To dip or not to dip: 1912-D Lincoln w/ fugly toning

rhedden

Here is a (raw) 1912-D Lincoln with strange toning. It's a mostly red Unc., but on the reverse, there are some splotches of unattractive dark purple to gray toning. The obverse is slightly more brown than the pics show, and looks completely natural to me. The coin was sitting in a paper enveloped since 1959 or so, and I'm quite sure nobody has messed with it since then. Perhaps the coin may have been dipped long ago, and subsequently retoned strangely? Or is this toning original? Has anyone ever seen this kind of toning before?

1912-D obverse

1912-D reverse

What do you think... should I dip it and put it back in the envelope for another 45 years?

WaterSport

I am one of those "never dip" persons and would not consider buying a cleaned coin..Original and ugly is always better to Me..

WS

nwcs

A dip never will improve copper. I'd leave it alone. Yes, I've seen this kind before. Sometimes I've seen it on cleaned coins and sometimes not.

Dennis88

Dip it...

Dennis

segoja

DON'T DIP IT UNLESS YOU WANT TO RUIN IT.

GET SOME MS70 AND TRY IT ON SOME POSCKET CHANGE AND SEE WHAT IT DOES.

IF YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO IT, THAT MAY BE THE BEST ALTERNATIVE.

I'D LEAVE IT ALONE, IT ACTUALLY LOOKS PRETTY GOOD, PARTICULARLY THE OBVERSE.

nwcs

I understand that MS-70 will also be bad for copper. Give it a funky look.

291fifth

Leave it just like it is. Because the coin does not have good eye appeal you should probably think about selling it sooner rather than later. Because the problem is on the reverse you may get more than you expect. It's not going to get better with time or dipping. Don't throw good money after bad.

jacktheknife

Unless you're one of those chaps that can perform magical tricks with copper color and luster, you'll end up far worse off if you dip it.

Gonfunko

I'm assuming you're talking about the reverse. Sure it's a bit splotchy, but that's otherwise a great looking 12-D! Get it slabbed, if PCGS won't, use ANACS, and put it on eBay if you want to sell it. Personally, I'd just keep it, but it's your coin. Or you could just send it to me.....

Dabigkahuna

Looks natural to me. I have seen a lot of cents from rolls with the same type of toning. I would leave it alone.imho


Larry
Dabigkahuna

coinfreak499

i would dip it if i was good at it carefully.

vrtech99

Listen to segoja!!!!!!

millennium

The coin looks to have been dipped already..Who ever did it did not do a good job of drying of the reverse...Hence, the stain.

jacktheknife

Millennium,

I agree, I was thinking the same thing. I didn't comment because it was just a single pic, but based on that pic I would question the color as well.

Baley

A dip never will improve copper. I'd leave it alone.

yup. unless you're an expert, dipping copper will result in ugly, unnatural looking pink pennies.

mr1931S

Let it be. Not that bad of a coin just the way it is.

stujoe

<< <i>The coin looks to have been dipped already..Who ever did it did not do a good job of drying of the reverse...Hence, the stain. >>



I was thinking that looked more like a stain too.

jonesy

If it's been dipped, that's really too bad. Looks like a nice coin.

coppercoins

It's already ruined from cleaning, dipping it wouldn't do anything to it that hasn't already been done.

nankraut

I agree with coppercoins on this one.

lordmarcovan

Don't mess with it. I am not one of those anti-dipping crusaders- if I don't like a coin's toning, whoosh! Into the Jeweluster it goes!

But I do try to limit myself to coins that'd dip successfully. I wouldn't think that is one of them. One, dipping copper or bronze is "iffy" at best. Two, I don't totally hate that toning. It's slightly negative but not totally awful. Leave it alone- you could only make it worse. As others have mentioned, it looks like the product of a past dip gone wrong.

I wonder if NCS would work on it? I've never tried them but have seen some impressive results posted. (Mostly in their advertising.)

merz2

I whole heartily agree with Jack !!!!!!!

razorface1027

DON'T DIP IT UNLESS YOU WANT TO RUIN IT

Ditto: