IHC

Tomthemailcarrier

I just received my 1864 L IHC. I am happy that I waited for the right coin to come along.
There are only 10 PCGS IHC’s in this grade that are Red Brown.
By the way I am old school and I do not believe in cleaning coins no matter what words are used to obfuscate the meaning. I like original coins.

Walkerguy21D

Wow - gorgeous example.....that would look great for any date, but especially so for
one of the semi-keys!

Insider2

You might want to send this back and ask the seller to get the grading service to remove the green crud on the "N" before it "eats" into the surface. There is a "tad" around the "IC" also. Proper conservation and the coin will "blast."

PS I look for problems on coins so I cannot help my comments. I mean well.

LanceNewmanOCC

@Insider2 said:
You might want to send this back and ask the seller to get the grading service to remove the green crud on the "N" before it "eats" into the surface. There is a "tad" around the "IC" also. Proper conservation ...

good advice, especially for collectors. since their coins will most likely sit, there is no hurry to get the coin back while it is at conservation. or to pursue a buy-back.
.

Tomthemailcarrier

@Insider2 said:
You might want to send this back and ask the seller to get the grading service to remove the green crud on the "N" before it "eats" into the surface. There is a "tad" around the "IC" also. Proper conservation and the coin will "blast."

PS I look for problems on coins so I cannot help my comments. I mean well.

I am “ old school” and don’t believe in cleaning coins no matter what new term is used to obfuscate the real meaning. I like the coin and intend to keep it as is. I recall another thread on this site where Tradedollarnut had his very beautiful (and much rarer) coin critiqued by another member. While that may not have been your intent it is not the first comment that I would make about another forum members purchase.

ricko

I believe the advice was offered in good spirit and an attempt to help.... If that green spot is what it appears to be, permanent damage may result.... I do understand your feelings about originality... However, in this case, the originality could result in severe damage and loss... certainly corrosion cannot be honored with the mantle of 'original'. Cheers, RickO

Unknown

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291fifth

If the photos actually look like the coin I would pass. Sorry to be blunt but the coin does nothing for me, especially with a 66 grade attached.

grip

Must be my monitor, coin looks 63.

Insider2

@Tomthemailcarrier said:

@Insider2 said:
You might want to send this back and ask the seller to get the grading service to remove the green crud on the "N" before it "eats" into the surface. There is a "tad" around the "IC" also. Proper conservation and the coin will "blast."

PS I look for problems on coins so I cannot help my comments. I mean well.

I am “ old school” and don’t believe in cleaning coins no matter what new term is used to obfuscate the real meaning. I like the coin and intend to keep it as is. I recall another thread on this site where Tradedollarnut had his very beautiful (and much rarer) coin critiqued by another member. While that may not have been your intent it is not the first comment that I would make about another forum members purchase.

Some professional's I know have adopted an old admonition: "Do No Harm." That translates to the less that is done in a way that cannot be detected is the ONLY path to take when conserving something. I guarantee that one of those folks could fix your coin (for the next generation of collectors) in about 20 sec. and no one would be the wiser. Best of luck and watch out for dogs.

Lakesammman

I like the look of that coin -- congrats!

Insider2

@grip said:
Must be my monitor, coin looks 63.

I think that may be a little too low. Why not be specific and tell us why the coin looks like an MS-63. Perhaps someone can talk you into raising it.

So far, the range of grades for this coin is MS-63 to MS-66. Although it is already graded, let's see if we can reach a consensus.

asheland

@Insider2 said:

@grip said:
Must be my monitor, coin looks 63.

I think that may be a little too low. Why not be specific and tell us why the coin looks like an MS-63. Perhaps someone can talk you into raising it.

So far, the range of grades for this coin is MS-63 to MS-66. Although it is already graded, let's see if we can reach a consensus.

The picture doesn't really show much luster, but I believe it's there. The strike looks nice, I'm sure it's accurately graded.

Tomthemailcarrier

@Insider2 said:
Some professional's I know have adopted an old admonition: "Do No Harm." That translates to the less that is done in a way that cannot be detected is the ONLY path to take when conserving something. I guarantee that one of those folks could fix your coin (for the next generation of collectors) in about 20 sec. and no one would be the wiser. Best of luck and watch out for dogs.

Insider2, do you know if the method that could be used to remove the tiny green speck would affect the surface area of the whole reverse or would it be confined to the small area near the N? That is my concern. I would hate to have a coin improved only to have the original skin removed.
I must admit that it is hard for me to accept the idea that it is okay to mess with the surface of a coin. However if it were merely removing a small area of contamination that’d be different.

BillJones

@grip said:
Must be my monitor, coin looks 63.

An MS-63 would have obvious marks and spots. This piece is much better than that. If you see a coin of this age with bright and shiny surfaces, you are either viewing a remarkable coin or one that has been stripped of its original skin, which far more likely.

Walkerguy21D

It's a different base material and probable different contaminate, but the one (and only) time I had professional conservation done to remove a spec of contamination I was not happy with the result. The spec is still there, neutralized I suppose, with a good sized circle around it where the toning was removed.
This was on a walker done ATS about 12 years ago....so it's obviously not a similar situation - but it is an example where spot removal did not pan out well. I'm sure there are many examples where things turned out better for the owners though.

Paradisefound

I won't fuzz with that example for my first IHC. Congrats

Insider2

@Tomthemailcarrier said:

@Insider2 said:
Some professional's I know have adopted an old admonition: "Do No Harm." That translates to the less that is done in a way that cannot be detected is the ONLY path to take when conserving something. I guarantee that one of those folks could fix your coin (for the next generation of collectors) in about 20 sec. and no one would be the wiser. Best of luck and watch out for dogs.

Insider2, do you know if the method that could be used to remove the tiny green speck would affect the surface area of the whole reverse or would it be confined to the small area near the N? That is my concern. I would hate to have a coin improved only to have the original skin removed.
I must admit that it is hard for me to accept the idea that it is okay to mess with the surface of a coin. However if it were merely removing a small area of contamination that’d be different.

This type of green copper crud is extremely common. If you have a leather item with a brass snap it will accumulate at the edge of the brass touching the leather. It is soft and comes right off. Some use a rose thorn, I use a pointed splinter from a toothpick. Then, the still contaminated surface under the crud is neutralized. There is no change of color to the coin. Both the obverse and most of the reverse are not touched!

This you may need to think about: "I must admit that it is hard for me to accept the idea that it is okay to mess with the surface of a coin."

Your feeling about cleaning coins is admirable. Most folks should never touch their coins except by the edges.

Unfortunately, there is irrefutable evidence that a large number of coins have been ruined in the past by folks who did not feel the way you do. The dirty little secret is that totally original old coins that have never been mishandled are uncommon. Even many of the BU coins I see on a daily basis that are straight graded have been cleaned in the past. Many are undetectable to the naked eye. They are all market acceptable.

In some of my classes we dip a BU dollar. The students are amazed that contrary to what they thought, ten + dips are undetectable! This experiment will be different if we do the same experiment over a number of decades while letting the coin tarnish in between cleanings. Still, most will not notice any difference if cleaned and neutralized properly.

lkenefic

I disagree with the 63 assessment. The strike on this piece is outstanding. However, the spot that insider refers to concerns me as well. It's tough to tell, but it might have started since it was holdered? Regardless, I can understand the OP's concern about originality, but if that spot is really corrosion (I'm seeing green on my monitor) it's like watching a slow motion train wreck happening and not doing something to prevent it. Bottom line, it's the OP's coin and he can do with it what he will. I like the coin at 66, if not for that spot...

logger7

In hand I'm sure it is a nicer coin, inspiring the pride of ownership. Well worth at least Bluesheet pricing.