Scratches covered up by Sharpies

Barberian

It seems to me that scratches are often covered up by taking a marker and covering over the scratch. I see this often and apparently it is considered acceptable to TPG's. For example, look at the scratches covered up by markers on this coin. Look at it at high magnification and one can see the scratches hidden by the ink.

Is this really an acceptable practice? What sort of ink or substance is used to cover scratches?

1864 PCGS AU53 CAC half dollar

LanceNewmanOCC

<< <i>Is this really an acceptable practice? What sort of ink or substance is used to cover scratches? >>



honestly, that is kinda what it looks like.

marker or not, if those are scratches, what is it doing with a sticker and lofty grade?
.

savoyspecial

I don't think that is ink.....more than likely a sulfur burn (rubberbanding stacks of coins will do this sometimes)

Wabbit2313

You have to use the really good ink. You also have to stay within the lines.

keyman64

What the heck? I can't recall seeing something like that before. It looks like they missed a scratch in the obv right field.

AngryTurtle

My first thought of what it could be is a planchet impurity. I have a Capped Bust Half with similar look. Its raw, so dont know how the TPGs would grade, but I assumed it would be a net deduction.

Coinsponge

I would think a marker pen would highlight the scratch. Maybe they did it so a buyer could find the scratches easier and be so appreciative of the consideration that he buys the coin.

1Bustcollector

From what I can make out from the picture, it appears some of the scratch areas has a dark covering/outline. It does look like something was hand drawn to follow over each area for the most part. I'd rule out a rubber band effect on all these, rubber bands usually don't follow a wiggly outline - do they? Not buying it, sorry.

Coinsponge

What ever the case why would this not be considered a problem coin?

OPA

Since it's that obvious, I have my doubts whether PCGS or CAC would grade a coin with a"Sharpie" mark covering a scratch.

SamByrd

TomB

It never seems to work for me. Perhaps I should stop using a highlighter?

Jinx86

I dont see anything wrong with this coin. Yeah the eye appeal isn't the greats because of the burn marks.

lkeigwin

I doubt it's from a Sharpie. But some of it does look too coincidental.

Perhaps whatever scratched the coin long ago was contaminated.

Whatever. It probably shouldn't have straight-graded.
Lance.

lasvegasteddy

<< <i>marker or not, if those are scratches, what is it doing with a sticker and lofty grade?
. >>


+1

originalisbest

Fissures in the planchet as made, and the scratch in the right field isn't much of one. I have no problem with this straight grading at all.

Barberian

It's probably not a marker pen, but I wonder if a charcoal pencil with a little rubbing might do this.

I disagree. The "scratches" cross over the rock and extend further to the dentiles in concert with the black marking. Also note that the black mark on the arm covers what looks like a scrape or scuff on the arm.

I've seen this black coloring which hides a scratch many times on coins. In fact, I usually look for underlying scratches when I see such conspicuous dark lines on coins. They're often there. It's more than just coincidence. Whether it was deliberate doctoring or some agent that caused both the "scratch" and dark color, I don't know, but I've seen more conspicuous examples on other coins. I posted this coin because it's listed on Heritage Auctions, which provides decent enlarged pictures. I know what rubber band streaks look like on coins as well and don't find such scratches in those circumstances.

I haven't been looking at coins much lately, but I will try to add more examples to this thread when I encounter them in the future.

Thanks for your the comments so far.

MrEureka

I don't know what caused the streaks. However, if you look at the way the black streak crosses over stars 1 and 2, it should be obvious that the streak was not painted or inked onto the coin.

Barberian

<< <i>I don't know what caused the streaks. However, if you look at the way the black streak crosses over stars 1 and 2, it should be obvious that the streak was not painted or inked onto the coin. >>



Perhaps it's been rubbed off in the suspected "doctoring" process. Again, I see this often, and I can't say this coin was messed with, but I'd like an explanation for this. How about being brushed with an oxidizing solution to cause dark color and cover any bright surface imperfection or scratch?

ms70

I'm more suspicious about the field to the right of the head.

Broadstruck

It's not a slag impurity in the planchet mixture and not a marker or paint.

I too believe it's sulfur burns as maybe it was laying in a drawer with old rubber bands.

Whatever it is it's storage related.

Ablinky

That seems quite intriguing, I'll be sure to take a look at that one in hand when I lot view.

Icollecteverything

Never seen that before but it sure looks like someone was up to no good.

LotsoLuck

Neat informative thread, some you folks are pret' clever

lordmarcovan

I for one don't see anything but toning streaks. Whether caused by planchet impurities or placement in some kind of envelope or other paper, who knows.

While a little unusual, it doesn't bother me and doesn't look terribly anomalous. JMHO.

BillJones

<< <i>What ever the case why would this not be considered a problem coin? >>



Given the current market attitudes, a more pertinent question might be, why does it have a CAC sticker?

DollarAfterDollar

I send a coin in with 3 random hairlines and it gets body bagged. There's NO WAY that coin gets encapsulated unless in the opinion of the graders the coloration was caused naturally by planchet flaws IMO. The graders tend to be somewhat forgiving of these older issues but these marks stand out to the degree where someone having the coin in hand made the call to grade it. Then CAC agreed. It must be natural.

ricko

Given the TPG and FPG acceptance, I would say there should be a more acceptable explanation....unless the 'features' were not there at slabbing/reviewing.... Cheers, RickO

Icollecteverything

To see what looks like trickery to me you have to blow up the obverse pic as big as you can. Then look at the neck (two horizontal lines), the elbow holding the staff and then the area in the lower left field from the stars down to the left of the date.

There is something (looks like scratches) under the darkened areas in all of these spots. Some places you can see the lines but they missed the darkening. The place that looks most like a "Sharpie" is the even rectangular spot in front of the face which also appears to be obscuring something.

If these are planchet flaws that also made the metal turn I apologize to everyone involved. Somtimes when I look at them they look like raised lines but I think that is an illusion.

Connecticoin

The streaks look like streaks I have seen on silver coins from long term contact with rubber bands.

TheDukeK

I've seen rubber band burns and that placement makes no sense for a rubber band in that weird angle. Plus what are the chances that a rubber band would move left and right to cover over that scratch.

GrumpyEd

If it was a sharpie then acetone would take it off, but that only works for raw coins

messydesk

<< <i>If it was a sharpie then acetone would take it off, but that only works for raw coins >>


With enough acetone and a long-enough soak, it'll work on slabbed coins, too.

ColonelJessup

<< <i>I don't know what caused the streaks. However, if you look at the way the black streak crosses over stars 1 and 2, it should be obvious that the streak was not painted or inked onto the coin. >>



I have also seen hairlines that seem to stop at the very edge of a device (or star or date or...) and, then, come directly out of the other side of the device. How do "they" cover these? Is Betty Crocker involved? It's amazing work

I suppose you're going to claim lines such as these are not damage either. . . .

LanceNewmanOCC

<< <i>

<< <i>If it was a sharpie then acetone would take it off, but that only works for raw coins >>


With enough acetone and a long-enough soak, it'll work on slabbed coins, too. >>



hilarious, yet true.
.

19Lyds

<< <i>It seems to me that scratches are often covered up by taking a marker and covering over the scratch. I see this often and apparently it is considered acceptable to TPG's. For example, look at the scratches covered up by markers on this coin. Look at it at high magnification and one can see the scratches hidden by the ink.

Is this really an acceptable practice? What sort of ink or substance is used to cover scratches?

1864 PCGS AU53 CAC half dollar >>

Two sets of unassociated and independent professional eyes which have been making money off of grading coins..............................and you're the expert?

Icollecteverything

Could it be something like Dellers Darkener? I think there is sulfur in it so could be similar to the rubber band effect.