The girls and I were dumping our sorted through coins today at the local walmart coin star and in the dump tray when we arrived sat an indian head penny. 1890 or 99 hard to tell for certain. Not in good shape at all, but we were more than excited to find such an old penny just there for the taking. First indian head we have found.
well my daughter cleaned it with a dish rag and some water and it sure cleaned up nice. 1890 is the year for sure. But the edges are rolled, looks like it got run over or drug through a blacksmith shop. hahahaah!
For a beat up common date coin that looks like it has been dragged through a blacksmith shop; I think there will be no harm in cleaning it...it's not like the OP intends to sell it or have it slabbed and graded -LTB
I just got another box of cents to search and it seems like they have washed the coins prior to wrapping ? Most of them are 2010 D with very little copper, perhaps 1 or 2 per roll, but the zincolns are much brighter and cleaner than I am used to seeing. In fact my hand does not even show signs of handling them as it does when it gets dirty from the coins. This is the first time I have seen this. These coins are all wrapped in the clear plastic tubing instead of traditional paper wrappers. Could this be a new process ? gary
I know the 1890 indian head is worthless, but we like having such an old coin. and it doesn't look cleaned it all. she just rubbed it for about 2 seconds. it had mud on it.
