Any idea what someone did to this 1848 cent?

[pendragon1998]

Looks to me like someone used soft scrub or something on it. I'm not sure. Any ideas on getting this white gunk off, or is it too late?

[TomB]

They made it invisible?

[pendragon1998]

 

Sorry!

[TomB]

Okay, now I see an attachment. Heck if I know, but it looks like Comet residue in the devices.

[MorganMan]

Has it been in the US Postal Service mail?

 

Anthrax Residue?

 

 

MM

[Hoot]

If soaking the coin in water won't remove the white stuff, then I'd rule out the soft scrub idea, but the coin may well have been polished, such as with a silver polish. EZ off oven cleaner will likely remove the white stuff, but it may require some gentle coersion with a Q-tip. The surfaces are all wrong for color, no matter how you look at it, so I think you have little to lose (and a low grade '48 is worth little, monetarily). Follow the removal with a light brushing of Deller's Darkener using a camel hair brush - don't be excessive. The coin will re-tone over time.

 

Another thing to do with such a coin is carry it around in your pocket for 6 months or more. That will improve it dramatically and will knock off all the crud. Then leave it to re-tone. This is likely what I'd do. (I have four large cents in my pocket right now!)

 

Hoot

[pendragon1998]

I was thinking it might make a nice pocket piece. mmm....

[cpm9ball]

(I have four large cents in my pocket right now!)

 

Hoot

 

In the same pocket? By the time you're finished, they'll be small cents.

 

Chris

[Hoot]

(I have four large cents in my pocket right now!)

 

Hoot

 

In the same pocket? By the time you're finished, they'll be small cents.

 

Chris

 

By the time I'm done, I'll have no cents, since I'm senseless now.

 

Hoot

[spiny]

I've had something similar happen after removing pvc from circulated copper using acetone. The underlying detritus turned a whitish color. I just dipped them in mineral oil, patted off the excess, and let them air dry. The color returned to the normal darkness.