Dark toning on 1800 Dollar
REALGATOR
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The toning looks like it might be fire damage? Wonder if it can be conserved by pcgs or ngc.
1
REALGATOR
Posts: 2,622 ✭✭✭✭✭
Comments
What is the Assigned Grade if you dont mind, it looks natural to me...
It's all about what the people want...
Did it straight grade? If so then I think it's the right coin for someone who likes that look.
It looks good the way it is, and would look a lot worse if conserved (dipped) IMO. Not sure if it can be determined with certainty how the deep toning developed.
More likely a ground recovery if anything. I'd leave it the way it is though.
I was thinking ground/buried as well. I also think conservation would be a big mistake and ruin a fairly acceptable coin.
It looks like a 224 year old coin should look like.
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It looks like a buried coin that was found and then burnished to bring out the high points. It should have a details grade and be left as is. "Conservation" would likely make it look even worse.
I asked about the same not long ago people said the end cycle of toning. If that is what is trust me I had a coin with that and it is very hard to remove I did 99% of it but the coin most likely now has tons of scratches.
The bust on that coin is way too bright. Whether the coin was once all dark and the bust has since been cleaned off, or the coin was cleaned and just the fields got dark (that seems less likely) the color doesn't look fully natural, whatever caused the toning. That said, the bust is always going to be shiny for a coin this old, and any attempt at removing the toning will serve to make the coin overall look worse. I don't like it now, and I definitely don't like it with any new work done to it.
I would not mess with it. The black toning is the terminal state of silver tarnish, which is natural for a coin of this age. If you dip it, you will remove metal and the virgin metal under that will be less attractive than what you have now. You can go for another coin if you don't like this one.
Here is another Bust Dollar that is deeply toned. Our hosts graded it AU-58. I agree with the grade, but CAC probably won't like it.
I don't see the OP coin as a fire damaged piece. If it had been through a fire, the design devices would be distorted.
remember, that isnt 90% silver, and although some may disagree, many would find that toning perfectly acceptable
to add to the chorus, I agree conservation would do way more harm than good. I also think that the obv devices have been brightened up for that circulated cameo look.
Thanks for all the great comments.
The coin will be left as is. Even though its a details grade, I like it more than many straight graded VF30s I've seen.
I agree with the NGC assigned grade.
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