What would you do with this Large Cent? Before & After Pics. / It graded! GTG TrueView posted.
jmski52
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This is a purchase from an online auction, not too long ago. In my frenzy to find a nice 1842 specimen, I neglected to note that the stated "grade" was only the auction house's designation and that the coin was raw.
In hand, it's not too bad but I don't know if it would "grade" at PCGS. What would be your thoughts about the coin?
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I knew it would happen.
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Comments
The denticles look a bit mushy to me, which makes me question if it is real. I don't know the period well enough to know if that is normal. Looks like VF-XF to me.
Nice looking coin. Is the light blue-green color haze or permanent? If it were mine, I would put some "Care" on it and see.
Want to make it "blue?" LOL
I have some "Care". Under close examination, the haze effect may be because of micro-pitting on the surfaces. That's the reason I'm not sure that it would grade. I can try to pick up what I'm talking about with another pic, but it's pretty hard to decipher.
I knew it would happen.
Then unless you are an experienced collector of Large cents I would not touch it. No acetone either. It looks nice as is.
**In my frenzy to find a nice 1842 specimen, **
but guessing you meant 1840...
It looks like you might have two problems then....
Actually it's a good question - really hard tell about the surface conditions, but looks promising, and I would like it as an AU, assuming it's not very lightly pitted or corroded beneath that haze.
I might try acetone first, then Blue Ribbon....since it was an auction coin, I'm guessing there is no return privilege....and you obviously removed it from whatever holder it was in. So it is probably yours to do with as you wish.
Best of luck, I love the large cents from '35 to '43, and this may turn out to be a nice one.
And if you change it in any way with chemicals you don't deserve a refund.
Ooops, I meant 1840. Thanks Walkerguy - see what I mean by "frenzied"? lol.
No, I'm not interested in returning it. I have my issues with that auction house already.
This is just part of my educational experience in 30 years of collecting Large Cents. Insider - I wouldn't trust acetone on this coin, no worries. Maybe Coin Care, since I have no Blue Ribbon.
Here's the best close-up I can muster:
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Looks like a very nice coin with a lot of detail. If it were mine I'd send it to PCGS for their conservation service and then get it slabbed. In any event let us know what you decide and how it turns out.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Buy a piece of bubble gum with it.
DISCLAIMER! Back off the keyboards boys. It's only a joke. Not a very good one but only a joke. I have no opinion on the penny in question.
Doesn't bubble gum cost more than a cent these days?
I knew it would happen.
The clerks today would think it was "Play money."
I would send to PCGS and skip the conservation. Nice old cent that looks good to me as is.
Correct. I just now went out to consult upon the matter with several little Hydrants who are currently splashing around in a cattle trough. The consensus was unanimous. A person would need between 10-20 of those pennies to buy a piece of bubble gum. Price variation depending upon seller, seller's mood, courtesy of buyer, buyer's immediate cash on hand, etc., etc. The kids know all about it. I trust 'em. GAWD!!!, is it hot around here. Granny just jumped in. I'm next. Make room for Papa!!!! ............GERONIMO!
Not coin related but I've just got to share this. Ten minutes ago little 4 year old Hydrant Joey comes in with big news. "Grandpa, there's a frog outside by the....the....swimmin' pool. It's really big. He went under a rock. Can I get him? He's humongous." " No" I said, "He's hiding from the sun. The sun will kill him. Get him later tonight. He'll still be there. And, close the door on your way out." He didn't . Close the door that is. THEN........Two minutes after all of that, 6 year old Hydrant Brooke comes in with even bigger news. She says, "Papa, there's a really big snake out by the pool. He's chasing a green frog. Nikki says it's a rattlesnake. But Bobby says it's not. It's really big. Is it a rattlesnake? " OFF TO THE TROUGH!
I'd put it in my dansco type book.
David
Giving it a bath in solvent (acetone or laquer thinner, for example) wouldn't hurt.
Mineral oil
Agree although I'd let one of the conservation services do it when it's sent in for grading and slabbing.. The surfaces appear to have some kind of surface contamination which is making the surfaces quite dull and is probably hiding some very nice luster.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Can you take a pic of the edge of the coin? It almost looks like there is a seam hopefully it's just a shadow or something
Acetone and submit !
WS
What WS said. He knows what he is talking about
Holy Toledo, DMWJR! Looking at your Registry Set, I'd have to say that you know what you're talking about too. Wowzer!
Normally, I wouldn't have been persuaded to use acetone, but based on a few of the comments here by people that I have reason to believe, I'm going to try acetone. fingers crossed.
@USMarines6: I can take a pic of the edge and I will, but it's solid and looks better than the obverse or the reverse. There is no bondline.
I knew it would happen.
And if you change it in any way with chemicals you don't deserve a refund.
This reminds me of story Ed Hipps shared with me many years ago (RIP, Ed), about sending someone a Chain Cent. I can't recall if it was on approval or if the paid for it, but anyway they attempted to clean it, it "didn't turn out as nice as they hoped", so they sent it back.....
Oh yea!
the pitting doesn't look too bad, all i see when i look at that coin is the cockeyed date...
Ha! I never even noticed the date position before. Here is the edge pic I promised.
I knew it would happen.
I like the details on this piece, but the green tinge on copper is a red flag for me. I think this piece is a good candidate for acetone bath. It depends upon the nature of what's causing the green tinge. I had a late date (1854?) That responded well and revealed nice medium brown color underneath. I bought a 1819 with AU details that had green corrosion that didn't budge, but the coin was noticeably darker.
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IMO, the coin has already been in acetone and its surface is all dried out and dull. An EAC guy could turn it into a beauty in just a few seconds using his old, well-used, green bristled, camel's hair brush.
I once had a customer scrub an UNC 1883 Liberty Nickel to get off a little green spot. It was covered with hairlines when he returned it. I said, "Dude, you polished it." He said, "I was trying to get the spot off, but it wouldn't come off."
Why dealers drink #187.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, evn when irrefutably accurate.
That is a nice old cent....and I would keep it just as it is....These old coppers just need a comfortable resting place and TLC....
Cheers, RickO
jmski52, that looks like a nice mint state coin with crud on the surfaces obscuring the luster. I would give it a dip in acetone followed by a bath with CARE. I think you will be very pleased with the results.
Check out some of my 1794 Large Cents on www.coingallery.org
And don't rub it. Roll the chemicals on or swish it while holding it with tongs.
EDIT: Not plastic for the acetone swish.
MS65 with rub. Would be MS66 if not for the slight wear.
You may get someone to disagree.
I tried acetone, with no effect. I added some xylene and used a Q-tip to roll around gently on the coin. Evidently there WAS some gunk on the surfaces and I'm glad to have taken these steps.
The result is that I can see some original red on the leaves and in some of the other recessed areas, but the fields have either been de-glossed from the contaminants that were removed, or the coin was previously cleaned.
Regardless of the angle and/or the lighting, I think the coin looks better. The question would be whether or not it would certify at any grade other than genuine. I'm not completely convinced that I got all of the gunk off, but there is a difference in appearance.
Opinions?
I knew it would happen.
It appears now the coin may have been dipped, or possibly whizzed, based on that grainy, goldish appearance....I'll defer to Insider to discern what he thinks though.
I'm also wondering if it was intentionally hazed, etc to hide that?
Thanks. Almost looked something like this from that certain angle
I provided a photo already and I have examined the edge. There is no evidence of a bondline.
I knew it would happen.
Yup I saw it thanks. The pic I posted is from a raw purchase I made years ago and keep as a reminder. One of your pics made it look like there was a seam on your coin. Sorry for the confusion
Much improved although it looks like you may have softened the stars.
Sometimes the green tinge is verdigris (actual corrosion).
Sometimes the green tinge is a waxy build-up from being in an old leather pouch for a very long time.
If the latter, a solvent (even olive oil) will easily take it off.
If the former, nothing will really work although oil on the surface will reduce the appearance of the green for a time - until the oil evaporates.
This is why you sometimes hear reports of long-term soaking in olive oil doing wonders for old copper, and other times it does nothing.
Well, the TrueView doesn't look quite as good as the coin in hand, but at least it straight-graded.
Guess the grade.
http://images.pcgs.com/TrueView/35868919_1000x1000.jpg
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I’m stuck on AU50 as a subtle net grade. Great detail but slightly off surfaces
You are a tough grader. Are you an EAC member? IMO, that coin should get at least a 55 if sent in by a major auction house.
@tradedollarnut said: Great detail but slightly off surfaces
That's about how I see it. The coin graded MS-61, which I don't completely understand because an MS-61 would be mainly due to lots of contact marks, no? Is there a detraction for surfaces? Anyhow, I'm happy that it did grade.
@Insider2 said: that coin should get at least a 55 if sent in by a major auction house
Well, you got that about right. The major auction house described it as MS-60.
I knew it would happen.
Likely she got a 61 because of dull surfaces.
I like the coin.
For what it's worth, I thought the coin would straight grade from the first photos, and I agree completely that the coin received a silent net grade because of the surfaces/color. IMO, PCGS is more lenient in this regard with the earlier 1840s and 1830s than they are for the later dates in this series.
By way of comparison, here's my 1839 that's also graded MS61:
You will note a very similar look in terms of strike, luster, & mushy denticles -- but some difference in color and visible wear.
I like it as is. Virgin olive oil wouldn't hurt it. Sunlight works best. Thanks for shining some on it.
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