Rookie IHC Cleaning question
Yacorie1
Posts: 169 ✭✭✭
Hi Everyone,
So I came across a box of coins recently at my parents house that no one had any idea were there but we assumed must have belonged to my grandfather. It consisted primarily of a few IHCs and 100s of wheat cents that appear to have just been tossed in a box when he would find them. I haven't gone through any of them yet but this one coin caught my eye.
My pictures are horrible, so I'll apologize in advance. This coin looks way better in hand than it does in the pictures - but I'm just curious about the lines you can see. I assume they are from cleaning the coins some time ago because they cross the devices etc. However, there more I look at it, I wonder if its something else because they are very consistent and in the same direction on the obv/rev. Knowing my grandfather, and assuming he was the one who would have done it, it seems way too consistent. He was definitely more of a haphazard type and would have just scrubbed something clean.
i appreciate any feedback - thank you
Comments
Actually, that coin in all likelihood has not been cleaned. Some of the early bronze Indian Cents, like this one, have a “woodgrain” look that comes from a less than perfect mixture of the copper and zinc alloy that make up bronze.
It also looks like it might be an 1864-L cent, which would make it a good find. The “L” stands for James Longacre, who designed this coin. He placed his initial on the ribbon that is below the last feather in the headdress on some of the 1864 Bronze cents that were issued late in the year.
Looks like you have a repunched date, too!
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
I agree with the woodgrain toning as seen on many of the older cents. Nice looking set.
I'm thinking wood grain toning with a repunched date is what you have there! Nice looking coin
HAPPY COLLECTING
I agree with everyone so far because, well, I feel pretty agreeable this morning...
Definitely woodgrain toning, definitely do NOT clean it.
Also looks like an 1864-L with a repunched date, a nice find!
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Thank you very much for all of the responses. I'm glad I didn't just toss it right back in the box when I first looked at it and though it had been cleaned. I had tried to see if I could see the "L" but still don't see it.
So for another subjective question if you don't mind. Is the coin worth putting the pile of coins to be sent off for grading eventually? I have some coins that I've put aside to be graded at some point (mostly barbers and a few seated quarters) but wondering if this is worth adding to the pile.
This sure looks like an L to me. I've circled it here.
http://www.pcgscoinfacts.com/Coin/Detail/2079 Same as in coinfacts.
Collector, occasional seller
Thank you for circling it. My eyes go crazy looking for that with a loupe
Might just have been that you just got lucky with this coin, but on the other hand maybe your grandfather had a reason for saving those particular coins. I think the rest deserve some careful scrutiny.
That's a well known RPD for the 1864-L.
Rookies should not attempt to clean copper. That 1864 looks very nice and probably not cleaned.
Nice coin - wouldn’t touch it except give it a couple blasts of air from one of those baby bulb nose cleaners to safely blow away the debris on the surface. If you have a local coin store see if they’ll sell you an individual coin capsule or plastic snap to put it in and protect it - definitely don’t want that one sliding around a box.
Thank you for all of the responses. I didn't plan on cleaning it myself, was just wondering if that look was from an old cleaning.
I'll have to clean it off with some air to see if that will remove the debris and then put it in a 2x2 for now.
Very nice IHC... definitely put it in an airtite capsule to keep it from handling scratches etc.. As mentioned, the rest of the group should be carefully checked as well. Cheers, RickO
I don't think that ANYONE should attempt to clean copper, unless you are starting off with a piece is that is disaster any way
and a nice one, too
BHNC #203
The "Pointed Bust" will save your eyes.
Say "thank you, Grandpa" - nice score!
I remember in junior high school scoring one about the same grade for lunch money - about 45 cents... The kid who owned it couldn't find the "L" - but my dad had told me about the pointed bust attribute. He was so happy to fill that hole in our album!
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I agree with the comments about the coin having a woodgrain look and many copper guys (myself included) really like that "look."
From the pics it looks untampered with and a nice grade too and it's a cool RPD (looks like RPD-003 which is listed in Cherrypicker's for an added little plus.
IHC specialists would really dig this coin....as far as slabbing...I dunno...maybe for sure if you plan on selling it--otherwise I'd throw it in a flip and just keep it that way.
I don't think that ANYONE should attempt to clean copper, unless you are starting off with a piece is that is disaster any way
Thanks again for all of the responses. I'll have to spend some time going through the cents - there are 100s of them - but only a few IHCs that I saw. This one definitely jumped out.
I know nothing about IHC, wheats - nothing - so maybe this will be a good excuse to start learning.
And a new collector gets his wings...