Oiled Colonial Coins

MidLifeCrisis

I bought a Fugio Cent PCGS graded MS64BN recently from a Heritage auction. The coin is dark chocolate brown and was accurately depicted in the pictures on the website. (I've attached my own pics to this post - they are not great pics though.) When I received the coin, I was happy with my purchase. Then another respected dealer told me he thought the coin had been oiled a few years ago and that the oiling caused the dark toning.

Although I have already discussed this with a couple of CU board members, I would like more opinions about such coins that have been oiled in the past. Is this bad? Is it as bad as cleaning a coin? Wasn't oiling copper coins an accepted practice many years ago by even the most prominent collectors of the day? Should I trade or sell the coin for an "upgrade"?

Thank you for your time and your thoughts.

Fletcher

Nice Fugio! However, it does look a little "wet".

MidLifeCrisis

Thanks. Please elaborate.

Fletcher

I am definitely no expert, but it looks significantly oiled. However, the more time that I spend around early copper guys, the more that seems to be the norm. You need a real expert though to get an answer to base your decision on.

1798CentCollector

It's possibe that the coin has been laquered.

MidLifeCrisis

Here are a couple of pics from the Heritage Archives:

oreville

Midlifecrisis: Many early copper coins were oiled with olive oil to make them look more "shiny" and make them more reflective to the human eye. The "wet" look is generally appealing to the eye as the light would reflect more strongly off the coin, making the coin appear to be brighter than before.

However, as a consequence, the olive oil made the brown coin even darker brown. This awful truth came out in the 1970's and 1980's.

It was not discovered until it was too late that mineral oil could have done the same trick without making the coin quite as darkish brown and in fact, more than 90% of the CCU posters here STILL think erroneously that olive oil is still the best way to go.

The EAC had some members who advocated the use of oils to better p-reserve the copper on the coins by putting a protective layer of oil to slow down verdigris from forming or growing on the coins.

Too bad that some of them did not realize that olive oil can darken and well as turn rancid on the coin.

Hope this helps.

1798CentCollector

Blue Ribbon or CARE has been used as a protective "oil" with no known adverse side effects. Olive oil has been used by some as a soak to loosen or remove dirt and verdigris. Interesting comment Oreville, but I have not heard of EACers advocating olive oil to be used as a "protective" oil. I certainly wouldn't

basestealer

<< <i>Blue Ribbon or CARE has been used as a protective "oil" with no known adverse side effects. Olive oil has been used by some as a soak to loosen or remove dirt and verdigris. Interesting comment Oreville, but I have not heard of EACers advocating olive oil to be used as a "protective" oil. I certainly wouldn't >>


That's right!

And the coin up there doesn't look "olive oiled" it looks lacquered to me.

oreville

I agree that the EAC never advocated using any olive or mineral oil on early american copper coins. That being said, at least 10% or more of their members have shown me their coins and demonstarted their "expertise" in using mineral oil as well as olive oil to improve the look of their coins and preserve/ work on verdigris present on the coin{s).

jmski52

Blue Ribbon or CARE has been used as a protective "oil" with no known adverse side effects.

These both were recommended to me. I also understand that the application should be done periodically.

holeinone1972

Should (care or blue ribbon) also be used on an MS coin of early copper?

Or only on coins that are in worse condition?

Shamika

I find it very hard to believe PCGS would slab a coin so heavily oiled as that. My guess is that it's laquer you see and not oil. And for what it's worth, laquer should not harm the coin and can easily be removed with a soaking in acetone.

LeeG

Here's some good info on proper care of copper:

MidLifeCrisis

Lee - thanks for the post. What book is that information from?

LeeG

I ordered some supplies from Rod and he sent this two page info sheet to me.

Fletcher

Great info Lee ... thanks

NumisOxide

Very informative Lee. Thanks.

Frankcoins

Olive oil soaking has been recommended for corroded copper, since the oil has a 1 to 2% acid content. Certainly should not be used as
a coating. Blue Ribbon, Care, Vaseline, or even WD40 and wax have been used to protect old copper. All are better than no protection at all.