I was told that this seated dollar was a proof.

Cowbilly

by my grandfather. The fields are very prooflike under all the discoloration. What do you think?

I'm very new to coin collecting. What do you suppose all the discoloration is from?

1860-O

ajaan

I don't think any branch Proofs were made in New Orleans for this date.

danglen

It's not discoloration. It's toning. A lot of collectors really like coins with color. And I also don't believe the New Orleans Mint struck proof dollars for this year. Pretty coin!

coinguy1

Cowbilly, the coin is not a proof. No proofs were made from that mint in that year.

In the early and middle part of the 20th century, many coins were called proofs when they weren't, merely because they displayed prooflike surfaces. Perhaps that is why your grandfather said what he did.

Singapore

While not a proof, it looks like a pretty nice original mint state coin. Discoloration = nice natural toning and indication of originality in this case.

FC57Coins

A very nice coin indeed - and that "dirty coin" as my wife would term it is a nicely toned original coin. One way to tell that the coin is not a proof is to look at how rounded the edges of the coin is. Although the picture below is the only one I could find in short notice, you can see that the edges on the coin are nice and squared off. That's one of the tell tale signs of a true proof (not the only one, but a good start).

Frank

dorkkarl

not a proof. the toning is curious, how was it stored?

K S

NumisEd

SHAZAAAM, Cowbilly!!! That's one smokin' coin! How are you currently storing the coin? I ask only to be sure that your little piece of history will continue to be perfectly preserved for a few more centuries. Not in a vinyl flip, is it?

Gemini

A great looking coin with very pleasant attractive toning...

Cowbilly

Currently storing very poorly, in a small paper envelope as it has been for decades. I am planning on finding adequate see-thru storage for all my coins very soon. Any reccomendations would be appreciated.
Thaks for the complinents! I've got some other tone beaties that I'll post sometime too.

coinguy1

cowbilly,

I'd recommend having the coin certified by NGC or PCGS. That way you will better know what you have there and it will be protected, too.

mr1931S

very nice piece,Cowbilly...
this coin is very much a candidate for getting encapsulated at PCGS or NGC as coinguy suggests...
looks original toned,uncirculated to me...
worth a pretty penny...

NumisEd

Cowbilly, don't you dare sentence that baby to a life sentence in a plastic tomb. Try non-pvc flips.....ask any suppy dealer and they will help you. Also, paper envelopes are not bad. The reason your coins are toned as beautifully as they is because of the sulfur in the envelopes. The important thing to know is to make sure that the coins do not slide back and forth in the holder (flip or envelope). In other words, try not to transport or mail these coins as the sliding will damage the coins. Also, if you use stapled cardboard flips, never put the coins in a 2X2X9 storage box, since the coins will be contacting each other. You should use 8.5" X 11" pages that are made to hold the 2X2 holders.

Another thing: keep the coins in a dry location with a stable temperature. If you keep the coins in a box or a safe, make sure to have silica gel for moisture absorbtion. When buying your new supplies, pick up a few books....a very wise investment. In summary: no pvc in any holders, coins must be held in a stable position and not in contact with any other metal, and use silica gel.

Congratulations on your nice collection. Some dealers are probably drooling right now. Collectors are drooling too, but for different reasons.

Russ

Cowbilly,

I agree with Mark (Coinguy1). Get these coins certified by either PCGS or NGC. Besides the protection, is the benefit of authentication. Since you are a new collector, there is no justifiable or logical reason for you not to have them certified.

Russ, NCNE

NumisEd

Dealers will love for you to get those coins certified. The grading services will assign a technical grade, but there will be little to no adjustment for the eye appeal. When it's time to sell, some dealers will whip out their CDN (dealer newsletter), look at the grade on the plastic coffin, find the corresponding grade and value, then offer you 10% less. Not all dealers, but some.

If these coins aren't "authentic", then your grandfather must have assembled one he!! of a nice collection of toned counterfiet seated dollars. Oh, one last thing, those coins would have never obtained the stunning toning that your coins display, if they had been "slapped" in plastic 15 years ago.

There are some benefits of slabbing coins, but this is not one of them......IMHO.

Ed

Catch22

The paper envelope likely contributed to the even toning on both the obverse and reverse. The brown envelopes produce wonderful color over time. A reaction to the sulpher in the paper.