What does the W-15 mean on this Std Half slab?

ajaan

Does it make it scarcer? and do you think the coin is Unc? TIA'



Closeup of coin

Steve27

Conder101 posted this on Cointalk:


"...Wiley's expanded die study on the 1861-O's as W-15. It was the last variety struck by the Confederacy before they closed down the New Orleans Mint. It is also an interesting piece because it pairs the last rev die, only used by the Confederacy, with a resurrected Obv 1 that was originally used by the Union in January before the State of Louisiana took over the Mint."

CarlWohlforth

It is hard for me to think of shipwreck effect coins as UNC. Perhaps UNC details or something is more appropriate. The salt water ruins mint luster among other things. Cleaning and stabilizing the coin after it is recovered doesn't help much either.

EagleEye

(Randy) Wiley, I believe. It is the die pair.

astrorat

It's likely that the coin never circulated which, by definition, means UNC. However, Carl is right that using UNC in grading is somewhat disingenuous since the coin has environmental damage. Sure the damage is "famous and historical" but it is damage nonetheless.

golfer72

<< <i>It is hard for me to think of shipwreck effect coins as UNC. Perhaps UNC details or something is more appropriate. The salt water ruins mint luster among other things. Cleaning and stabilizing the coin after it is recovered doesn't help much either. >>

PCGS graded and slabbed the $20 Gold Coins that were recovered from a shipwreck. Perhaps gold does not undergo environmental damage?

ajaan

Thanks for the info everyone.