1859 S Half eagle

Hello everyone! I obviously have a red book but would like ur opinions on this bad boy! The discoloration is what i believe to be from other coins. A lot came off just by rinsing it. I think it will come off easy just dont want to devalue it anymore. Is there anything that will clean this without scrubbing it? What would u grade it and value it at?

 

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Looks to be a bad case of PVC. A bath in pure acetone

 

whats pvc?

 

polyvinyl chloride.

Soft coin holders, that leach chemicals onto the coins.

But, it looks like more than that

 

No not that i just dug this with my metal detector, it looks like maybe it was between 2 copper coins to me. the stuff was flat like was anyway

 

i think it will come off easy is there anything out there that wont hurt the patina?

 

Nice dig! I can't comment on how or what can safely remove the junk but, nice score!

 

It looks like it was polished but if it was just dug, I don't know.
I would give it an acetone bath. No rubbing.

 

ya i just dug it the other day, where do i get acetone?

 

I'd call it VG details worth about $400. I agree though, it desparetly needs an acetone bath. Most hardware stores would carry it.

 

k thx

 

Pretty crappy condition, but still worth a lot!! Nice find!

 

Great find. Did you find other coins in the same hole?
You can find acetone at about any hardware store.

 

Nope no other coins. I sure looked though!

 

I just looked the coin up. If real it's worth a great deal more than $400.
Don't do any more rubbing on the coin. A bath in acetone will do no harm.

 

Im not sure what its worth alls i know what my redbook says about it. Can only guess what it would grade. Im guessing if i can get the gunk off it would maybe get a f 8-10 idk

 

I wonder if electrolysis on gold, would work to dislodge the surface matter. You still would have to use stainless steel probes, as on other metals and low dc voltage.
Anyone ever used it on gold or platinum coins? You could use a sound wave on the coin to dislodge the matter, as they use in medical or sports treatments.

 

Thanks for the correction Larry, I was looking at the 56-S. Sorry for the confusion @Kickindirt.