either for the pitting and corrosion or the heavy scratches on the rev this is a coin that is really best enjoyed raw, but that is just my opinion.

Walkerguy21D

@JWP said:
@Walkerguy21D Is there enough area on the label for that description?

Sorry…. Don’t get me wrong, I love early copper and think your coin is pretty interesting. I just wouldn’t sink the cost into shipping, conserving and slabbing it. But you may have your personal reasons for doing so.

Elcontador

Find out if there a difference in value with the coin raw versus slabbed as a genuine holdered problem coin. You don't know what's under that PVC / verdigris. The TPGs cut a lot of slack to Draped Bust material, but that one won't be straight graded.

jesbroken

@JWP
It's according to your plans: keeping it for a collection, selling it, or having it slabbed.
Were it myself and I were keeping it, I would put it in an olive oil soak for a month and check it, replacing the oil each month for up to 6 months. I have had copper coins with verdigris that was completely removed, but as said you might find ugly under the verdigris, but not nearly as ugly as the verdigris.
Selling it, do so as is.
Having it slabbed, then I would have them conserve it along with the slab.
JMO
Good luck, I like the coin(w/o the St Paddy's day dress)
Jim

JWP

@jesbroken Thanks, I hadn't thought of this LC with green patches being referred to as a ST. Paddy's coin. Only on St. Patrick's day. You just gotta love the tag. Thanks for the laugh.

gumby1234

You can't remove corrosion. You can remove contaminants that may be causing the problem. Corrosion will still be there.

Eddi

What I do in cases like this is to soak the coin in briefly acetone. At first 15 minutes or so. If I see contaminant removal I may do a longer soak, for example 1-3 hours. If the green spots remain, then you are dealing with corrosion and that cannot be removed.
It is a Sheldon 139 variety, which is a rarity 1. Therefore there is no variety premium.

ricko

My recommendation would be to send for restoration. The green verdigris can be removed, however, there will likely be corrosion pits/traces remaining that cannot be removed. The coin has damage (scratch/gouge) on the reverse, so would be 'details' anyway. But with restoration, further damage will be halted. Nice old copper, worth keeping. Cheers, RickO

lkenefic

If it was mine, I'd just go with an acetone bath and see if the dark green stuff dislodges. I'm not sure I'd go any further with it and I'd likely not send it in for restoration. From the PCGS website: The Restoration Fee is a 3% guarantee premium (min. $10) based on the value of the coin in its final grade after restoration. PCGS will determine all fees once the order is finalized. ...and then there's the grading fee and shipping too. If it's something you're going to keep for your collection or it has some sentimental value, then it might be worth it. However, if it's something you're going to flip the additional costs might be prohibitive... depending upon how much you're into it already.