Challange: Photograph the luster break on an au58.

tsacch · November 29, 2004 8:01PM

OK, so heres the challange: Photograph the luster break on an au58. .... Can it be done?

darktone · November 29, 2004 8:10PM

Tom, this should be a very good thread. I'll try to get a picture after work tonight. mike

CaptainRon · November 29, 2004 8:43PM

This about the best I can do. I'm using an AT'd 1906 IHC. The color makes it a little easier to photograph and see the breaks I think.

At the end of line one, you can see just a touch of rub/break on the cheek, Then at the end of lines 2, you can see a more noticable breaks.

The AT'ing I think makes it more noticeable after you now where to look. Honestly I missed it until it was pointed out to me, now it sticks out like a sore thumb, especially this large.

Ron

Edited to link correct picture.

Fairlaneman · November 29, 2004 9:03PM

A world coin is used for this. The darker areas around the 2 show minor circulation wear which really is just breaks in the luster. This is the way I actually was taught to distinguish a Mint State USA 2 cent piece from a lightly circulated piece.

Added this raw 25P Merc that I would really like to call Mint State but it is not. The coin is a FB coin on the reverse which shows no wear at all.

Ken

nwcs · November 29, 2004 9:12PM

LanLord · November 29, 2004 10:21PM

I'll bet Frank or Jeremey can do a bang-up job on this request.

ziggy29 · November 29, 2004 11:09PM

The rub is evident on Liberty's exposed right leg and a couple of other high spots, but most of the coin is bright, fully detailed and lustrous -- a textbook AU-58 coin:

[EDIT to add: I have several similar examples of AU-58 coins with just a break in the luster and wear on the high spots, but this is the picture which best displays it.]

coppercoins · November 30, 2004 12:12AM

My contribution:

coppercoins · November 30, 2004 12:13AM

<< I'll bet Frank or Jeremey can do a bang-up job on this request. >>

What am I? Chopped liver?

Crackout · November 30, 2004 1:13AM

I think pure sunlight does the best job of exposing "rub" and luster breaks. The first pic is taken in "studio" conditions and the second in direct sunlight; tilted to show the wear.

tsacch · November 30, 2004 7:36AM

Good replies, thanks, its more obvious on some than others.

tom

shylock · November 30, 2004 7:54AM

That really is a challenge on AU copper, especially if it's slabbed. This triple struck NGC AU58BN shows breaks on the cheek, eyebrow, lower hair curl/ribbon, bust, feathertips and some of the fields.

cmanbb · November 30, 2004 7:58AM

How's this one?

PCGS AU58

mgoodm3 · November 30, 2004 8:12AM

cladking · November 30, 2004 8:14AM

<< I think pure sunlight does the best job of exposing "rub" and luster breaks. The first pic is taken in "studio" conditions and the second in direct sunlight; tilted to show the wear.

>>

Very dramatic. Sometimes you have to tilt the coin to just the right angle to see the greyness.

tsacch · November 30, 2004 8:27AM

So where do you get sunlight at a show or dealers shop/table? I have my desk lamp and i dont see breaks on the pcgs coins or the accupig....and i have great vision..............i need to look at it outside in the morning..............

airplanenut · November 30, 2004 9:09AM

Just saw the post... sorry for the delay

Right in front of the bust...

coinbuf · November 30, 2004 10:10AM

Ok explain airplaine's coin to me. If AU is given to coins with "wear" on the high points how can a coin only have luster breaks and "wear" in the fields and not on the high points?? The area you pointed out Jeremey is at the coins lowest point yet in your pic I see no signs of wear on the higher points.

Chris

airplanenut · November 30, 2004 10:14AM

<< Ok explain airplaine's coin to me. If AU is given to coins with "wear" on the high points how can a coin only have luster breaks and "wear" in the fields and not on the high points?? The area you pointed out Jeremey is at the coins lowest point yet in your pic I see no signs of wear on the higher points. >>

Look right above the ear... I think there's a hint of wear. I sold the coin a few months ago, so I can't pull it out

Oh, here's another 58 (this one's mine

)

Lustre breaks/wear can be seen lightly in front of the Indian, on the bottom feather's tip, and right in front of the eagle's head.

mdwoods · November 30, 2004 10:15AM

Good job by Cladking. At one angle the coin may appear to be uncirculated. If it is AU, tilting the coin at different angles under a good light will show the wear.

airplanenut · November 30, 2004 10:17AM

Cladking cheated! His coin is raw!

This one's raw... has a lustre break, but is otherwise blazing... a very nice AU58, if I do say so myself (my type album agrees

)

coinbuf · November 30, 2004 10:40AM

<<Look right above the ear... I think there's a hint of wear. I sold the coin a few months ago, so I can't pull it out >>

The issue I still have with this if that is wear above the ear it is a very small spot and might have been from a weak strike. But even if it is wear above the ear how can a coin get so very very little wear at the highest point on the coin and show significant wear at the lowest point. I guess what I'm saying is that is type of "graying" in the fields is not from being in circulation but rather from mishandling or getting rubbed against other coins in a bag. To me this coin should be MS60 not AU as the AU grade should be used for coins that display circulation wear. But that is JMHO.

cladking · November 30, 2004 10:45AM

<< 
Cladking cheated! His coin is raw!
>>

I cheated even more than that. It's a coin from Crackout's post.

airplanenut · November 30, 2004 10:50AM

<< 

<< 
Cladking cheated! His coin is raw!
>>

I cheated even more than that. It's a coin from Crackout's post.

>>

You suck! And not in that "I'm jealous that you stole that coin" way

Fairlaneman · November 30, 2004 11:08AM

<< Ok explain airplaine's coin to me. If AU is given to coins with "wear" on the high points how can a coin only have luster breaks and "wear" in the fields and not on the high points?? The area you pointed out Jeremey is at the coins lowest point yet in your pic I see no signs of wear on the higher points. >>

Take a real good look at the coin. Above the eye and just below liberty on the obverse. Luster breaks in the field and on the cheek also. On the reverse look at the wings and shield. Same stuff shows in the fields that is seen on the obverse.

You are correct about the luster statement but on this coin wear is evident. Trying to do this by picture is real tough. This is a coin that you need in hand and then you would probably spot the problems at once.

Ken

pursuitofliberty · November 30, 2004 1:42PM

tsacch,

These posts have been very informative and I think your interest has spurred some great thoughts and debates.

Now, PLEASE stop!! I don't want that much competition!!!

I don't have any angle pictures which can help show the wear, however here are a few photo's of mine to through into the arena. I still have many to bring home to photgraph. These are PCGS 58's I have posted before ... still working on the photo skills.

minute wear across the knee and upper leg, atop the date and at 8'oclock on the shield ... on the leading wing and some scruffiness from a brief handling, a light old pinscrape

minute wear atop the knee, the one in date, and a light brush across the breast ... a touch on the leading wing and a couple of minor scruffs in the left obverse field ... ... all somewhat debatable

the temple and hair above the eye and the knot on the reverse wreath show minute signs of wear ... debatable

mintue wear on the left leaves, weakly struck legen shows a touch of rub ... general handling resulting in smoothed over luster, no real wear on the reverse, just handling

Challange: Photograph the luster break on an au58.

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