I'd say a majority of coins from this era have been dipped or worse...scrubbed, etc. This MS-66 survivor has never been touched. The luster underneath the toning is intense, and shows through powerfully. Originality for me, is the holy grail....Nothing more exciting.
New collector question. I'll go back and read closer but is the toning the skin? Which coins that are posted are not reall skin? In class we learned what the skin was on a $20 SG but is was not toning it was sa smooth off gold color.
@Married2Coins said:
New collector question. I'll go back and read closer but is the toning the skin? Which coins that are posted are not reall skin? In class we learned what the skin was on a $20 SG but is was not toning it was sa smooth off gold color.
In reply to your question, the "skin" can be everything from the as-minted surface, with full luster as struck; or it can be something like the 1907 and 1828 halves above, which had their as-minted surfaces slowly over decades acquire an attractive patina. Those two super-choice examples are far above the norm; they were "lucky" and well-cared for. Sometimes the patina can go sideways, attractive-appearance wise; and sometimes then the kiss of death to original skin happens, and someone "improves" things with a light wipe with a cloth, etc.
Then you have examples such as the circ 1905 half above, where the luck continued -- in a circulated way -- and the coin, over time and many hands, with exposure to wear, grease and dirt, found itself in a "perfect circulated" state, with (you could call it) "original worn skin" -- again, super attractive. Things that can be unfortunate for a coin in this state include, again, the "improver" with their polishing cloth; a staple scratch; a drop that dings an edge (easy to do on halves and silver dollars) -- etc. HTH!
Very well could have been done on it's own, in stages or in a process .
Why ? "I have many that almost complete this process showing a progresson of details.
No pun, joke, or painting on a canvas. It's amazing in hand.
.
I've never had any appreciation for this term. Original should appeal to attributes a coin resembles when it is originally made by the mint. Fresh as a daisy original, 100% full of luster and zero toning. Market acceptable or natural toning is something completely different.
"If it's not fun, it's not worth it." - KeyMan64 Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
Would a silver coin that's toned to almost black be considered to have original surfaces?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Comments
I'd say a majority of coins from this era have been dipped or worse...scrubbed, etc. This MS-66 survivor has never been touched. The luster underneath the toning is intense, and shows through powerfully. Originality for me, is the holy grail....Nothing more exciting.
New collector question. I'll go back and read closer but is the toning the skin? Which coins that are posted are not reall skin? In class we learned what the skin was on a $20 SG but is was not toning it was sa smooth off gold color.
I never tire of posting this coin. To me the skin is as undisturbed as any coin I’ve ever owned.
In reply to your question, the "skin" can be everything from the as-minted surface, with full luster as struck; or it can be something like the 1907 and 1828 halves above, which had their as-minted surfaces slowly over decades acquire an attractive patina. Those two super-choice examples are far above the norm; they were "lucky" and well-cared for. Sometimes the patina can go sideways, attractive-appearance wise; and sometimes then the kiss of death to original skin happens, and someone "improves" things with a light wipe with a cloth, etc.
Then you have examples such as the circ 1905 half above, where the luck continued -- in a circulated way -- and the coin, over time and many hands, with exposure to wear, grease and dirt, found itself in a "perfect circulated" state, with (you could call it) "original worn skin" -- again, super attractive. Things that can be unfortunate for a coin in this state include, again, the "improver" with their polishing cloth; a staple scratch; a drop that dings an edge (easy to do on halves and silver dollars) -- etc. HTH!
I think this would qualify.
Very well could have been done on it's own, in stages or in a process .
Why ? "I have many that almost complete this process showing a progresson of details.
No pun, joke, or painting on a canvas. It's amazing in hand.
.
Original skin... and for the Barber Collectors
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I've never had any appreciation for this term. Original should appeal to attributes a coin resembles when it is originally made by the mint. Fresh as a daisy original, 100% full of luster and zero toning. Market acceptable or natural toning is something completely different.
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
Would a silver coin that's toned to almost black be considered to have original surfaces?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire