Jackpot! Indian Head cent collectors, Opinions please on the 1877!

Bikingnut

I feel like I just won the lottery! My father's late uncle had a tin full of coins. Looking through the stuff, I could see that most of it is not worth anything. There was a bag of Indian head cents, all of which are covered in some kind of gooey stuff, not the typical green growth you see on copper. It seemed to come off fairly easily so I decided to soak them in a bowl of water. ( I also heard that someone had attempted to clean them at one time with something)

So I reach in the bowl and the first one I pick, 1877. I couldn't believe it. It was a Holly Crap(!) moment. Here's the questions for the experts, should I send it to NCS? I'm pretty certain it's authentic, it's not porous, just well worn, PO2 to G4 in my opinion. Sorry about the picture, it's the best I could do in a hurry.



The goo that's on it and the rest, seems to come off pretty easily.

nwcs

How about a pic of the reverse?

mgoodm3

That's some major goo. Nice find.

KurtHorn

Looks like an NCS candidate to me... Nice find!

Craton

Congrats!

Bikingnut

Here's trhe reverse and a different shot of the obv.

BillJones

You can send this to NCS, but it’s not going to make a huge difference. The green stuff you see is corrosion, and it has attacked the surface. The piece has been cleaned with some polishing in the fields. Sorry, but the coin is just a decent filler since the date is strong and the diagnostic weak bottom of the “N” on the reverse is clear.

Since 1877 Indians in Good sell for $450 or so, this is probably worth $100 to $200 depending upon the eagerness of a collector on a budget to fill a big hole in his set.

Bikingnut

Thanks for the opinion. It'ss probably go into my Dansco type set after the goo comes off. Even though it is in bad condition, it is a very nice find for me.

millennium

What the heck, soak it in "GooGone" overnight...

BillJones

<< <i>Thanks for the opinion. It'ss probably go into my Dansco type set after the goo comes off. Even though it is in bad condition, it is a very nice find for me. >>



Most of the green stuff is not “goo.” It's oxidized bronze, and it’s the stuff of which the coin is made.

Shamika

<< <i>You can send this to NCS, but it’s not going to make a huge difference. The green stuff you see is corrosion, and it has attacked the surface. The piece has been cleaned with some polishing in the fields. Sorry, but the coin is just a decent filler since the date is strong and the diagnostic weak bottom of the “N” on the reverse is clear. >>


I agree, but it's still a nice find none the less.

MrEureka

I'm not convinced that it's corrosion and not goo. Try some acetone and see what happens. (Legal disclaimer: I mean, try some acetone on the coin, don't try drinking the acetone.)

BTW, I've seen coins that looked like that. Typically, they were stored in holders with (I don't know what it's called) some sort of foamy plastic backing. When the stuff ages, it deteriorates into a gooey, crumbly mess. But the stuff will come off easily.

xbob

I'm in the process of soaking a bunch of IC's in olive oil found in my great-aunt's dresser and corroded like crazy with verdigris (the green gunk). It is doing a good job so far. I changed the oil after 3 weeks and more than 80% of the gunk came off with a light q-tip rub. They are back in the oil now.

You may want to give olive oil a try. Really cool find!!!!

Bikingnut

I'm not convinced that it's corrosion and not goo. Try some acetone and see what happens. (Legal disclaimer: I mean, try some acetone on the coin, don't try drinking the acetone.)

I don't think it's corrosion either. It seems to come right off with little effort, and there is no pores under the goo. I'm thinking of trying isopropl alcohal.

kranky

Great find! Let's see pics after you get it tidied up.

keets

what's that stuff that comes in the glass bottle and is good for copper??