anyone watch them open the Boston time capsule live?

Ok then. Ill bring two bus passes and a bus map.

 

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By people who "knew" that it was important to clean metal items, and with nitric and sulfuric acid. They certainly do get rid of any surface deposits, along with the surface itself.

People in the 19th century, indeed through most of the 20th century, had different ideas about how to take care of coins. That's one reason that "original" coins are as rare and desirable as they are.

Me, I spend some of my time wondering which of our current "common-sense" coin-handling practices will draw the ire of those who find our coins a century down the road. I wonder if I'll live long enough to see the big reveal about "slab damage"...

 

New link with more pics

http://www.boston.com/news/history/...1OiX0K/story.html?p1=Topofpage:sub_headline_1

 

"The 10 pound copper box was discovered during maintenance almost a month ago, and was unearthed by Hatchfield. She spent seven hours chiseling away at the stone that encased it that day, *spilling old coins from the stone before the box was freed.* Officials say the copper box replaced the capsules original container— a leather pouch— when it was discovered and reburied in 1855. The coins that fell from the stone during removal are suspected to have been thrown atop the capsule when it was reburied, as an act of good luck."

So there were other coins, just on top of the box...

 

I got an old pickup with a 350 that will still get gone pretty good went by a cop at 104 a few years ago in it! And I gotvplenty of tools. But I'd be fare more interested if there was a 1794 $1 in it!

 

Dang @Mainebill did that ocifer catch up with you?

 

Nope. He was on a call with his blues onvbut asked someone anyone know about a dark colored pickup I clocked at 104. The guy was like I think I know who it was but they had nothing to do with this. (Long story in my wilder days) I've gone past a few flying and not got caught was doing around 100 in my 68 chevelle I used to have and went by one was almost home where I lived then went in the back driveway and parked it out behind the barn. A minute later the cop went by with his blues on looking for me never did find me

 

..washed in nitric acid in 1855.. what is it with people's obsession with cleaning coins??!!

 

Blame it on Bugs Bunny and Baby Face Finster, "How many times have I told you not to play with the dirty money."

 

It could have been washed in Fluoroantimonic acid and wouldn't matter to me...these coins were handled by our founding fathers, for the sole purpose of saying "We put these here so you would know we existed!"...I'll take'm!

Ok well maybe not Fluoroantimonic acid, that would have likely damaged the coin to the point of just being a metal disk if anything survived. Point being, cleaned or not, these coins would be, and are, way desirable. Not from a numismatic standpoint in the purest sense, but just because of who placed them there.

My guess is this, these weren't placed in this time capsule, or even re-buried in 1855 for numismatic purposes. It was to preserve the history of the moment. You don't need an MS-65 coin to do that, especially when you are putting it in a box which would not be able to protect them completely from the elements. Knowing that, the folks who cleaned them were probably thinking the same thing...not trying to preserve the numismatic value but remove corrosion so someone who un-buried it in the future would know what it was. I would hope, if they get re-buried, that they are put in an air-tight, or some sort of protective to preserve the way it is now, but prevent further damage.

 

PCGS Unc Detail - Cleaned

 

The coins by themselves in that condition without the history would not bring such a great premium.