Can a lightly wiped coin ever be spun in a positive way by an auction company?

Longacre

I guess I am on a wiping kick today, having temporarily suspended my rants about well-managed promotions. Does anyone know if a light wiping can ever be spun into a positive thing by an auction company? For example, if a coin has not seen the light of day in many, many decades, can a light wiping add a little pizzaz to the description, and add a little more mystique to the coin? For example, for such a coin, can the cataloger write something about how the coin was from an old time cabinet, when it was (almost) accepted to give a coin a very gentle wipe? Can the cataloger use the wipe as a way for the potential purchaser to connect better with the coin's history, conjuring up images of an old-time collector viewing his coins while donning a smoking jacket and sipping a fine cognac? For the budding authors on the boards, can you try to write a description what makes a wiping a positive thing (I tried, and it is harder than I thought)?

coinguy1

<<Does anyone know if a light wiping can ever be spun into a positive thing by an auction company?>

You bet! For example, slightly exaggerated but: A minor wipe in the upper left obverse field precludes a higher grade and a much higher price tag. Even an amateur coin doctor should be able to hide the wipe and profit very handsomely from his efforts.

CoinRaritiesOnline

Nah. A wipe is a negative -- period.

TomB

Perhaps they could try to tie the coin to history in a more intimate manner?

"The present lot, though housed undisturbed in a private collection for the last 210 years, has lightly wiped surfaces. This piece, minted shortly after the American Revolution, may have been handled by such historical luminaries such as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Samual Adams and the like and the obverse and reverse wipe may provide tangible evidence of the importance attached to this piece that these figures may have felt. Truly, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to veritably reach back into history and connect to the Founders of our country in an intimate manner. The catologuer urges interested parties to prepare aggressive bids in their efforts to procure and protect this unrivaled piece of Americana."

Pretty thick, eh?

IGWT

Do we have to use the word "wiping," or can we write something like "shows signs of loving care provided by a numismatist during a bygone era when a coin cabinet was really a coin cabinet."

stman

<< <i>Do we have to use the word "wiping," or can we write something like "shows signs of loving care provided by a numismatist >>



The "new wave" description I see these days for wiping is "shows some signs of handling."

DennisH

An auction company could put a positive spin on a holed and bent coin.

It's called creative writing, liberal doses of hype, and people who are gullible enough to swallow it without gagging.

StrikeOutXXX

Perhaps a bit cheesy - but I didn't have much inspiration while eating lunch

Half Eagles
COIN 1813 Breen 1-B. Rarity-6.
DESCRIPTION A rare variety, best identified by the first S in STATES being centered over the E of E PLURIBUS UNUM below. Attractive light yellow gold with generous peripheral lustre for the grade.

With a great portion of this series riddled with major nicks, defects, harsh cleaning, and other unpleasant visual distractors, this example stands out among nearly all. The only barely noticeable markings were provided from a long ago character-building light wiping.

Imagine a gentlemanly coin collector of the time gingerly wiping away dust from the coin to present this specimen to a female admirer. He avoids soiling her white lace gloves - perhaps she was a dignitary or royalty - we may never know.

RichieURich

Why not? People are putting a positive spin on damaged scrap by calling them "waffle coins".

DaveG

Tom,

You are my IDOL!

You have a bright future in PR!

Shamika

"Here is a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire a coin that will sure to be the center piece of any advanced collector with descriminating taste. We feel obligated to point out that the beautifully frosted cheek of Ms Liberty has been gently wiped. We mention this strickly for the sake of pedigree."

Is that good enough for you?

RYK

In my limited experience, whenever a problem is mentioned in an auction description, even if the mentioning of it is off-handed or trivialized, the problem is usually a major detraction and makes the coin virtually unbuyable for all intents and purposes.

ColonialCoinUnion

OK, I'll give it a go:

A very pretty example, nicely struck with an attractive old-world patina. Just the right amount of crustiness in the devices and the remnants of an ancient wipe on the obverse indicate that this coin, unlike so many of this type, has not been cleaned or conserved in recent years in the name of capitalism.

seateddime

Beats being plugged and repaired.

Coinosaurus

Oh my goodness yes. A major auction firm recently catalogued a major fingerprint as "a minor finger mark". Gimme a break.......but even the most honorable cataloguer still has to make a living.

As for TomB.....when it gets late and cataloguers have lots to finish, well, that's EXACTLY what a lot of them sound like.