Found a collection from the 50s

Thanks for all the homework on this. I really appreciate the info...I'm going to copy this down so I don't forget it. Two more things though.
1. As I post this, it's still been less than a week since I first got to see this collection, so I'm VERY new to bust halves. I understand what you said, but I don't know what it means. Is this half one of the more common varieties?
2. I'm happy to say I think you're wrong about the scratch on the obv. That is, if you're talking about the vertical one on the right side. That's actually a fold in the plastic and not on the coin...I just checked. You're right about the rim bump though.
Thanks again!

 

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OK Klunky, we're gonna send you back to school.....Busty's 101.

Get a copy of "United States Early Half Dollar Varieties 1794-1836" by Donald L. Parsley. It's a "must have" if you're going to collect busties.

R1 indicates a common variety....

 

very nice story

 

Cleaning Morgan dollar

I have had excellent results with acetone on tape glue remnants. You can soak it for a long time without affecting the color or surfaces of the coin, but it will likely soften or dissolve the dried glue. Please do your own research before any attempts at cleaning. I would suggest referring to Bob Reis' "COIN CLEANING SECRETS OF THE ANCIENTS" at http://www.anythinganywhere.com/info/clean.htm.

 

Thanks for the tip. It's probably what I'll end up doing. If that Morgan didn't have the ding on the rim, or it was a little more valuable coin, I'd let the pros handle it. But for what it is, I might try the acetone. Do you just buy that kind of thing at a hardware store?

 

That's where I got mine.

 

Acetone is a very common solvent. Try your hardware store, farm store, Wal-Mart, paint store, just about anywhere. A quart is about $3-4. Use with much ventilation. I find ammonia to be another excellent cleaner for silver coins. Use with caution and ventilation, but it generally will not hurt silver and it can turn a grungy higher grade coin into a lustrous beauty. Also, it cleans up dirty lower grade coins nicely without taking their original toning away. Practice on cheap coins, a LOT, before attempting chemical cleaning of a good coin. Be careful with copper-nickel coins, like nickels, as they will pit fairly fast in ammonia. BUT, a short dip can work wonders. I bought some grungy looking V Nickels for nearly nothing ($5-10 each) at an estate auction, and after a quck swim in the ammonia bath they showed their true nature as lustrous mint state beauties that brought $75 to $300 each!

 

Pictures?

 

Sorry I didn't take any pictures of of the V Nickels, but next time I de-grunge some silver I will try to remember to take some before and after shots.