Lafayette Dollar - Would you mind telling me what you think?

TommyB · August 23, 2002 12:58PM

The Obverse was over 50K so I could not post. I know little about older commems, so would appreciate your thoughts. This was given to me recently.

Thanks Tom

FC57Coins · August 23, 2002 12:59PM

Tom:

Nice coin, though it looks like it might have been cleaned at one point. Look for hairlines under a 10X glass.

Regards,

Frank

Placid · August 23, 2002 1:03PM

Cleaned. Looks au to me but you would need someone who knows that coin it could just be the strike.

TommyB · August 23, 2002 1:07PM

For sure it has been cleaned, and some strike marks, but what puzzles me is that I have seen quite a few of these that are low end MS but look like crap. Trying to figure out why such crappy looking coins can be considered anywhere near MS.

FC57Coins · August 23, 2002 1:16PM

Tom:

You can have an MS coin that looks like crap - say 60-63. or even higher sometimes, and you can have an AU 55 or 58 coin that looks absolutely breathtaking - it's all in the eye appeal of the coin.

Regards,

Frank

Placid · August 23, 2002 1:21PM

Not sure what you mean by "crappy".
Some coins are just known for being weakly struck that will leave alot of the coins with poor details but they are in fact MS state coins.
You really need to know what is normal and what is not for each coin to be able to determine what is from wear and what is from a weak strike.

zenny · August 23, 2002 1:30PM

whatever the grade, i wish people would give me things like that.

FC57Coins · August 23, 2002 1:34PM

True Placid:

I was referring more to the number of hits an MS60 coin might have as opposed to a really well preserved AU58 with just the slightest wear on the high spots.

Frank