What do you look for to tell if they are cleaned I can never tell and worth a few bucks do you mean $2-3 or more
Here's my take on your coin: Probably was in the ground, where it became heavily corroded over the years. Whoever discovered it, cleaned it (which was no easy task considering the corrosion). You can still see remants of the previous color around the devices. Natural patina on large cents is normally quite dark. If my LCS had your coin, they would sell it for $2 to $3. I buy these type of coins from them all the time, then list them on eBay where they sell in the $8 to $12 range.
If it looks like shiny new copper it has been cleaned, they should look brown, ranging from a peanut butter color to a deep walnut brown. The 1851's have a few rare varieties, but this does not look like one of them from what I can still see. It's heavily corroded and worth in the $10 range. Here is the color they should be:
I actually like the coin. Looks like a really cool ground find to me. I would guess it was an AU or maybe MS coin when lost. Not worth much but cool just for what it is.
