1889 5c unc Newp.....question about surfaces

DoubleEagle59

Picked this one up recently.

I think it's a high grade Unc, but I'm concerned about the surface of the obverse.

In the entire fields, the surface is what I can best describe as 'appearing exactly like the surface of an orange peel'.

It's not on Liberty (this surface is smooth).

'Orange peel' is a term we use for our Canadian KGV nickels (1922-1936), but I haven't seen it on the US Liberty nickels.

Is it common or has the surface been altered?

It's quite visible in the obverse picture.

BustHalfBrian

Sort of looks whizzed/tooled...

magikbilly

I literally don't have my eyeglasses on and from what I can see that photo looks dark, but I recall when I collected V5C 20 years ago several of my MS coins had orange peel finish others had a very hard finish. I also remember light staining on a lot of coins I looked at.

Eric

bolivarshagnasty

If the orange peel surfaces don't extend onto the stars, I would say it's not messed with. It would be difficult if not impossible to alter the fields all the way into the inner corners of the stars as it
appears in your pics. FWIW, I think your coin is not altered.

highwayman1

Assuming those aren't cleaning hairlines on reverse, she looks like a nice MS64... but what is that smudge on the reverse, under the IT of UNITED?

Definitely not whizzed.

DoubleEagle59

<< <i>If the orange peel surfaces don't extend onto the stars, I would say it's not messed with. It would be difficult if not impossible to alter the fields all the way into the inner corners of the stars as it
appears in your pics. FWIW, I think your coin is not altered. >>



Yea, I feel silly for not thinking of that myself.

I'm now thinking it's definitely not messed with.....hope the graders feel the same way!!

DoubleEagle59

<< <i>Assuming those aren't cleaning hairlines on reverse, she looks like a nice MS64... but what is that smudge on the reverse, under the IT of UNITED?

Definitely not whizzed. >>



Under the 'IT' is a small reddish-brown dirt mark (rust??).

highwayman1

<< <i>

<< <i>Assuming those aren't cleaning hairlines on reverse, she looks like a nice MS64... but what is that smudge on the reverse, under the IT of UNITED?

Definitely not whizzed. >>



Under the 'IT' is a small reddish-brown dirt mark (rust??). >>



Perhaps a bath is in order.

291fifth

It is very difficult to make a call based on the photo of the obverse. What I can tell you is that what I can see I don't like.

There is probably a reason why it is raw.

coinkat

Not my series, however this date is available in a high grade