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Sorry to keep asking…..but I need your help…..was this coin cleaned?
Herb_T
Posts: 1,755 ✭✭✭✭✭
Cleaned? Anything wrong with it?
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I can’t help with your question…the lighting is too poor, but it does look like something may be off with the surfaces.
And what a timely thread….this seller is being discussed here:
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1062371/anyone-here-have-experience-with-this-ebay-seller-lots-of-high-dollar-raw-coins#latest
The pictures are far from ideal in allowing for an assessment of the coin. But it looks AU and at the very least, dipped.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
It's circulated and has been dipped (possibly many times) and I don't know what the residue or spot or stain is at star seven on the obverse or what may or may not have happened to the outer rim by obverse stars two through four. If you like it then go ahead and attempt to get it, but the coin is just another dipped AU like so many others out there. However, it appears to have the look you like.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Why are you asking?
I don't think it's been dipped "that much". The date sometimes comes with granular surfaces from rust-stippled yet not-rotted dies. These can dip well.
Look at how distorted the white of the 2X2 is towards the dark end of the spectrum.
The natural light colors of the coin are nothing like what's represented.
Obverse rim? Hoo boy! Just don't.... Please
edited to add: Your aspirations towards quality are obvious from this choice. And, while I deliberately didn't check the thread
where the seller is being (likely) excoriated, the coin could be shilled or otherwise misrepresented at the $500 or $1500 price level. This is a beautiful classic Type.
Join Heritage and use their Auction Archives.
Look at a full (25++) page of 1837-1839 50c images in TPG grades 55-58.
Spend ten minutes grazing and looking at a few close-ups.
Exit that grade range and reset it to MS60-62. Graze again.
Good suggestions…my wife has collected coins since she was 16, 42 years ago. She worked at an ice cream stand and every time a customer paid with a silver dollar, she would pull a dollar bill out of her pocket and the coin went in. Later in life she worked with a man that pointed her to Morgan’s. She has received Heritage catalogs for coins. Some of the coins in those that get a single page are amazing!
I will follow your suggestions….thank you!
Whoever imaged and photoshopped the coin is very skillful and talented.
See the latest thread on this seller here and draw your conclusions: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1062371/anyone-here-have-experience-with-this-ebay-seller-lots-of-high-dollar-raw-coins
As for this coin, in my opinion it would get an au details, rim damage.
Aercus Numismatics - Certified coins for sale
I’d avoid this seller at all costs.
Not really... use harsh lighting, overexpose the image a little bit in camera, then add contrast... this should be do-able with a single digit number of seconds per image.
Here’s the help I think you might need...Unless you’re knowledgeable about coins, grading and values, I suggest that you don’t buy ungraded, higher value ones. Even if a seller offers a no questions-asked return policy, it doesn’t do much good if you can’t properly assess the coins.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
My experience with these coins is that they have a frosty appearance, not the "headlight look" that this coin has. I think that the surfaces have been acid etched with way too much dipping, and that the photo has been juiced with light and an angle that makes the coin look like a hub cap.
I sorry if you have bought this piece to be so harsh, but if you have not bought it, my advice would be "PASS." The 1837 Reeded Edge Half Dollar is not a tough coin. You will find more of them.
Here are two of the several I have had in my collection over the years. Love them or hate them, they have look that I have seen for this type.
This was graded MS-62.
This is graded MS-64. The color is stable. It has not changed in nine years. It was probably dipped long ago and re-toned.
No problem classic US coins remain in collections for generations then usually get graded. Coins from hokey "bank bags" with images like the seller provide are giveaways of problems. Wasn't there someone from Kentucky or WV doing that who called himself "The Doktor"? Did he move out west?
Herb, here's a thread I started 15 years ago with the "meat" of it cut/pasted.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/466793/10-suggestions-which-might-help-someone-whos-new-a-post-retirement-retrospection/p1
10 Suggestions to help a newcomer.
In no particular order:
I hope these help avoid some mistakes I've made.
Al H.
i stay away from high dollar ungraded coins, and ungraded coins are much harder to sell, making buying mistakes can end up costing big time
Dipped and the coin is retoning again.....usually with a less attractive color.
Very problematical type of purchase.
I would NOT trust this dealer. From my own personal experience with this particular seller I’d say stay away. He seems to have an endless supply of old rolled uncirculated coins that he claims to be brilliant uncirculated. Well, I went out in a limb and won a 23-s buffalo nickel from this guy. First of all the coin was AU not MS or even close. Then on top of that the coin had lamination that was completely hidden away in his dark images. So i returned for a refund and I left neutral feedback but eBay removed it. Don’t ask me why they removed it but I would guess it’s because they are making too much money to let their shinny little pony to get blemished. Then the seller blocked me like as if I wanted more of his junk😂
I don’t think you’ll have any trouble Distinguishing my images from the sellers images
I have circled the lamination for you all to see.
Thank you, this helps!
I see whispers of cleaning on the coin. Particularly along the jawbone and neck region of miss liberty. From what others have told me they believe he buys AU and problem coins, cracks them out, and then sells them as brilliant uncirculated. In my opinion he is a dishonest person to put it nicely.
All of the images in the sellers listings have the same "enhanced" look to them. None of them look natural which by itself is a major red flag for me. If a seller can't post an accurate representation of the coin (intentionally so since all the listing have the same issue) its an automatic go for me.
I personally do not care for this seller.
Wow…..this coin sold for $1678.00!
I opened a link to this sellers offerings in the other thread....I would not even consider those coins simply based on the pictures... glaringly bright, over shiny.... Cheers, RickO
Agreed. The photos all have this flashy overexposed "look" which likely is hiding hairlines and problems on the coins. Plus the huge hype for each and every auction is a big flag that this is you run of the mill deceptive eBay coin crapster.
Anyone who "wins" one of these coins and knows how to grade will very likely be disappointed. Even with no-hassle returns, why waste your time?
Excellent advice! 👍
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Interesting... I just finished watching this item sell for $763 - As much as I like this date & mint mark, no way was I bidding based on those images.
https://ebay.com/itm/154570906458?nma=true&si=8JRwX2deEAGf0f2i0ZRhSVK3AJY%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Most likely a hairlined dog.
No expert, but the hairlines looks like cleaning to me