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Was this 1806 Half Dollar cleaned?
CoinPhysicist
Posts: 597 ✭✭✭✭
I'm looking at an 1806 half dollar online that is for sale and it comes with terrible photos. I'm having a really hard time deciding on my own of it was cleaned or not. I've attached a screenshot of a photo of the obverse. So I ask you - was this obverse cleaned?
Successful transactions with: wondercoin, Tetromibi, PerryHall, PlatinumDuck, JohnMaben/Pegasus Coin & Jewelry, CoinFlip, and coinlieutenant.
1
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Based on the image presented, I’d say yes.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
My impression is yes, as the surfaces look glossy and reflective, if I am reading the images correctly.
Here is a slightly different angle. I'm struggling with it because it's in a straight-graded NGC holder.
Successful transactions with: wondercoin, Tetromibi, PerryHall, PlatinumDuck, JohnMaben/Pegasus Coin & Jewelry, CoinFlip, and coinlieutenant.
The coin has reasonable wear, is somewhat bright and the surfaces appear to be mildly glossy. Those are signs of a cleaned coin. However, a past cleaning and being 'straight-graded' are not incompatible.
Straight grading means it's market acceptable based on the grading guidelines of the TPG.
Many coins from the 19th century have been cleaned and are market acceptable.
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
Yes. Looks like there's a fair amount of residual "dirt" in the crevices of the stars and the numerals of the date.
I would think it was.
Many cleaned coins are in straight graded holders including the coin in the OP in my opinion
It looks it to me as well
If I have to question something, I no buy
When in doubt pass.
Thanks all
. The straight-grade made me doubt myself. Now I know.
Successful transactions with: wondercoin, Tetromibi, PerryHall, PlatinumDuck, JohnMaben/Pegasus Coin & Jewelry, CoinFlip, and coinlieutenant.
Firm vote for cleaned...even a bit polished from the 1st photo.
If you can look at in hand with return allowed is the only way I would even think of purchasing.
No returns on the eBay listing, otherwise I would have done that @LindeDad
Successful transactions with: wondercoin, Tetromibi, PerryHall, PlatinumDuck, JohnMaben/Pegasus Coin & Jewelry, CoinFlip, and coinlieutenant.
Looks cleaned and lightly polished. Bummer.
Dave
What grade did NGC give it? Sometimes, a lower grade than the details seem to suggest means they (quietly) net graded it....
Looks cleaned. Pass.
I'm inclined to condemn it from the pix. But the images are not great.
NGC straight-graded it. So I'd need to see it in hand.
Could be acceptable (though maybe not desirable). Could be as everyone is guessing.
Lance.
@astrorat @lkeigwin @TommyType
Yep, Yep and (good insight question to consider) Yep.
Just because it's straight-graded doesn't mean it hasn't been cleaned ... wouldn't the pop's drop if that was the case!
But those pictures do leave some to be desired, for sure.
It looks cleaned. It looks too bright and glossy to not have been, but without a coin in hand, it's a tough call.
I'd never consider it based on the picture, but that's me. The picture paints it that bad IMO.
What's acceptable is a different matter entirely, as that is a more personal preference.
My 2c
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Straight graded VF30, here is the full listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1806-Pointed-6-With-Stem-O-120-Draped-Bust-Half-Dollar-50C-Vf30-Ngc/224015965651?hash=item3428645dd3:g:J9MAAOSw479ew-nd
Successful transactions with: wondercoin, Tetromibi, PerryHall, PlatinumDuck, JohnMaben/Pegasus Coin & Jewelry, CoinFlip, and coinlieutenant.
Market graded to vf30 , an xf coin that has had some cleaning. Do I always agree with how some of the tpg's do this, no, but apparently the market does.
Having experimented with cleaning sacrificial silver coins to see the results, me thinks this puppy has been cleaned. Peace Roy
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I wonder what the responses here would be if it had a CAC sticker on the slab.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
Voltaire: Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero.
It is a cleaned coin that has achieved acceptability....If that bothers you, move on to the next one...It will always bother you if you buy it. Cheers, RickO
I agree with RickO
Bob
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There are lots of cleaned coins in TPG holders, just none that I submitted.
There are another 284 1806 halves to choose from on ebay. On ebay, NOTHING is rare.
Cheers
Bob
On something like this, you have to realize that silver is a somewhat reactive metal. No way has that 214 year old coin come through as smooth and even-colored as that. The fact is that most older coins that aren't fairly dark have almost certainly been cleaned/dipped at least once, a great many of them several times. If you're looking for originality, that coin isn't it. The sad news is that there are countless such coins in TPG holders straight-graded, because they are market acceptable.
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Now listen boy, I'm tryin' to teach you sumthin' . . . . that ain't an optical illusion, it only looks like an optical illusion.
My mind reader refuses to charge me....
Of which, 270 have been cleaned.
I’ll take an 1806 Overton 128, 129 and 130 then please.
A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.
A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
The coin is most definitely cleaned. That glossy look is a dead give away imho.