Hypothetical, These 2 coins grade the same and are priced the same. Which would you choose?

amwldcoin

Coin 1

Coin 2

bombtech25

Something about coin 1 says light dip and retoning to me.

Catbert

Coin 1 has more visual interest to me.

morgandollar1878

2 for me, there are a couple things about 1 that I don't like.

TPRC

@bombtech25 said:
Something about coin 1 says light dip and retoning to me.

That's funny, because I had the exact same reaction to coin 2.

bombtech25

@TPRC said:

@bombtech25 said:
Something about coin 1 says light dip and retoning to me.

That's funny, because I had the exact same reaction to coin 2.

I speculate both suffer from the same ailment but I guess one stands out more than the other to us.

TomB

I voted coin one as the piece to keep or buy.

Obviously, the images were taken with wildly different photography set ups and, in this case, I believe the differences between the two coins are likely exaggerated in the images. Coin one may or may not have original surfaces, but coin two has absolutely, positively been dipped. If one likes booming luster and flash in their AU Barber halves then coin two is the coin most likely to please, but if a coin with less in-your-face-recent-surgery is what you prefer then coin one would be the choice.

In my opinion, most collectors would choose coin two.

Jimnight

I would stick with coin number 1.
Nice toning.

U1chicago

Plot twist it’s the before and after of the same coin.
(Kidding)

I’m neutral on both but would lean towards number 2.

oldabeintx

I went with 2 simply because of the luster picked up in the photo. So, I like the second photo but completely unsure about the coins.

BigMoose

What TomB said.

PerryHall

No real preference. I could be very happy with either coin.

Sonorandesertrat

I like the overall look of coin 1 better, but would want to see it in hand (especially the reverse).

airplanenut

@TomB said:
I voted coin one as the piece to keep or buy.

Obviously, the images were taken with wildly different photography set ups and, in this case, I believe the differences between the two coins are likely exaggerated in the images. Coin one may or may not have original surfaces, but coin two has absolutely, positively been dipped. If one likes booming luster and flash in their AU Barber halves then coin two is the coin most likely to please, but if a coin with less in-your-face-recent-surgery is what you prefer then coin one would be the choice.

In my opinion, most collectors would choose coin two.

Something about coin 1 just looks off to me. I agree about the lighting, and I'm not quite sure how to read it for either picture (in truth, there are some areas of coin 2 where I can't tell if it's haze on the coin or slab imperfections). What I really want is option 3, where I can wait and choose a different coin altogether.

CoinJunkie

Not a fan of either, so whichever one would be easier to sell.

Walkerfan

The toning on coin 1 is barely noticeable.

Coin 2 has better luster and sharper details.

csdot

From the photos alone, I would pick the coin shown in photo number two for my collection due to its apparent luster. Might be the camera angle or lighting, but the coin in photo number one looks washed out with less remaining luster.

coinkat

I would need to see them in hand. For this reason, I will not select a preference in your poll. There is possibly something in how they were photographed that may favor one over the other

johnny9434

I like the second coin. Sorta looks better to me. Jmo

keyman64

Coin 1 has more distracting hits to me and also a carbon spot that really bothers me. I can't stand carbon spots...or finger prints or big hits (especially in prominent areas) etc etc.

Coin 2 for me.

Edit to Add for those selecting 1: Coins can re-tone but it is much more difficult to fix hatchet marks or bullet hole carbon spots.

MFeld

1

CoinRaritiesOnline

1.

amwldcoin

.

Kliao

I like coin 2 with no distracting toning

ThreeCentSilverFL

Coin 1 is interesting. However, I believe I would be happier myself with Coin 2.

bsshog40

I like number 2. That gouge under the chin on coin 1 jumped out at me at first glance. I like the color on 1, but that gouge just keeps distracting me.

spacehayduke

Tom Bush's inference about more collectors liking 2 is right. I like 1 better. But need a bean on either to like enough to buy ;-)

Best, SH

No Headlights

I dislike #1 the least.

cameonut2011

Which one, if any, has a CAC sticker? From a resale position, that’s probably the better bet.

roadrunner

Picked coin 1..........then pushed the button on coin 2 by mistake. So the official vote got skewed by 1.

I know coin 2 is messed with and owned many such messed with Barber and seated coins looking like that in my early years. They bring back bad memories. Coin 1 at least has the potential to be un-messed with....or messed with least.

BLUEJAYWAY

Don't like the gouge under #1's chin. So 2 for me.

winesteven

The strike seems sharper on #2, especially the stars on the obverse.

ricko

I do not like the rim issues, carbon spot or obverse hit on number 1....or what looks like yellow crud around the date and stars. So, if I were buying pictures, it would be number 2 for me. Cheers, RickO

CCGGG

Easy, coin 2, no toning... Coin 2 look sharper anyway but any toning is a killer.

Hydrant

1

Meltdown

I'm going with coin number 2 - I agree with TomB's assessment, the 2nd coin is certainly beautiful but the obverse pooling breaks in the toning at 10am says it's been dipped at some point. The first appears more original skin to my eyes.

anablep

Coin 1 all day long

dpoole

I voted 1.

BryceM

There are things I like better about number 2. It has better strike detail by far. That said, number 1 would be my preference, but I don't love either one. 1 doesn't look lustrous enough and 2 has surfaces that turn me off.

amwldcoin

I've bit my tongue long enough!

I'm surprised by some of the comments here!

You can choose a glorified AU55 that may or may not have nice secondary toning(coin #1).

or

You can choose a coin which is a 64-65 quality coin with a touch of rub(coin #2). No one can capture Morgan Dollar PL luster in a picture.

I would also say that those buying from pictures would be disappointed with coin #1(most likely much darker in hand) and ecstatic with coin #2.

For those talking about dipping...show me silver coin at this grade level other than a Morgan Dollar of this era that hasn't been dipped at some time. More than 90% have been dipped at some time.

I think I know who took the picture of coin #1 and I would welcome his comments here!

I will say there is enough in the picture of coin #1 that I personally would never accept it as more than a 55.

sedulous

@airplanenut
... What I really want is option 3, where I can wait and choose a different coin altogether.

For an 1892-P, I wouldn’t consider either for adding to my collection. Apologies in advance for my candor.

spacehayduke

@amwldcoin said:
I've bit my tongue long enough!

I'm surprised by some of the comments here!

You can choose a coin which is a 64-65 quality coin with a touch of rub(coin #2). No one can capture Morgan Dollar PL luster in a picture.

Way too much chatter on the cheek and obverse fields to grade ≥64, dipped 55 if the images are accurate. IMHO......

For those talking about dipping...show me silver coin at this grade level other than a Morgan Dollar of this era that hasn't been dipped at some time. More than 90% have been dipped at some time.

Undipped at these grades? Maybe these?

messydesk

I like the luster I see in the fields on coin #2, so I'd probably lean toward that one. Coin #1 looks interesting with the color, but I don't have a feel for the luster.

amwldcoin

Do you honestly think after over 100 years those coins haven't been dipped? You are a scientist and surely know the odds are well against that!

Edit to add...My pictures amplify marks. I recently tried to cross an older ANACS 62 holdered Barber Half that had obvious rub and chatter on the cheek 2 times with AU58+ as the option. They wouldn't do it and it was not near as clean as this coin. It did have outstanding color though and when submitted raw came back a 63.

@spacehayduke said:

@amwldcoin said:
I've bit my tongue long enough!

I'm surprised by some of the comments here!

You can choose a coin which is a 64-65 quality coin with a touch of rub(coin #2). No one can capture Morgan Dollar PL luster in a picture.

Way too much chatter on the cheek and obverse fields to grade ≥64, dipped 55 if the images are accurate. IMHO......

For those talking about dipping...show me silver coin at this grade level other than a Morgan Dollar of this era that hasn't been dipped at some time. More than 90% have been dipped at some time.

Undipped at these grades? Maybe these?

amwldcoin

This is what an undipped AU Barber Half looks like. Sorry for the scratches on the holder.

@spacehayduke said:

@amwldcoin said:
I've bit my tongue long enough!

I'm surprised by some of the comments here!

You can choose a coin which is a 64-65 quality coin with a touch of rub(coin #2). No one can capture Morgan Dollar PL luster in a picture.

Way too much chatter on the cheek and obverse fields to grade ≥64, dipped 55 if the images are accurate. IMHO......

For those talking about dipping...show me silver coin at this grade level other than a Morgan Dollar of this era that hasn't been dipped at some time. More than 90% have been dipped at some time.

Undipped at these grades? Maybe these?

csdot

@amwldcoin said:
I've bit my tongue long enough!

I'm surprised by some of the comments here!

You can choose a glorified AU55 that may or may not have nice secondary toning(coin #1).

or

You can choose a coin which is a 64-65 quality coin with a touch of rub(coin #2). No one can capture Morgan Dollar PL luster in a picture.

I would also say that those buying from pictures would be disappointed with coin #1(most likely much darker in hand) and ecstatic with coin #2.

For those talking about dipping...show me silver coin at this grade level other than a Morgan Dollar of this era that hasn't been dipped at some time. More than 90% have been dipped at some time.

I think I know who took the picture of coin #1 and I would welcome his comments here!

I will say there is enough in the picture of coin #1 that I personally would never accept it as more than a 55.

@amwldcoin-

Thank you for responding. After all of the Pro-coin #1 comments (some from forum experts), I was starting to wonder if I was missing something.

TomB

The 1915-D shared by @spacehayduke is all original. I sold the coin to him and it has real luster underneath a sheen of patina and dirt with minimal wear. We can argue about what happened to that coin every second of its existence just the same as we can argue about how many fairies can dance on the end of a pin, but I will tell you that if any AU Barber half dollars escaped dipping then that coin would be in that fortunate subset. That coin is original.

BryceM

@amwldcoin

We all have our opinions, but only a comparison with same photo technique for each coin provides any meaningful information. What did you expect with a poor photo of a nice coin?

Zoins

@Catbert said:
Coin 1 has more visual interest to me.

I agree it has more visual interest, but it's too interesting to me. The color pattern on the reverse looks odd.

I'm for coin 2.

Dave99B

1 for me, but honestly, I’m not a fan of either coin. Neither looks natural to me.

Dave

amwldcoin

Tom, It is acceptable as an original coin. I have always been a firm believer the vast majority of silver coins that were not stored in rolls that are light-medium grey have been dipped at some time, 99+% of any coin that has any wear and is a century or more old! Think about silverware. Even with those fancy cases with some type of cloth bags that were suppose to help reduce tarnish didn't stop it. That is the nature of silver.

I'm sure this has costs me sales. If someone asks me if a light grey circulated silver coin has been cleaned my usually reply is it has probably been dipped at some time but is acceptable and gradable.

@TomB said:
The 1915-D shared by @spacehayduke is all original. I sold the coin to him and it has real luster underneath a sheen of patina and dirt with minimal wear. We can argue about what happened to that coin every second of its existence just the same as we can argue about how many fairies can dance on the end of a pin, but I will tell you that if any AU Barber half dollars escaped dipping then that coin would be in that fortunate subset. That coin is original.