adhesive on coins

i was wondering if anyone knows how i can get glue off the back of a 1904 indian head penny without damaging it. I don't think this coin ever went into circulation and if it did, it wasn't in very long because someone put it in a necklace but used glue to keep it there. The coin is in amazing shape except a little glue on the back but I don't want to damage the coin.

Hello dhblair62, welcome to the forum

I understand this is a bronze coin?

The most secure manner would be to bring it into a jeweler's shop and have it removed professionally, but if you are unwilling to do so I could suggest the old plain water and soap method (put in a cup of water with soap, swirl around a while and rinse, while making sure afterwards you dry the coin completely).

If this doesn't work you could try the olive-oil method

Do not clean your coin and do not take it to a jeweler. Take it to a professional coin dealer. Most methods of coin cleaning will cut the value of a coin by at least half, probably much more. Mint state coins, if cleaned, can easily drop from several thousands of dollars in value to $25.

Because it's in jewelry, the Indian head cent described in the question was probably already cleaned. If it has not, your coin dealer might apply Xylol to it to remove the glue. Xylol treatment can somtimes clean a coin without damaging it, but it is bad for mint state coins and can leave circulated coins looking very dull. In any case this particular coin is probably not worth more and a couple of dollars.