DB 1/2 cent...up-grade or leave alone?

lobo54

Been chewing on this one for a while,.

1, I don't care for the coloring/tone of the piece, is there some way to remove the dark toning short of steel wool.

2, I do like the grade (for my pay grade), so if I keep it as is, I will likely just replace it.

291fifth

It is a coin that has been previously cleaned and is now partially retoning. I wouldn't attempt to do anything more to it as it may just get worse. Since it is relatively high grade in terms of wear I would just keep it as is and devote any future funds to filling other holes in the album.

Shane6596

Most feedback will probably suggest not to touch it. Likely anything you try will change it to a look that is worse. The acetone dip might reveal some hidden bad areas, qtip touch up will just make blotchy areas.

I would leave it and if it really bothers you, then replace it at some point.

ricko

Anything you do to that coin will likely make it even worse... best to enjoy it as is or sell it. Cheers, RickO

lkenefic

I just finished my 7070 Type Set and have a few coins that I'll likely upgrade on down the line. This is a decent details coin until you can circle back and replace it with a better example. I'd just leave it "as is" until I got to that phase of the set...

BillJones

A copper toning expert could even out the color, although other experts could spot it. The sharpness grade is in the AU-55 to 58 area.

Many years ago I had what had been the finest known example and the discovery coin for the 1806 C-2 half cent. It is the more common Small 6, Stems variety. This coin had been discovered in the mid 1880s and had long pedigree. It probably graded MS-65, Brown at one time. Leland Rogers, who formed a type set using rare coins to fill the slots instead of common dates and varieties, had once owned it.

Unfortunately some fool cleaned it to make it red again. Subsequently an expert restorer, or doctor if you prefer that term, retoned it. It was presentable, but you could tell it was not original.

I paid a bit over $1,000 for it and later sold it, when I was a dealer, for around $3,000 to another dealer. Years later he told me he sold it to help pay for his kid's college, so I don't think I ripped him off.

My point is these coins can be valuable. I am amazed at what people are bidding these days for early silver coins that have been holed and plugged. Time was you could barely give these coins away, and now people are paying over $1,000. This coin could be helped, but you would need an expert. I believe that it is a C-9, which is a fairly common variety.

lobo54

Thank-you ALL for your insight. Although I will be replacing it now, I will not be messing with it. Thanks again.