It is 95% copper, but I have a couple questions on this: 1. Would this strip be for U.S. cents or for a foreign Mint? I have never seen one this wide before. (@Fred Weinberg?) 2. Anyone know how to properly clean this? Any help is appreciated. Thanks! ~Joe C.
Looks like it was for US cents. It's mostly copper, and matches pre 1983 cents by width and thickness. How did you come across this interesting object? About cleaning, whenever I come across a really oxidized 1920s wheat cent, I personally clean it with a Q-Tip and some toothpaste.
Yes, I did at one point. But, now I just use any toothpaste that I have. Baking soda could also work.
It depends on the year. They must of changed the way Blanks were cut at some point. Just have to find out what era that webbing is from.
Coinblazer- Just out of curiosity, what math are you taking in high school? I was in Math Analysis junior year.
@BadThad how many bottles do you think he’ll need? I’ve seen some people have interesting success with oils, but it’s outside of my wheelhouse. @desertgem and @GDJMSP will likely have some solid insight.
What are the rules, if any, for surface preservation on planchet strips? With that much corrosion, I'd think this one would be a "details strip" regardless of what you do or don't do to it now...? Edit: I'd still like to see the slab they'd put it in, even with a details grade.
I am not sure there is much that can be done. Maybe a sealable tray with some acetone or xylene. But it still would leave remnants of the corrosion.
With planchet strips, especially larger ones, they are all spot-toned in places, bent and dinged in places, corroded in spots, and/or "damaged" in some way. Those who collect them all expect they're going to have their own uique problems. The same goes with unstruck blanks and planchets. They are going to have marks, dings, etc., as they are pretty much gone after striking.