@Maywood said:
Used one as a washer and saved money.
I hear copper cents work well in fuse boxes to restore electric power after you blow a fuse.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Viced, imprinted with the letter S, holed with a drill, colored on with blue sharpie, hit with a hammer, cleaned with a variety of substances including: vinegar, baking soda, that pink naval jelly, an eraser, dish soap, leather polish, silver cream, mouth wash, you name it, I've probably done it, except for the railroad tracks and on purpose toning. I even smashed a nickel and a quarter together to make an imprint.
God bless all who believe in him. Do unto others what you expect to be done to you. Dubbed a "Committee Secret Agent" by @mr1931S on 7/23/24. Founding member of CU Anti-Troll League since 9/24/24.
I also accidentally ripped a common $2 bill in half.
God bless all who believe in him. Do unto others what you expect to be done to you. Dubbed a "Committee Secret Agent" by @mr1931S on 7/23/24. Founding member of CU Anti-Troll League since 9/24/24.
@PerryHall said: I hear copper cents work well in fuse boxes to restore electric power after you blow a fuse.
This needs to be thought through. The fuse burned out because too many amps were present in the circuit. The penny will complete the circuit but allow as much current through until it melts, so it might seem like an emergency fix but actually presents a fire hazard. To complicate things, any house that still has a Fuse Box and the old style screw-in fuses also has the accompanying old style wiring.
I have Tarn-Xed coins, stuck nickels and pennies on the train track behind the house, used them as shims and washers....you name it, I have probably done it....except for maybe shoving a coin up my nose....
@Maywood said: @PerryHall said: I hear copper cents work well in fuse boxes to restore electric power after you blow a fuse.
This needs to be thought through. The fuse burned out because too many amps were present in the circuit. The penny will complete the circuit but allow as much current through until it melts, so it might seem like an emergency fix but actually presents a fire hazard. To complicate things, any house that still has a Fuse Box and the old style screw-in fuses also has the accompanying old style wiring.
Never do that.
I know all that. When you quoted me, you left off my winky emoji which would have indicated I was joking and not being serious.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Soaked steel cents in a [Dixie] paper cup filled with Ivory Soap and water. Shiny as can be for a day, then the rust takes over.
Place a zinc cent in an 8" saucepan on the stove at high heat - they quickly turn into a bubbling, metal mess ...
Grandpa Was a Carpenter, John Prine ... "He built a closet on our back porch and put a penny in a burned-out fuse" ... Old-timey ingenuity, not up to National Electric Code and not the easiest of ways to AT a coin.
If we were all the same, the world would be an incredibly boring place.
Put a quarter on a railroad track 50 years ago, still use it as a tool occasionally. I frequently use coins to stabilize the wobbly table that I seem to encounter not infrequently in restaurants. I've used half dollar coins to do the same with pieces of furniture in my own 90 year old home. Tried to dig out verdigris from a low value Indian head cent very early in my collecting hobby, ended up spending it just to get rid of it.
I must confess, I drilled holes in a pair of common Mercs to make earrings for my wife. I couldn't bring myself to do it to older types, so I bought the Bust and Seated coins already holed.
@Cranium_Basher73 said:
Froze a post 82 zinc cent with liquid nitrogen and hit it with a hammer. It shattered.
Very interesting. Did you make a video of it?
This was 2000-01 timeframe. My last few years in the Navy. I didn't think of it and couldn't if I wanted to. Camera phones were in their infancy and still largely unknown.
Me and my coworkers were playing with the leftover liquid nitrogen after my infrared test bench was calibrated.
Throw a coin enough times, and suppose one day it lands on its edge.
@Maywood said: @PerryHall said: I hear copper cents work well in fuse boxes to restore electric power after you blow a fuse.
This needs to be thought through. The fuse burned out because too many amps were present in the circuit. The penny will complete the circuit but allow as much current through until it melts, so it might seem like an emergency fix but actually presents a fire hazard. To complicate things, any house that still has a Fuse Box and the old style screw-in fuses also has the accompanying old style wiring.
Never do that.
See, so it's no problem -- your wiring becomes your fuse instead.
Sitting on the bench "in an All Star baseball game" I noticed an Indian cent pushing up from the dirt. 20 + years ago.
I than took it home and cleaned it, who knew ?
@emeraldATV said:
Sitting on the bench "in an All Star baseball game" I noticed an Indian cent pushing up from the dirt. 20 + years ago.
I than took it home and cleaned it, who knew ?
That’s it???!!!
God bless all who believe in him. Do unto others what you expect to be done to you. Dubbed a "Committee Secret Agent" by @mr1931S on 7/23/24. Founding member of CU Anti-Troll League since 9/24/24.
Attempted to “straighten” a bent American Plantation token 1828 restrike by pressing it between two pieces of wood in a vise. Flattened out much of the detail…. Oops. Sold it for more than I paid… go figger…
I don't have photos, and I am not sure it is factual or folklore, but I heard a rumor a new collector purposely scratched a 10K gold War Nickel.
When I attempt to research such a travesty Google doesn't provide any additional information.
I found a 1944 silver dime in the dirt as a young lad,
and got the grime and earthy toning off by using a
toothbrush and toothpaste ! It worked but the coin
lost some silver - still have it in my "collection."
Totally crimped the edge of a (formerly) MS63 semi-key Morgan dollar while using a long-handled wirecutter to ‘crack it out’ of its PCGS holder.
Sold it at an 80% loss.
30+ years coin shop experience (ret.) Coins, bullion, currency, scrap & interesting folks. Loved every minute!
When I was a little kid I took an eraser to brown pennies and turned them red. They were my dads coins in an album. He then explained to me what I have done. I remember that talk pretty well.
The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
I had a chemistry experiment in mind, so I went to the coin shop for some silver. I found a really nice silver 1 oz round, one that is in the style of a bust dollar. It had nice mirrored surfaces, and was (by mistake) in the bin with the regular rounds, so I bought it for about melt. I almost felt guilty for taking such a nice looking coin (well, round) with my evil intentions.
So for my experiment, I took the silver round and covered it with sulfur powder for a day or so. And then I tried to remove the toning/tarnish with the baking soda/aluminum foil technique. This all of course did not restore the silver to its original appearance, but since the experiment was the point this was fine. I am actually rather pleased with the appearance it ended up with, and keep it next to my computer monitor for good luck.
When I was a kid, there was train a block from my house that used to rumble through town every few days (at like 3 mph), delivering coal to a coal-fired power plant about a mile away. I used to put one-cent coins on the tracks. They got squished.
Spider : " I used to put one-cent coins on the tracks. They got squished."
I think the Lincoln Cent (196X vintage) in this photo is one of yours -
it came out of a grocery store change machine
As did ALL of the others - I save these as unused unusuals
Oh, I forgot, I have a coin with my name carved on it.
God bless all who believe in him. Do unto others what you expect to be done to you. Dubbed a "Committee Secret Agent" by @mr1931S on 7/23/24. Founding member of CU Anti-Troll League since 9/24/24.
I had a registry worthy Lincoln BU set that I made myself with salt and water when I was in high school. They were beaut’s for sure! Probably MS 71’s when I was done with them all…..
Aside from train tracks, which I will admit to doing as a kid, the worst thing I've done to a coin is to fail to give it a warm and loving home in my cabinet. heh
Back in my teenage years, I saw an infomercial where they were using scissors to cut cents in half. So of course I got out my trusty Fiskars and had a go at a handful of zincolns. Sure enough, snipped those cents in half without much trouble.
Comments
I hear copper cents work well in fuse boxes to restore electric power after you blow a fuse.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I submitted a coin to CAC once.
Viced, imprinted with the letter S, holed with a drill, colored on with blue sharpie, hit with a hammer, cleaned with a variety of substances including: vinegar, baking soda, that pink naval jelly, an eraser, dish soap, leather polish, silver cream, mouth wash, you name it, I've probably done it, except for the railroad tracks and on purpose toning. I even smashed a nickel and a quarter together to make an imprint.
God bless all who believe in him. Do unto others what you expect to be done to you. Dubbed a "Committee Secret Agent" by @mr1931S on 7/23/24. Founding member of CU Anti-Troll League since 9/24/24.
I also accidentally ripped a common $2 bill in half.
God bless all who believe in him. Do unto others what you expect to be done to you. Dubbed a "Committee Secret Agent" by @mr1931S on 7/23/24. Founding member of CU Anti-Troll League since 9/24/24.
I think a lot of people in the early 19th century did that with half Cents when steel washers were more expensive to produce...
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
In a parallel universe there is a Train Forum that is asking,
"What's the worst thing you've done to a train?"
peacockcoins
peacockcoins
I shined up my Wheat Pennie’s with an eraser.
You mean aside from paying way too much?
At least you did it before they were worth the fortune they are today!
@PerryHall said: I hear copper cents work well in fuse boxes to restore electric power after you blow a fuse.
This needs to be thought through. The fuse burned out because too many amps were present in the circuit. The penny will complete the circuit but allow as much current through until it melts, so it might seem like an emergency fix but actually presents a fire hazard. To complicate things, any house that still has a Fuse Box and the old style screw-in fuses also has the accompanying old style wiring.
Never do that.
I have Tarn-Xed coins, stuck nickels and pennies on the train track behind the house, used them as shims and washers....you name it, I have probably done it....except for maybe shoving a coin up my nose....
I know all that. When you quoted me, you left off my winky emoji which would have indicated I was joking and not being serious.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Scratching a coin on the staples pulling it out of a 2X2
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/publishedset/209923
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/album/209923
....
They were, my dad did this.
Grandpa Was a Carpenter, John Prine ... "He built a closet on our back porch and put a penny in a burned-out fuse" ... Old-timey ingenuity, not up to National Electric Code and not the easiest of ways to AT a coin.
If we were all the same, the world would be an incredibly boring place.
Tommy
Put a quarter on a railroad track 50 years ago, still use it as a tool occasionally. I frequently use coins to stabilize the wobbly table that I seem to encounter not infrequently in restaurants. I've used half dollar coins to do the same with pieces of furniture in my own 90 year old home. Tried to dig out verdigris from a low value Indian head cent very early in my collecting hobby, ended up spending it just to get rid of it.
Oh, I almost forgot... I scratched an arrow into a really nice toned 1904 Philippine Peso once.
I used to melt zincolns with a torch, little copper bags of molten zinc.
I must confess, I drilled holes in a pair of common Mercs to make earrings for my wife. I couldn't bring myself to do it to older types, so I bought the Bust and Seated coins already holed.
I put a Lincoln on the railroad tracks when I was a kid.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
This was 2000-01 timeframe. My last few years in the Navy. I didn't think of it and couldn't if I wanted to. Camera phones were in their infancy and still largely unknown.
Me and my coworkers were playing with the leftover liquid nitrogen after my infrared test bench was calibrated.
Throw a coin enough times, and suppose one day it lands on its edge.
See, so it's no problem -- your wiring becomes your fuse instead.
Sitting on the bench "in an All Star baseball game" I noticed an Indian cent pushing up from the dirt. 20 + years ago.
I than took it home and cleaned it, who knew ?
I once used a nickel for target practice with a 22 rifle. When I finally hit the nickel, it came flying back over my head and was never found.
That’s it???!!!
God bless all who believe in him. Do unto others what you expect to be done to you. Dubbed a "Committee Secret Agent" by @mr1931S on 7/23/24. Founding member of CU Anti-Troll League since 9/24/24.
Attempted to “straighten” a bent American Plantation token 1828 restrike by pressing it between two pieces of wood in a vise. Flattened out much of the detail…. Oops. Sold it for more than I paid… go figger…
Fantastic and interesting responses all.
https://www.ebay.com/mys/active
I don't have photos, and I am not sure it is factual or folklore, but I heard a rumor a new collector purposely scratched a 10K gold War Nickel.
When I attempt to research such a travesty Google doesn't provide any additional information.
peacockcoins
I found a 1944 silver dime in the dirt as a young lad,
and got the grime and earthy toning off by using a
toothbrush and toothpaste ! It worked but the coin
lost some silver - still have it in my "collection."
As a kid. Can you figure out the rest? 🤣 😂 And it had to have been a wheatie! 🤣 😂
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Sold it....
Totally crimped the edge of a (formerly) MS63 semi-key Morgan dollar while using a long-handled wirecutter to ‘crack it out’ of its PCGS holder.
Sold it at an 80% loss.
30+ years coin shop experience (ret.) Coins, bullion, currency, scrap & interesting folks. Loved every minute!
When I was a little kid I took an eraser to brown pennies and turned them red. They were my dads coins in an album. He then explained to me what I have done. I remember that talk pretty well.
My mom broke a thermometer in the very early 1960's. She told me to put the mercury on a Silver Dollar that I had.
And possibly a few other places he could have stuck it.
.
.
I hope you always win this type of contest.
God help the poor sap that takes your crown!
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Railroad tracks.
Dave
I had a chemistry experiment in mind, so I went to the coin shop for some silver. I found a really nice silver 1 oz round, one that is in the style of a bust dollar. It had nice mirrored surfaces, and was (by mistake) in the bin with the regular rounds, so I bought it for about melt. I almost felt guilty for taking such a nice looking coin (well, round) with my evil intentions.
So for my experiment, I took the silver round and covered it with sulfur powder for a day or so. And then I tried to remove the toning/tarnish with the baking soda/aluminum foil technique. This all of course did not restore the silver to its original appearance, but since the experiment was the point this was fine. I am actually rather pleased with the appearance it ended up with, and keep it next to my computer monitor for good luck.
This is the very reason I collect half dimes, and not Morgan dollars.
New website: Groovycoins.com Capped Bust Half Dime registry set: Bikergeek CBHD LM Set
When I was a kid, there was train a block from my house that used to rumble through town every few days (at like 3 mph), delivering coal to a coal-fired power plant about a mile away. I used to put one-cent coins on the tracks. They got squished.
Spider : " I used to put one-cent coins on the tracks. They got squished."
I think the Lincoln Cent (196X vintage) in this photo is one of yours -
it came out of a grocery store change machine
As did ALL of the others - I save these as unused unusuals
Enjoy !
Oh, I forgot, I have a coin with my name carved on it.
God bless all who believe in him. Do unto others what you expect to be done to you. Dubbed a "Committee Secret Agent" by @mr1931S on 7/23/24. Founding member of CU Anti-Troll League since 9/24/24.
I had a registry worthy Lincoln BU set that I made myself with salt and water when I was in high school. They were beaut’s for sure! Probably MS 71’s when I was done with them all…..
Aside from train tracks, which I will admit to doing as a kid, the worst thing I've done to a coin is to fail to give it a warm and loving home in my cabinet. heh
New website: Groovycoins.com Capped Bust Half Dime registry set: Bikergeek CBHD LM Set
Melted a silver quarter with a propane torch before silver taken out of circulating quarters.
Back in my teenage years, I saw an infomercial where they were using scissors to cut cents in half. So of course I got out my trusty Fiskars and had a go at a handful of zincolns. Sure enough, snipped those cents in half without much trouble.
When I got my first silver dollar at age 11, an 1878 s Morgan, I decided it would look better if I polished it.
At age 12 or so, took three of the family heirloom Peace Dollars to the local store to buy a copy of Ring Magazine in the 1970's.
Mom hated my love of boxing and had refused my begging.
Showed her.
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