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1916 Mercury dime-should it be dipped ?

commoncentscommoncents Posts: 138
in U.S. Coin Forum
I just bought an old whitman folder of mercury dimes and they are almost all black. Would a quick dip help or hurt them ? Would it matter if this coin had a D on the reverse ?

Comments

  • ursabearursabear Posts: 1,888
    I wouldn't dip it if it were a P or a D. The color is interesting, and may appeal to some. If it were either a P or D, you could have it professionally conserved.

    Beyond the grunge, it is nearly FB, and has lots of good strike detail. I can't tell much about the overall originality of the luster or fields because of the stuff on it.

    If it's really blue, it could be just fine for some collectors...

    Dipped, original, or not, it is a very nice coin! image
  • pmh1nicpmh1nic Posts: 3,295 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It looks like the toning on this coins is so deep that if you dipped it you'd end up with gray, dull and lifeless coins. The toning is quite dark but if there is any mint luster coming through there are those (like me) that aren't totally put off by dark toning.
    The longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice is it possible for an empire to rise without His aid? Benjamin Franklin
  • Steve27Steve27 Posts: 13,275 ✭✭✭
    There is too much toning on that coin for a dip to be affective. If dipped it will look dull at best, don't do it.
    "It's far easier to fight for principles, than to live up to them." Adlai Stevenson
  • Steve27Steve27 Posts: 13,275 ✭✭✭
    You should try selling it on ebay as a "Monster Toned Gem."
    "It's far easier to fight for principles, than to live up to them." Adlai Stevenson
  • maddogalemaddogale Posts: 859 ✭✭
    I agree with the above comments.....cool looking coin!!! image Are the others like that one??
    "I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on; I don't do these things to other people, I require the same from them."
  • commoncentscommoncents Posts: 138
    maddogale, that was the darkest coin in the folder. I didn't really notice, but some of them actually have some nice toning. I'll scan a few more and post them here in a few minutes
  • MadMonkMadMonk Posts: 3,743 ✭
    I'd be very nervous about dipping any coin, no less this one. Lets see what some of the real experts will say
    Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
  • hughesm1hughesm1 Posts: 778 ✭✭
    I actually find it quite attractive; full of character.
    Mark
  • dorkkarldorkkarl Posts: 12,691 ✭✭✭
    do not dip! you'll regret the results

    K S
  • commoncentscommoncents Posts: 138
    I tried, but can't get the colors on my scanner. Most are not high grade but have very nice rainbow-like colors. The oldest coins are the darkest. I do know one thing though, these coins are not AT. Here are 2 more scans that don't show the color.
  • ccrdragonccrdragon Posts: 2,697 ✭
    Leave it as it is!!!
    Cecil
    Total Copper Nutcase - African, British Ships, Channel Islands!!!
    'Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup'
  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 23,464 ✭✭✭✭✭
    don't dip either coin... you will regret it.

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • Catch22Catch22 Posts: 1,086 ✭✭
    From a value standpoint I wouldn't dip it. From an aesthetic standpoint.....I'd even paint it silver to help it out! Seriously, I would get very little enjoyment from owning a common date coin with so little eye appeal. I'd put it on ebay or something.


    When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.

    Thomas Paine
  • fcloudfcloud Posts: 12,133 ✭✭✭✭
    I'm with the do not dip crowd. If you dip it, you will wind up with an uglier coin than you have now.

    President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay

  • millenniummillennium Posts: 3,305
    If you dip it you may end up with this mess..This was dipped and cleaned years ago.


    Heads
    Tailsimage
    My Coin Find Videos
  • bumpybumpy Posts: 139
    What's wrong with that? I kinda like it.
    That humanity at large will ever be able to dispense with artificial paradises seems unlikely. Most men and women lead lives at the worst so painful, and at the best so monotonous, poor, and limited, that the urge to escape, the longing to transcend themselves, if only for a few moments, is and always has been one of the principal appetites of the soul.

    Aldous Huxley

    Yabba dabba doo.

    Fred Flintstone

  • DimetimeDimetime Posts: 338
    Would it matter if it had a D on it? Only to the tune of thousands of dollars. I seriously doubt that it has a D on it as you cut off the picture right at the mint mark. Come on, admit it.
    Merc collector.
  • wingedlibertywingedliberty Posts: 4,805 ✭✭✭
    This example should be left intact and not cleaned.
    It is an attractive original coin.


    Brian
  • ksteelheaderksteelheader Posts: 11,777 ✭
    Nice looking coin. Don't touch it!.........Ken

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