Finished a set

wybrit

I picked up an 1896 shilling this past week, thereby filling the last hole in the Veiled head shilling series.

The coin does have a problem with it though, so I will at least be on the lookout for a better one down the road. Tell me what you see and where you see it.

Aethelred

I see what look like scratches on the obverse in front of the Queen's face.

bosox

Minor scratches on the obverse. Is that a deeper scratch through the "H" on the reverse?

wybrit

Yes, those are some minor detractions, but there is a much more serious problem on the coin than that - and it is quite well hidden.

Aethelred

The letters in the "IT" of "BRITT" at 12:00 look funny, has it been holed and plugged?

bosox

Also, is that a scratch between the center and the right shield on the reverse?

wybrit

The letters in the "IT" of "BRITT" at 12:00 look funny, has it been holed and plugged?

Nope. No hole.

Also, is that a scratch between the center and the right shield on the reverse?

Good eye. No scratch, just some ghosting of the queen's chin. However, that is not a problem.

Aethelred

Other than the above, I just don't see it!

wybrit

I caught it with my microscope. Only after that did I "easily" see it with the naked eye. It is a detraction that does not stand out in the picture. I doubt the seller even knew about it.

I'll let some others have a go at it before I reveal the answer.

Aethelred

I'm also still looking. I am normally pretty good at spotting problems, that is my job after all!

bosox

One last guess. Is that a die break above the "NG" in shilling?

wybrit

bosox, you are doing a great job! There is a die crack there. I didn't even notice that until now.

But the more serious problem still remains hidden...

wybrit

BTW bosox, you have a really fantastic sig coin.

spinaker2000

The only thing I see, other than what has been mentioned, is the "8" in the date is a bit ragged.

bosox

Thanks. I bought it twenty odd years ago for $400, then stopped collecting for nearly the entire twenty years. Just unpacked it about six months ago. More on my sig line coin in the post entitled "ICCS", a few posts back.

MacCrimmon

There seems to be a large depression in the bust just to the right of the diadem.....maybe from grease adhering to the die?

From what can be seen on the image, the depression and the scratches are the biggest obstacles, I s'pose.

Congrats on completing the run.

cosmicdebris

Congrats on the set but everyone has already mentioned anything I could see.

rhound1977

I am no expert, but I looked at her for a good minute or two, my only comment outside of the above, is that she has been cleaned or dipped.
Although there appears to be a good bit of luster there, I think I see some older darker toning between the denticles on the obverse. Particularly
between about 11 and 3 O'clock.

I may be way off base, but that is my limited knowledge thought. All in all a great looking coin, and I would not have hesitated in buying it.

Congrats on the set!

Sylvestius

I'd say dipped? Looking at Victoria's face it looks a bit like it may have been.

But seriously what's up with the jewelry, that crown doesn't look right. One of those beads looks awfully big when compared to the others? Has the jewllery been touched up?

Or maybe it's cos i'm not used to scrutinising these? (it looks a bit different from the picture in the book, mind you the picture is alot smaller so maybe it's not so noticable there)

Other than that i'd say it's a specimen that has been gilt in the past and has since had it removed hence the dipping?

Sylvestius

Is that the big rose or small rose variety, just out of interest?

theboz11

Is that a Die Clash on the Reverse, chin line prominent.

coinrookie

A possible fingerprint on the lower right obverse?

Steve

wybrit

OK, it looks like I've stumped everyone.

The problem is on the obverse. There is a deep scratch .3 in long that starts to the right of the earring and coincides with the veil fold in an almost vertical direction downwards. The same scratch also resumes higher up in the veil to the right of the ear.

There are also a couple of smaller scratches directly below the earring.

Still a nice coin, but once you see the scratch, you can't look at anything else on it. The camera does not catch it well, but light reflects off of it and brings it out to the naked eye.

Aethelred

In that photo it looks like part of the design!

wybrit

In every photo I took of it, you can not see it - even at a sharp angle. Still, it's really annoying to look at.

spinaker2000

This coin has way too many problems. I suggest a giveaway!!

1jester

I think Spinaker has the right idea!!!

Of course, you can count me out. I wouldn't want to be caught dead with such a disgraceful coin.