Tooled Trade Dollar in next Heritage auction.

DesertLizard

What exactly is meant by "tooled"? How is it done?

Take a look at lot #15323 in the upcoming Heritage auction[sale #22123], a 1878-s trade $. Where is it tooled?

I tried to link this to no avail, sorry.

Placid

I don't know the hair bow looks bright and the E in states looks bright.

Here is a link to the pics

obv

rev

braddick

Liberty's garment looks like it's been tooled (details defined and brought out) and so does the bundle behind her (check the lines). It also looks like, maybe, "LIBERTY" has been redone. The wear on her arm makes this one appear FN15, but the "details" tooled in give this Trade Dollar the look of a higher grade.

It looks like pretty good work, if you go for that kind of thing.

Conder101

"Tooled" means that someone using engraving tools such as scoops, gravers, and burnishers, has reengraved part of the design on the coin to strengthen or restore detail lost through wear. In this case I think Braddick is right it looks like several of the creases defining the folds of the gown have been touced up to emphizes the illusion that the folds are still present. With a quick glance it looks ok but the more you look at it the odder it appears. I think if you had a second coin for a direct comparison the tooled areas may be more apparent. I don't think the creases are shaped quite right.

shirohniichan

It looks like the LI in LIBERTY aren't lined up properly. An 1878-S in VF isn't hard to come by, and there shouldn't be much of a premium between a true VF and an XF. Save your money and get one that isn't tooled (unless it's SUPER cheap).