Question about a Wide "A M"

CamTron

I found this coin today in my van's ashtray. I have had the van for years and i don't smoke, so I just now got around to sticking my hand down in this CD comparment thing to dig out the coins and nasty ashes.


Anyways, heres a few pictures. Can anyone tell me if this is a wide "A M"?





Also, if it is a wide "A M", anyone have any advice on how to clean it up some?

Thanks in advance.

Smitty79

What year is it? The only desireable wide AMs I am aware of are '98, '99 and 2000.

ar18

it is a wide AM, what year it is depends on what it is worth??

BuffaloIronTail

It's a "wide AM"

But that is normal for any Lincoln Cents before 1992.

The Mint re-designed the reverse of the cent in 1992. The A and M on that reverse are very close at the base. Denver jumped the gun and used a new reverse intended for release in 1992 to strike a few 1991 dated cents.

Those "Close AM" coins are the rarity. "Wide AM" cents were the only ones minted prior to that date.

The Mint used a different reverse for proof coins later...some years, those mentioned above, were done by mistake.

Pete

CamTron

its 1999. It just looks rought for its age.

So it IS a wide "A M"?

Smitty79

<< <i>its 1999. It just looks rought for its age.

So it IS a wide "A M"? >>



If that's the case, you found one of the scarcest of the three. Not sure the value due to the rough condition, but neat find.

CamTron

Do I leave it as it is, or should I try and clean it up?

The coin has no wear, just a good layer of crud.

Smitty79

It certainly looks to me like a wide AM, but just for comparison here are a couple of pics of my '98. As for cleaning it, I wouldn't. If anything, send it to NCS maybe. I have no experience with NCS but I have seen some of the work they do. Some other copper people may chime in soon with better advice.

ar18

maybe NCS, maybe??? Acetone?? This coin is acutually worth somemoney if you can get ir cleaned up. I would try acetone first, soak for a few days.

TwoSides2aCoin

word on the street is to not clean it..... that is pretty ugly and may only bring ya forty or fifty bucks like that.

A lot of people might tell you to let it sit in virgin olive oil for a few days without scraping it or anything. I recommend just leaving it as it is.
Did you spill a lot of coke on it or something ?

CamTron

When I got the Van it had a buttload of junk in a CD holder compartment.
The coins stayed down there for the longest becuse a mixture of ashes and soda had glued them down.
It still makes me sick to think about it. i had been putting it off untill this morning.

and if it turns out to be only worth $20 I would be thrilled.

Thanks for all the comments.

Smitty79

Post pics of the obverse and reverse. Is the obverse any better looking?

coinnut86

<< <i>Post pics of the obverse and reverse. Is the obverse any better looking? >>





I thought acetone didnt work very well on copper... maybe goo gone?

CamTron

The obverse side is what breaks this coin. It has a pretty good layer of yuck.
I have been using a friends camera, since my 35mm does not have a micro lens yet.
I will post it later tonight or the morning.

thanks for all your help guys.

jdsinva

<< <i>When I got the Van it had a buttload of junk. . . >>



You're the second person I've noted to use the term buttload, now I'll have to recall where I saw it the first time. . .

CamTron

So should I clean it?

Smitty79

<< <i>

So should I clean it? >>



If you're absolutely sure of what will safely clean it and are comfortable with doing it yourself, then yea, go for it. Otherwise send it to the pros. This can be quite the pricey coin and if you mess it up, you'll hurt the coins value rather than help it.

Wolf359

BY cleaning, we mean soaking in olive oil or 100% pure acetone. Don't rub the surfaces, that will ruin it.

Murphy

Not Acetone! It strips away the green tarnish and exposes the pitting below. It will also discolor your cent badly like AT sometimes after just a few minutes or as long as a few days.

Soak it in 100% Pure Mineral Oil, the same kind that you might take to loosen up a bad case of constipation. Rub it with a soft cotton cloth or cottonball (not Q-Tip) every day or two and when the green begins to turn brown leave it alone. That's about all you can do for it. Believe me, you don't want to strip all of the tarnish away to expose a field of ugly pitting.

I've got one that had a bad case of "Green" and it's been soaking for a year now. About half the green is gone and it's looking alot better.
But yours may not take that long. I've found IH pennies with a metal detector and they turned a beautiful greenish-brown patina after just a few days of soaking and rubbing. Good luck.

Oh, and congratulations on your find! Finding a 1999P WAM is like catching a lunker.