What do you think of the surfaces on this Gold Commem??
keets
Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
Thanks in advance.
Al H.
Al H.
0
Comments
this was my initial impression until i considered the "Orange Peel" effect which is well documented on certain specific issues from this era, most notably Gold Proofs. i wondered if this might be an example of that appearance.
I'm certainly no expert on gold but that is a very nice looking commem you have there.
Ron
NJCC
<< <i>Looks great to me! Looks totally original and has the right color. >>
That would have been my first impression too. But NJCC's comments give me pause. If in doubt....submit.
I see telltale signs of some sort of liquid in the fields around two o'clock and eleven o'clock on the obverse. If you look at the fields in those areas (and other parts), you will see what appears to be light marks, covered by the iodine. Also look at the shoulder of Jefferson. It looks like a pretty serious scratch has been covered up. Tilt and rotate the coin at the same time. I suspect that the difference in colors on the surface will become more apparent.
As I've said many times before, it is virtually impossible to grade from a photograph. But in this instance, with a little knowledge of the coin business and unethical practices of certain dealers you can make an educated guess.
NJCC
<< <i>
<< <i>Looks great to me! Looks totally original and has the right color. >>
That would have been my first impression too. But NJCC's comments give me pause. If in doubt....submit. >>
Agree---appears like an nicely toned original gold coin but without an in-hand examination I can't be sure that it wasn't helped. Also, that's die erosion and the lack of denticles on the reverse indicates that this coin wasn't fully struck. Die erosion and weak denticles are typical for this issue and, overall, it appears to be a decent coin.
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"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
NJCC
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Maybe I'm wrong, but that was my impression.
Keets - you are a pretty sharp guy and I assume the reason you posted this asking about the surface of this gold piece is because something caught your eye or hit that little intrigue button. Listen to your instincts. Gold pieces are boinked more often than many think.
A few smart guys have responded to this with a little skepticism. That isn't just coincidence.
<< <i>OK, who volunteers to do an experiment? >>
last time i volunteered i got 4 years in the army. nope, not me, ill pass notta .......
One of the reasons why some Charlotte and Dahlonega gold coins have a whitish or greenish shade is that there is still a fair amount of silver in the 10% side of the usual gold alloy (90% gold 10% copper and often some silver). Therefore perhaps we are seeing the affects of tact amounts of silver in this piece.
I also know that the 1903 Jefferson and McKinley commemorative gold dollars can have more than there share of copper spot problems. It’s far worse for the 1926 Sesquicentennial $2.50.
I’m throwing this out as a possible explanation, not a fact.
<< <i>At first I was going to say it was a delightful, orange peel effect coin, worthy of a plus, a sticker, and a sniff. However, I am intrigued by NJCC's iodine theory. Very interesting. >>
Moi aussi, interesting thread.
<< <i>The denticals from 4:00 to 10:00 sure are mushy! >>
Mushy denticals is not unusual for this coin. I had one years ago with a similar situation and saw a number of others when I was shopping for the one that is now in my collection.