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 RobertSenior Member
Posts: 896
Joined: 05 Jul 2003
Location: Oklahoma
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 Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2003 10:16 pm |
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"United States Large Cents 1793-1857" by Warren A. Lapp and Herbert A. Silberman.
The first quarter of it (~150 pages) is full of large cent anectodes/facts/articles originally published by the Numismatist from 1895 to 1971. Very entertaining, educational and amusing work.
The rest of the book is a very detailed list of large cent (and half cent) varieties. Many photos are shown.
I recommend this book. Anyone else have it?
Last edited by Robert on Thu Jul 31, 2003 8:09 pm; edited 1 time in total
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RobertSenior Member
Posts: 896
Joined: 05 Jul 2003
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2003 10:25 pm |
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mentions (pp. 116-118) washing large cents with xylol or carbon tetrachloride and using a "large thorn from a rose bush" to free up dirt in crevices.
Another idea (p. 124) is to boil them in olive oil, then wipe them and hold them over a gas flame for a few seconds.
Many other topics were discussed in the past, including whether or not a die crack makes a variety (p. 124), "Double Profiles" (doubled dies?) (p. 122) and "A Cent is a Cent -- Not a Penny!" (p. 128).
Good stuff!
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MarkMember
Posts: 43
Joined: 04 Jul 2003
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2003 11:38 am |
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Robert:
The suggestion to boil the coins in olive oil and then hold them over a gas flame: Is this from some article published in The Numismatist? And, if so, can you tell what year someone made this suggestion?
Personally, it sounds like this is a suggestion from someone who eventually graduated from Coin Doctor school??? But it does seem a touch on the amusing side.
Mark
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RobertSenior Member
Posts: 896
Joined: 05 Jul 2003
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2003 7:51 pm |
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Apprently so. It looks like a letter to the editor dated March, 1945 under the heading "Likes Them French Fried".
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MarkMember
Posts: 43
Joined: 04 Jul 2003
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2003 8:02 pm |
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That's a FUNNY heading!  If you want to try this on one of your coins, I will be glad to hear the report of what happens! 
Mark
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RobertSenior Member
Posts: 896
Joined: 05 Jul 2003
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2003 8:08 pm |
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Nah, why don't YOU go first and tell me what you find! I'm too busy reading the book. 
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RobertSenior Member
Posts: 896
Joined: 05 Jul 2003
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2003 8:28 pm |
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"A Visit to the US Mint in 1812"
Story of George Escoll Sellers who, as a 4 yr old boy in 1812, visited the OLD mint. He recollects the minting process and facilities. He was given a chance by (Adam?) Eckfeldt to mint a coin. The coin came out of the press "hot" so George dropped it. Mr. Eckfeldt rhetorically asked the boy how the coin got hot without a visible heat source. As a friendly challenge Mr. Eckfeldt then said the boy couldn't spend the coin until he figured out how it got hot. He finally figured it out.
Unfortunately the boy lost the cent in some stone steps. Many years later he revisited the site and found the cent, covered in verdigris and dated 1812, thus confirming his age during that mint visit.
Fascinating stuff.
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