This coin has a solid vdi of 56 on my AT Pro. Found about 5 inches deep on a property dating back to the mid 1800’s. It is slightly thinner than a US penny. I’m not sure what type of coin can ring as a 56. Any ideas?
Coin
- Thread starter Newblue
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Bayoutalker
Elite Member
Have you tried anything to clean it yet?
Cliff
Cliff
Bilgemaster
Full Member
I'd suggest tossing it into a little olive oil for a couple-few weeks and having at it with an old toothbrush. As it stands, reading 56 on your AT, my hunch given its overall shape, edge and reported thickness is you might have turned up an Indian Head Penny. I think I may actually be able to make out a couple of feathers from the headdress, though I can't be sure. In any event, don't quit your day job!
Bayoutalker
Elite Member
I tried rubbing it with olive oil and I’ve used a toothbrush. No luck yet. I’ll have to let it soak a while.
A Facebook group is also guessing Indian head or flying eagle. Flying eagle would be nice. I’ll have to soak it for awhile as you suggested.
Moe Money
Senior Member
IMO 56 seems awful low for an IHP or any penny for that matter. Even with erosion it looks to be somewhat full size if it is. Maybe its encrusted in iron rich soil or something? IHP's usually ring up in the upper 70's on my AT-Pro.
cellrdwellr
Elite Member
This is true with most injuns. But flying eagle and the early "fatty" injuns had a somewhat high percentage of nickel in them so they definitely ring up lower. Somewhere around 11-12% nickel I believe. BUT, he says it is actually slightly thinner than regular penny, even a completely worn "fatty" should be considerably thicker than a regular penny. New blue, try to turn off the lights in the room and lay a flashlight down next to the coin to see if any high spots stick out. Hopefully we can at least get an ID for you. Congrats, hope the next one is much nicer!
graybeard
Elite Member
A farthing is close to that size also a civil war token is that size.
I ordered some Andres pencils. They should be arriving today. I’m hoping they will help with cleaning the coin so I can get an ID. I’ve heard a lot about them and watched many videos of people using them. I’m a bit nervous to use them as I don’t want to cause damage but I’ll start out very gently. As the coin is now it is worthless anyway so I’m hoping it will help. I’ll let you all know.
amc rulz
Forum Supporter
Might I suggest mineral oil vs olive oil next time. Olive oil is organic which really darkens coppers and will leave fatty acids. I stopped using it years ago after it ruined a sweet 2 cent piece, darkened so much that it was hard to see the details.
If olive oil is used on a coin, it must be degreased with acetone.
If olive oil is used on a coin, it must be degreased with acetone.
Thank you for the advice!
goldendreams
Elite Member
Thats an indian ..imo
I can see the "wreath" going around in a circle and where the shield on top of it and almost see some "one cent" in the center
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Redwaller
Full Member
I'm late to this but I could tell it was an IHP from the first post, you can see the headdress feathers in the pic where it's next to the modern cent. Wonder how it got so beat up though.
TrenchKnife
Full Member
well, yeah, there are hints of the IHP headdress ...
but how the heck did it clean up to look like either old lead or silver ? tough to say which is which as the photos vary.
could it be a lead fake IHP ? what does it ring up after clean up, air test? where's lead and or copper and or silver land on that AT scale ?
but how the heck did it clean up to look like either old lead or silver ? tough to say which is which as the photos vary.
could it be a lead fake IHP ? what does it ring up after clean up, air test? where's lead and or copper and or silver land on that AT scale ?
Must be the camera giving it a shiny lead/silver color. Looks more like copper in person. I haven’t checked how it rings up now that it’s clean. It was ringing much lower than an Indian head should but I guess I’ll take majority vote as it is an indian head.
Redwaller
Full Member
Yeah about how low it beeped - it's worth considering that that could easily be directly related to how corroded it was - it's probably lost at least 10% of its mass. I'd also be curious as to how the AT Pro ground balanced where you found it - any dirt capable of eating an IHP like that probably ground balanced weirdly enough to mess with the id numbers - though to be honest, on an AT Pro the id numbers aren't all that reliable anyway. I've heard tell of people saying IHPs are supposed to be around a 73, but my AT Pro has at least so far always given a bouncing, nasty signal between like 64 and 69.
Domoryder77
Senior Member
IHP for sure, as soon as I saw it I could see the head dress
