i metal detect and have an old black church that has yielded some of my finest mid 1800s coins. I went back today and found a very crusty penny. I assumed it would be either a wheat or memorial penny and lightly began cleaning it with a wooden toothpick and discovered it is very likely a Flying Eagle cent. One of my bucket list coins. I immediately stopped and want to know how to best proceed. I can make out the reeding along the rim. I see the word United and 18 for the date. I have never sold any of my coins and don’t anticipate selling this (unless one of you has a fat checkbook and must have it!!!). I generally clean my coins for MY enjoyment but would like to protect it as much as possible. Any suggestions?
Sorry, but what you have is worth much of anything. When the corrosion is that bad, the value is gone. There is nothing to clean because most the design features have been eaten by the oxidation. BTW the Flying Cent, and virtually all cents, have no reeding. They have plain rims, just like the modern cent.
You can let it soak in distilled water for a couple of months. Then soak it in olive oil for a couple of months. I don't know if verdicare will reverse this bronze disease, or make it worse. It's a nice find but it's not worth anything except sentimental value for you.
Doesn't look like a flying eagle. Definitely an Indian head. Clean it up entirely to find out what year it is. You can't do much harm to it at this point.
You can see the back of the 4th number in the date is a 5. That rules out any flying eagle cent since they were only struck for circulation in 1857 and 1858. This coin has no value in this condition. If you want a flying eagle cent take a $100 bill to a coin show and get a halfway decent one. Most have poor eye appeal or are worn $50 examples. I bought one that looks great for $120 and sent it in. Ended up being a AU details grade, cleaned but the eye appeal was still high enough for me to leave it in my registry. To find a good looking flying eagle, unmolested with details remaining is a challenge. Sub $100 worn examples are a dime a dozen if you want one.
