Question on this questionable color

ChrisH821

What do you think? I thought it was very attractive and not offensive, but what do I know?
Any ideas on what the graders saw wrong with it or what could have caused it? Maybe we can all learn something from this.

Thanks!

Hallco

Maybe the graders thought it has been artificially toned in order to offset some of the black spots? Just a guess

Hemispherical

Questionable color go to the 3:40 mark.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VLE9-DZwMpI

TheRegulator

Kinda looks like someone tried to strip off fingerprints on the reverse and recolor.

DollarAfterDollar

The area around the "E" in ONE is what I think they objected to. Everything else including the black spots seem fine based upon my experience.

Bochiman

The black spots look like a lot of small carbon spotting.

WildIdea

I think the watery toning break behind the head and around IN is a tell tale look they don't like. Also, if the spots have little toning rings around them that is suspect, at least to me.

cameonut2011

@WildIdea said:
I think the watery toning break behind the head and around IN is a tell tale look they don't like. Also, if the spots have little toning rings around them that is suspect, at least to me.

I agree with this. The pinkish red hue also bothers me.

OldIndianNutKase

The color of the copper and the coarseness of the fields seem to me to indicate the coin was dipped in an acidic fluid which eroded the surface. The carbon spots were existant prior to the dip.

OINK

ChrisH821

Good thoughts here, thanks for the input!

johnny9434

nice coin over all except for the black spots (just saying)

skier07

It’s a pretty coin nevertheless. The toning on the top of Abe’s head and surrounding surfaces don’t look natural to me.

DIMEMAN

Very interesting thoughts here. My first thought was wow I like the coin and would be upset. But what do I know.

jmlanzaf

Keep in mind, it's "Questionable Color". They don't know for sure that it isn't natural. Submit it again, you may get a different judgment.

mirabela

Overall it just looks a little too raw and pink. I'd expect a natural mint red coin of this age to have a warmer, more orangey tone.

BlindedByEgo

@jmlanzaf said:
Keep in mind, it's "Questionable Color". They don't know for sure that it isn't natural. Submit it again, you may get a different judgment.

Agree - I submitted a really nice MS 1861 P Seated Half; it came back "questionable color" the first time. Second time it came back straight graded Proof 63.

WingedLiberty1957

Pvc damage (the green stuff) on the reverse. Its eating into the coin in spots.

PTVETTER

I think it’s a nice coin
Nothing jumps out in the photo, but in hand maybe a different story!

jmlanzaf

@WingedLiberty1957 said:
Pvc damage (the green stuff) on the reverse. Its eating into the coin in spots.

PVC damage would NOT be called questionable color by the grading services

ricko

The spots on the reverse appear to have a greenish hue...Not typical carbon spots. This would indicate to me that some type of chemical was used on the coin. Now, whether it was then rinsed poorly, or the spots retained a trace reaction to the chemical, I cannot tell. Cheers, RickO

ChrisH821

Interesting, I'll try to get a microscope shot of one of the reverse spots this evening.

@FadeToBlack said:

@ricko said:
The spots on the reverse appear to have a greenish hue...Not typical carbon spots. This would indicate to me that some type of chemical was used on the coin. Now, whether it was then rinsed poorly, or the spots retained a trace reaction to the chemical, I cannot tell. Cheers, RickO

Yep, I saw the same thing. Not carbon spots at all.