Distinguishing Highpoint Wear...

Carterofmars

I'm reading in Scott Traver's book 'The Coin Collectors Survival Manual' that to distinguish wear on the highpoints of a coin that might otherwise possibly look UNC, is the slight discoloration between those very highest points and the rest of the coin.  The points with wear will show dull grey vs the rest of the coin showing a bright silver color.  Also, breaks on luster when turning under a lamp. 

I tried to take the best pictures I could. From these photos can one distinguish those high points as wear, or as maybe toning?  

I circled the dull grey areas in red.   There is definitely a contrast between brighter silver and a duller grey on those high points.   Seem to coincide with what I'm reading in Traver's Survival Manual. 

coinbuf

The areas you circled are not indicative of wear but toning or perhaps even some dip residue.

Carterofmars

@coinbuf said:
The areas you circled are not indicative of wear but toning or perhaps even some dip residue.

Thanks. Would you expect dip residue to be on all surfaces, rather than just the higher points?

coinbuf

@Carterofmars said:

@coinbuf said:
The areas you circled are not indicative of wear but toning or perhaps even some dip residue.

Thanks. Would you expect dip residue to be on all surfaces, rather than just the higher points?

No not automatically, and I cannot say for sure that is what is on the coin just that often old dip residue forms a brownish look like this, it may just as easily be toning.

Carterofmars

As I turn this coin over in my hand under a bright incandescent light and view the obverse, i'm noticing that I see luster/cartwheel effect around the eagle device, In the surrounding fields, but not crossing over the eagle.

Might this be an indication that someone at some point may have used some type of cleaning solution just on the eagle and not the rest of the coin? Hence i'm seeing that brownis/tonish looking color over the eagle only?

jmlanzaf

@Carterofmars said:
As I turn this coin over in my hand under a bright incandescent light and view the obverse, i'm noticing that I see luster/cartwheel effect around the eagle device, In the surrounding fields, but not crossing over the eagle.

Might this be an indication that someone at some point may have used some type of cleaning solution just on the eagle and not the rest of the coin? Hence i'm seeing that brownis/tonish looking color over the eagle only?

You'll never see a cartwheel effect anywhere but flat fields

KiwiNumi

The color difference on the eagle is normal. On many coins the devices will have a slightly darker color compared to the fields.

Walkerfan

I see nothing abnormal nor inconsistent. No wear.

Mr_Spud

It’s a very high relief coin that doesn’t look worn, but the high points on the Eagle look like they rubbed against something a bit.

BillJones

I think that this coin qualifies as a Mint State piece. It may have gotten some shiny spots for the slides in an album. I've seen slide marks on Texas commemorative half dollars a number of times before.

Carterofmars

@BillJones said:
I think that this coin qualifies as a Mint State piece. It may have gotten some shiny spots for the slides in an album. I've seen slide marks on Texas commemorative half dollars a number of times before.

I was just watching a PCGS video that describes Slide marks, and it goes on to say that those types of marks wouldn't automatically prevent a MS designation.

jmlanzaf

@Carterofmars said:

@BillJones said:
I think that this coin qualifies as a Mint State piece. It may have gotten some shiny spots for the slides in an album. I've seen slide marks on Texas commemorative half dollars a number of times before.

I was just watching a PCGS video that describes Slide marks, and it goes on to say that those types of marks wouldn't automatically prevent a MS designation.

CACG may feel differently.

BillJones

@Carterofmars said:

@BillJones said:
I think that this coin qualifies as a Mint State piece. It may have gotten some shiny spots for the slides in an album. I've seen slide marks on Texas commemorative half dollars a number of times before.

I was just watching a PCGS video that describes Slide marks, and it goes on to say that those types of marks wouldn't automatically prevent a MS designation.

Slide marks do lower the value of the piece, however. For example a piece might lose a point or two for the lower MS grades like 64, 63 and 62. It will definitely disqualify a piece that might have gotten MS-66 or higher.