Indian Head Cent
Jbspeckh
Posts: 8 ✭
I recently acquired a fantastic looking 1908 Indian Head Cent. I have one concern - there is a small spot around the edge on the reverse that is “silverish” in color. See photos. Any ideas what would cause this?
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It appears as if something was touching those edges for a period of time wherever that cent has spent a part of it's life. It could have even come from a coin album.
Do you think that’s what caused the small spot on the bottom left of the reverse or that’s what caused the several darker spots around the edge?
Welcome to the forum.
Those are minor issues, relative to the color, which looks unoriginal. The coin appears to have been cleaned and/or recolored.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
@MFeld - Even those 2nd two pictures have unoriginal color? I took the first two down as they were taken under bright flashlight with bad cellphone camera and didn’t represent how they look in person. The two remaining pictures are much more representative of the actual color.
None of the pictures gave or give me the impression that the color’s natural.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
@Meld - thanks for feedback - that’s definitely a bummer
Need a sharp image. As is, the coin looks whizzed.
I cannot be 100% sure (fuzzy image) but generally when copper cents have a tiny silver spot, it is caused when a piece of foreign material becomes struck into the coin. I believe much of the time it is a tiny flake of silver left around after striking silver coins.
I had considered mentioning whizzing as a possibility, as well. Either way, something has been done to the coin, as its appearance is far from natural
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Still better than most first posts. Welcome. Edit to recommend certified coins.
Pics look dull to me.
The coin is definitely cleaned. Not a bad coin, nonetheless, in the grand scheme of things, compared to most Indian heads.
"It's like God, Family, Country, except Sticker, Plastic, Coin."
Could it have been buffed or polished? Looks too shiny and smooth.
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Welcome to the forums @Jbspeckh.
Curious... what’s the edge look like?
@hemispherical - good question - edge definitely darker and duller.
I’m in this coin $32.
Am I just out $32 or is it worthy of adding as a nice, but cleaned, example in my type set album?
Welcome.
I understand it may be a bummer but don't be discouraged.
Go to Coinfacts, or some other source, compare and you'll eventually see why people are telling you their opinion of why the surface is suspect.
Looking at other examples in person would be even better.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
@Insider2 @MFeld Got a slightly better picture - I’m seeing the whizzed effect I think
Good article and using an IHC as an example.
——————
Counterfeit Detection: take a look at Whizzed Coins
By CoinWeek - September 3, 2018
A deceptive surface alteration leaves a genuine coin that can appear more valuable than it actually is.
Among the more common surface alterations that NGC graders see in submissions from collectors and dealers alike are coins that have been whizzed. These are genuine coins but they get an NGC Details grade for the altered surface. Collectors should be aware such whizzing negatively affects the value of the coins.
These coins are mechanically processed using a rotating metal brush in order to impart a false luster onto the coin. When done well, the coins can be quite deceptive if you are unsure what to look for.
At first glance, the photos above seem like a pretty normal 1880 Indian Cent, albeit one with very odd luster. Also interesting is the weird shadowing of the letters on the reverse, as well as the difference in color inside of the wreath. Additionally, a closer inspection reveals very odd surfaces.
Much more and with pics at:
https://coinweek.com/counterfeits/counterfeit-detection-take-a-look-at-whizzed-coins/
@Hemispherical - Thanks! Very helpful. So tough - even with a magnifying glass I really don’t see the effect but that most recent picture definitely seem to show elements of Whizzing.
I can’t speak for others, but I think it’s extremely difficult to tell from an image whether a coin has been whizzed, rather than otherwise messed with.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
@Jbspeckh....Welcome aboard.... You have received expert opinions above... and there are links and other resources you can pursue regarding altered/cleaned/whizzed/polished coins....Cheers, RickO