What does a "whizzed" coin look like?

ZoidMeister

Folks,

In my early coin collecting "youth" I heard many an "old timer" talk about one coin or another as being "whizzed." Of course this was decades before Al Gore invented the internet.

I'm my mind, I had visions of coins that had been hit with a dremel tool with a wire wheel, but I've never seen a conclusive image as to exactly what defines a "whizzed coin."

Does anyone have a definitive photo of a coin that's been whizzed?

Thanks in advance.

Z

abcde12345

CaptHenway

There is no definitive answer to the question because the results vary tremendously depending on the fineness of the brush used and the skill of the person using it. Typically a coin is called "whizzed" when the brush was held against the surface too long and the friction heated and melted the surface causing wave-like ripples. However, when I was working as an Authenticator for ANACS we saw coins that did not have standard luster for that particular issue but where there was no rippling. Our assumption was that the whizzing had been done "correctly."

DennisH

Here are detail closeups of two coins sold by Heritage that were attributed as whizzed by the TPGs whose holders they were in:

DennisH

Sorry for double-posting the Trade dollar photo; upload time was really slow and even the preview function didn't show it was going to happen.

mirabela

That IHC shows another tell, where metal is raised up in kind of a wire lip at the edge of devices, letters, etc -- built up, in other words, at the spots it got pushed to. That cent is a really good example. To the naked eye they can look pretty good if you don't know what you're looking at.

Walkerguy21D

Great photos, guys.
For me it’s always been sort of intangible, I know it when I see it, but hard to describe. Flat luster and grainy surfaces (in the most obvious cases) is about it.

Crypto

Good educational post

ZoidMeister

@abcde12345 said:
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That cent is exactly what I was looking for. I can see circular or linear Mark's being indicative of a whizzed coin, but I've seen many that look more "sand blasted" or "bead blasted" in the past.

When I was very young, I bought a Sheild Nickel that had good eye appeal. The surface was perplexing however. Not knowing what I didn't know, I thought it might have been an impaired matte proof until I discovered they didn't make matte proofs of these.

The "finish" is very hard to photograph well. I'll try to get better taken tomorrow. Here is what I have tonight.

This is the coin that prompted my question.

Z

ricko

As @CaptHenway said, a whizzed coin could have several different appearances (as do some of the coins above). Depending on what type of abrasion device and the technique, it could vary from granular to mirror like finish. Often there will be some indication of surface material movement... but skilled operators leave little evidence - other than 'no coin should look like that' Cheers, RickO

OKbustchaser

It has "wet" luster.

ZoidMeister

These are the best photos I can get without a better camera and a tripod. Surfaces look "media blasted" to me. Not sure what to do with this one . . . . .

Z
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thefinn

@abcde12345 said:

The two Morgan Dollars shown at the bottom are both Chinese fakes.

Namvet69

Very interesting and important to know. Peace Roy