Canadian Silver Dollars -Arnprior- are they all P/L's?

Dennis88 · May 3, 2013 7:14AM

Since these were specifically made on order, when would think so. Can anyone confirm?

LochNESS · May 3, 2013 9:25AM

Short answer, my catalog says they're all MS. But it's complicated when you're shopping around. There are different types / dates. Some were actually made in the town (village?) of Arnprior, while others in 1952 were actually a modified reverse die that resembles the town's productions. Here's what the Charlton Standard Catalogue has to say:

"During the year 1950 a technical problem arose that was to plague the Mint throughout the 1950s. At each end of the canoe are four (not three as is so often claimed) shallow water lines. In the process of polishing or re-polishing the dies, parts of these lines tended to disappear, creating differences within a given year's coinage. Collectors have decided arbitrarily that a certain pattern of partial water lines at the right-hand end of the canoe should be collected separately and command a premium over dollars with perfect water lines or other partial lines configurations.

The so-called Arnprior configuration consists of 2 1/2 (often incorrectly called 1 1/2) water lines at the right. Any trace of the bottom water line disqualifies a coin from being an Arnprior. One should also beware of coins that have had part of the water lines fraudulently removed."
(Canadian Coins, 58th ed. 2004, p.151).

YQQ · May 3, 2013 2:05PM

Dennis, could you please post an example?

YQQ · May 3, 2013 2:11PM

Here is a MS ARNprior. very unique with the die breaks
[URL=http://s627.photobucket.com/user/cdncoins/media/1951 Dollar SP/IMG_0180_zps474900df.jpg.html]

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[URL=http://s627.photobucket.com/user/cdncoins/media/1951 Dollar SP/IMG_0182_zpsfa585440.jpg.html]

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LochNESS · May 3, 2013 8:56PM

yes, Dennis if you have found a PL then I'd love to see it! I have a SWL myself (single water line)

and Helmut, that is one heck of a dollar! I must say you have a great knack for finding amazing gems

YQQ · May 4, 2013 12:33AM

Thank you..
do you think it makes 64?
And.. would ICCS note the DB?

LochNESS · May 4, 2013 4:54AM

hmm I'm not sure. There are some significant cuts and/or scratches around the date, atop the mound (middle, near tree base), and above George's eye. Is there a dirt smudge near the first "A" of "CANADA" ... I think it really depends on how much of the marks above the canoe/rays is dirt vs picture artifacts. I see now there are also some cuts along the rev die break, below the second "A."

It's really a beautiful piece despite all the above issues. It could get a 64 at ICCS.

I have never submitted to ICCS, only purchased one coin which they certified; but everyone I know who does Canadian swears by them in favor of our hosts. So I don't have first-hand knowledge of whether they will attribute a die break or not. But I feel they are your best chance for accurate grading of this piece.

Dennis88 · May 4, 2013 5:09AM

I always have trouble classifying Canadian Dollars Pre-1959 as P/L or regular business strike. The regular strikes often have prooflike characteristics, and I'm not quite sure where (or where the grading services) draw the line. My set is focused on business strikes and I'd like to avoid P/L's to have a nice matched set. And we all know how difficult it can be to find high-grade business strikes that are not P/L's.

Speaking of grading, how would an ICCS MS-60 compare to a PCGS MS-60? Just as ugly or better? I have never owned an ICCS graded coin so I wouldn't know how they compare.

Dennis

ajaan · May 4, 2013 6:52AM

My past experience was ICCS MS-60 = PCGS AU58.

Canadian Silver Dollars -Arnprior- are they all P/L's?

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