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Images/discussion -- a very original Indian Head cent
shylock
Posts: 4,288 ✭✭✭
I enjoyed Mark Feld's (Coinguy1) "image/discussion" thread and agree it would make a good recurring thread. At the September Long Beach Show I had the opportunity to image some of the Indian Cent Showdown coins that PCGS displayed, and one of my lasting impressions was this one. It's part of Stewart Blay's set, and when you consider the rest of his coins -- the "golden princess" 1877 finest known, and a 1900 that's the most beautiful IH I've ever seen just to name two -- that's saying something.
1880s IH cents are the dark ages of the series. The US Mint was in the early stages of contracting outside sources for bronze, and almost all toned darker than those from other eras. I've never read an explanation for this, and assume it was due to an inferior copper source provided by the suppliers. They oxidized more frequently than any others as well, particulary from 1885 thru the early 90s dates. 1886 and 1887 are found almost exclusivly dark and spotted. Finding a clean, lustrous, well struck example, with some attractive deep red or tan toning, is really all you can hope for.
Besides the obvious, the most extraordinary thing about Stewart's 1886T1 is its color. It's as close to the original tone of the planchets used during this era as you will ever find.
Paul <> altered surfaces <> CoinGallery.org
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"The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD GOD Almighty."
Great contributions once again. In you opinion, how would a coin like this have been stored to maintain absolute perfection? I don't think they had airthight containers in the 1800's. Any information on this particular example? As an alternative consideration, is there any method that would allow you to clean an IHC like this? Or is this a 1 in a million occurance given near impossible perfect conditions?
NOTE: No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
Type collector since 1981
Current focus 1855 date type set
As usual you come through again.There truely is candy for the eyes of collectors.No one can look at a copper coin like that and not be amazed.The mystery of how it stayed so pristine will never be answered.Just enjoy it for what it is.Silver coins are a whole lot tougher.The copper coins,because of their nature are definitely tougher to find that nice.
Registry 1909-1958 Proof Lincolns
It is truly, nearly impossible to find Indian cents of ANY date with color (and spot-free surfaces) like that. We have numerous want lists for such coins and constantly look through auctions, collections, dealers' inventories, etc but have little, if any success. It is a frustrating hunt!
As a slight aside - what storage/preservation methods do you recommend for such fragile/potentially unstable rarities?
I hate it when you see my post before I can edit the spelling.
Always looking for nice type coins
my local dealer
Tom
Overkill is the way to go as far as storing red copper. I use the layer method, the same way my mother dressed me in the winter! A slab within a coinbox within an airtite container within a safe/safety deposit box within a climate controlled structure (preferably within a dry state but that's optional). And carefully monitored silica cannisters in the airtite container and safe. Lakesammman has a clever added touch -- he keeps a roll of modern Lincoln cents with his IHs, using them as a "canary" for early warning signs.
On a lighter note, perhaps we'd have more to talk about if this coin looked like this (sorry Stewart):
And can you explain this Mark?
is that Mark in the photo? weekend hobby?
<< <i>Your comments about quality vs. wantlists confirms how tough the really nice ones are. It takes so much more than just expendable income to acquire them >>
Sadly, what you and Mark say is all too true. As for "real Reds" I have two out of about 24 in PCGS/NGC slabs that I would say are really stunning - one is a proof with eye appeal that puts all the others to shame. For me, about a dozen BNs have stunning eye appeal, and I'm starting to appreciate them more and more as time goes on. Again, just my opinion - but its becoming too difficult and too much work to find the true blazers - not to mention too expensive. For the limited means collector, I would suggest concentrating on BNs - there are still a good number of beautiful BNs available and they are affordable.
I'll take a stunning BN anyday over any of the many mediocre RDs.
1) I was having a "bad hair day"?
2) I had been ill and not gone to the gym for a while?
3) Due to a lack of vacation time my tan had faded?
Was that the kind of thing you meant?
My other trick is to wrap the coins in copper-wool (from a marine store). It will react with anything in the environment before sneaking into the Lucent boxes or slabs.
Looks like the IHC has a goiter - I recommend further imaging.....
Re: the statue - you could have put his head on a male statue....is "she" on the phone??