i have an 1914 d wheat penny which has been in a folder since the 60's at least. it is shiner on the obverse than the reverse. took it to a coin show and got different responses about if it was cleaned, some thought yes and some no. it is in very good condition. should i send it in to get graded? the people who said it was cleaned said not to because it would come back in a body bag. the others said it should be slabbed. maybe i should leave it outside for a year or two to let it get back to normal?
Like jacak said a good pic would be necessary to give you a good opinion as to what your options are. If it has been cleaned, trying to get the obverse retoned to match the reverse would be compounding the problem. If the reverse is a dark chocolate brown, that patina developed over the last almost hundred years, you're not going to match it artificially. Leaving it outside for a couple years might get you even more problems, you might end up with a green coin. Either accept it as it is or sell it and buy one you like better.
Are the designer's initials (VDB) on the truncation of Lincoln's bust? If the answers to these questions are 'Yes' the coin is not genuine and is instead a 1944-D with the first '4' altered to a '1'.
I found this 1914-D metal detecting last October. This coin was in the ground for 100 years at least, and I was still offered $125 for it. You know it was'nt cleaned, so that is all that matters. If you are planning on selling it, you should get it graded because it will, (or should) increase it's value. If not, then just put it in an air-tight container and put it in a safe place.
Not to actual collectors who don't need a coin graded to give them the warm and fuzzy feeling inside. I don't pay any premium over it's actual value just because someone slapped a grade on it in a slab.
If it's been cleaned there's no way to undo that. And what do you mean by "get back to normal"? A picture would help as others have said, but if you send it to one of the respected TPG's it will at least get authenticated. The "body bag" is no longer used except for fakes and coins that can't be positively ID'ed.
i will try to get pictures. people at the coin show said they thought it was authenic. i don't really want to sell it but i would like to know it's approx value, so i probably will send it in. i also have a 1922 no d strong reverse which also has very good details....but is rather dark colored....and a 1909 s (not a vdb) that is not in as good shape. i will try to get pictures but i have never done it......
nice find! good thing that corrosion is over the "liberty" side and not the date. i am also from minnesota but i was thinking if i left it outside it would naturally tone. with our weather it would probably not take long. but, after reading the responses, i won't do that.
cleaning and re-toning attempts might totally ruin your coins Hello slodg1, Please do not attempt any cleaning or re-toning on your 1914-D or 1922 no D cents. Please take photos & crop them tightly & post them here. Very best regards collect89
cleaning i will not be cleaning them. the 22 is just a dark brown coin, not dirty or cleaned. these coins were in a safe box since early 60's. i got them about 2 years ago. i am worried about giving them to someone to send in for grading. how do i know i will get the same ones back from them. a local dealer here said he has about 6 in his inventory? thanks
If you are a member of the ANA, then you can submit yourself directly to NGC. Before I make any recommendation, I would like to see photos of the two coins. You mentioned they are in "very good" condition. I am not certain if you mean VG8 or VG10 or perhaps you meant "very nice looking". Please post photos when it is possible.
Yes, it would definitely take a 'nerd' to mentally add 100 years to '1914' and realize that something just isn't adding up
