Found some decent ones finally!
Blackin
Posts: 9 ✭✭
So, STILL carefully going through this huge collection of old coins my grandparents left me. (admittedly, mostly old indian and Lincoln wheats)
FINALLY found something worth being proud of.... I think....
3x 1908-s Indians
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Absolute n00b! 
Inherited a few thousand coins from grandparents. Mostly Indian and Lincoln wheats. Trying to learn the art of collecting!!
7
Comments
Those are nice finds. The second one looks cleaned for sure and has some minor rim damage.
The other two are harder to tell from the pics.
The wood grain toning is common on early SF mint cents and some people prefer it.
Is "cleaned" a bad thing? A couple of them had some caked on gunk. Couldn't even really make out a lot of stuff like mint mark and date. I carefully scraped it all off with my fingernail and then wiped them down with a soft t-shirt.
Was that a mistake?? Did I ruin the coins?? o.0
How should I handle this in the future?
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Absolute n00b!
Inherited a few thousand coins from grandparents. Mostly Indian and Lincoln wheats. Trying to learn the art of collecting!!
Oops. Yeah, definitely don't clean anything. It lowers the value.
You can search the forum here for lots of cleaning advice. Basically the only safe thing to do is soak in 100% pure acetone.
And don't wipe the coin with a cloth or T-shirt. It leaves fine scratches on the coin's surface.
It seems to benefit copper cents that were placed in those old Whitman folders, removing the dusty layer to expose a more glossy surface.
Young Numismatist • My Toned Coins
Life is roadblocks. Don't let nothing stop you, 'cause we ain't stopping. - DJ Khaled
Those are (or perhaps "were") nice coins. As for your method of improvement, well, all I can tell you is to keep in mind that every time you "carefully scraped it all off with my fingernail and then wiped them down with a soft t-shirt" that you could possibly lose 90% of the value of the coin. It won't always be that much value loss, but just keep repeating to yourself-
"I'm losing ninety percent of the value of this coin...I'm losing ninety percent of the value of this coin"...
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Yea, I'm learning as I go. I'm also absorbing all the feedback you guys give and taking it to heart.
I had the wife run to the store and grab me a couple gallons of distilled water and a child's soft bristle toothbrush. Will go that route going forward. I've since googled the heck out of how to clean copper coins without hurting value. Wish I'd done that FIRST.
Hard lesson learned it seems.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Absolute n00b!
Inherited a few thousand coins from grandparents. Mostly Indian and Lincoln wheats. Trying to learn the art of collecting!!
If you've been paying attention in this thread, we are telling you not to clean your coins. Just to remind you...don't clean your coins! Forgot what Google has told you...you are a noob and have no idea what you are doing. Every time you mess with a coin you are likely to degrade its desirability and value.
I would suggest you simply inventory what you have and then, before you do anything to them, take quality images and ask the folks on this chat board if there is anything you can do.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
I'd recommend using an artist's soft-bristled paint brush rather than a soft bristle toothbrush. Avoid wiping with a cloth because you could have very fine dirt on the coin that will leave tiny scratches on the surface when wiped with a cloth. Coins that are frequently wiped take on a polished look that is not good as well.
Deleted
First photo, reverse: Nice looking
Second photo, reverse: Cleaned by burnishing.
Third photo, obverse: Wood grain toning but poor eye appeal.
Fourth photo, reverse: Some rim damage. Cleaned by burnishing.
Fifth photo, obverse: Scraping on the cheek and eyebrow.
Sixth photo, obverse: Cleaned by burnishing.
I would not personally call any of them "nice". Sorry. Both sides of the coin and the rims have to be problem free for a coin to be considered "nice" .Step back and learn more about cleaning and damage before spending any more money on coins. Some collectors seem to like wood grain toning but I doubt many would like that particular coin. Eye appeal is what you should be looking for.
lose the toothbrush like it's nuclear