I recently sent a few coins that I found to NGC to have graded. Some came back AU details. I'm not sure about the value of them because they are all dug. Here is an example:
It breaks my heart that a coin like that can't be treated/conserved to improve both it's appearance and chance for future longevity.
I used coin care on it to try to conserve it. I didn't want to risk damaging it more than it's already been damaged (buried for a couple hundred years). I have to be happy with whatever condition I find them in. I'd be happy to find a better way to conserve them!
$1000? No idea. Great find. I wouldn't try to fix it. Perhaps a professional could try. I'd leave it alone.
I think it would sell for about $3000-3500 at auction. It comes down to a collector choosing between your example and a lower grade non-problem coin. If it were me I would take it for about the price of a VF-30/35, because it has more detail. Unfortunately, it is difficult to value as details coins all have different levels of issues. Still a nice coin though!
1794 Cents have incredible character. Yours displays a wonderful amount of detail. That is absolutely my kind of coin.... When I go to shows I generally look at the 1794 cents at various dealers tables and even those worn flat and barely recognizable are in the $600.00 range. Yours was details graded because being buried caused the surfaces to become porous. And folks that appreciate early copper will often overlook a details slab when a coin presents as nicely as yours. I agree with @Michael K and would say yours is a fair $1000.00 piece.
