Is This Graffiti & If So, What Does It Say? ***Updated July 8th In First Post***
TomB
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This is a bit of an odd thread, but I recently saw images of a better date coin with some marks on the field, but the marks look to me to be more than simply random, stray lines and they might go into the graffiti category. Others might disagree. However, perhaps some folks might be able to look at the coin and determine if this would be considered graffiti or if I am just "seeing" things, aka pareidolia.
Two very important notes about the coin are that these are the only high quality images I have of it and that I do not own the coin.
Updated July 8th
So, some folks may have wondered why I might care so much about a coin with obvious graffiti on it. What I did not write in the first post, nor did I write it anywhere in the initial discussion of the coin, was that it was offered to me in a problem-free PCGS holder with a straight grade. I informed the seller that the coin appeared to have graffiti on it and he immediately agreed with me and, as far as I know, sent it to PCGS. Within a few days the PCGS cert number became deactivated and I have not found the coin in any online inventory or auction since then.
I have attached a cropped image with a bit of the holder showing, but not the grade. Would anyone like to guess what grade PCGS gave to this coin?
Comments
Unfortunate, I cannot help but it does look like more than just random marks in some areas, especially the rev.
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It looks like a "love token" with the girl's first and last name on the obverse and the boy's on the reverse?
I wonder if you rotate the picture of the obverse 90 degrees to the right and then the left, the lettering would be easier to read.
That's tough. I see what you see, and am leaning towards yes, graffiti. However, I don't like being so unsure, so I took it upon myself to definitely graffiti it.
could be Daniel on the reverse
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I do think it looks like names if anything, but it also looks like it circulated after being carved, which smoothed everything a bit. On the reverse, it looks like DALLE, DOILE, or DOLLE above the eagle. The D and E look too intentional; the middle letters look like I wrote them.
I can't read it, but it certainly appears to be PMD.
Neat coin too !
Rev looks like Daniel & Charlie
Old eyes see Daylee on the reverse. Can't see anything other than scratches on obverse.
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It looks like it could be that weird Mormon script.
I think both sides have a script "Charlie" on them, but can't tell what the other possible word might be. I have included rotated images of both the obverse and reverse where the orientation of viewing now lines up more correctly with how we would read words on a page. Beneath the initial set of composite images I have included images where the name "Charlie" is outlined in red and for the reverse image have added a star to what looks to be a dig in the field that might be the dot on the "i". You can also open the images in a new screen and they will enlarge.
Again, I can't help but think these are likely engraved words instead of unfortunate scratches.
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That fits, I don't know how you saw that though.
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ask rwb for help
Charlie
definitely graffiti
unknown if it is anything
could be upside down
Charlie
much better scratchmanship
I agree that I think "Charlie" is on both the obverse and reverse. The other obverse markings are undecipherable by me while the other reverse markings might look like "Dailly" or something of that sort. I just can't get my mind around what they might be at this time.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Yeah, not just common scratches!
What a shame.
Perhaps it was some type of pocket piece?
Doll~~ ?
.
but do you see any zinc corrosion?
No ?
I can't even spell
Daniel & Charlie - graffiti… no question for these eyes.
Daylle and Charlie
first thought was dollie but its missing a character
I think it might be "Davie"
Charles and David - Charlie and Davie
I like it
It's all about what the people want...
Really a shame, but I guess when it was done they weren’t concerned about what it would do to the value in almost 200 years.
daylie sounds good but the a is not all there
Definitely graffiti and very unfortunate. Likely someone’s name. Agree that It could be ‘Charlie’.
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Daylee for the girls name.
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These are serious questions for all who have read the thread; do you think putty could cover up the graffiti and might the whiteish color or residue on the coin be previously applied putty that has since dried out?
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Well dang I just looked at the date and mint mark. At this point I'd probably just dip it in acetone and see what happens.
**What's done is done **
Why dip it? It's got great original surfaces and it's not like dipping will remove the graffiti.
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Wow... shame about the graffiti but I'm seeing "Charlie" for sure and "Daniel" seems to make sense... I thought Andy, at first...
Putty? The color does seem to be off where the graffiti is... at least to my eyes. I'd acetone it to see if the color improves but I wouldn't otherwise try to fix the damage already done.
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I agree with Daylee. I disagree with any additional processing including acetone. To me it looks like classic dirty gold which I love. The grafitti is what it is, it is a 39-D after all, cool coin.
Thats not Graffiti Daddy-o, this is Graffiti....
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^
I think that graffiti says, "Where the heck have YOU been?!"
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In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
ABQ Central Ave, nice!
Where everybody in a cool car knows Lucille......
"the HepKitty from Hepcat City"
That's not graffiti, that's art.
Updated July 8th
So, some folks may have wondered why I might care so much about a coin with obvious graffiti on it. What I did not write in the first post, nor did I write it anywhere in the initial discussion of the coin, was that it was offered to me in a problem-free PCGS holder with a straight grade. I informed the seller that the coin appeared to have graffiti on it and he immediately agreed with me and, as far as I know, sent it to PCGS. Within a few days the PCGS cert number became deactivated and I have not found the coin in any online inventory or auction since then.
I have attached a cropped image with a bit of the holder showing, but not the grade. Would anyone like to guess what grade PCGS gave to this coin?
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Straight graded XF45. You can see the graffiti on both sides. Cert# 50887406
40?
but what i find remarkable is that during circulation it saw a succession of marks that eventually spelled names
Period graffiti imo.
Charlie obv.
Daniel on reverse above eagle's head
The rest looks a bit too worn to decipher but will take a closer look when I have time
Why do they pick a Dolly to scratch their names into? Sheesh
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and the connection took 3 months to create
40
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If you are writing about the quarter eagle in this thread then the timeline that I am aware of is that I told the dealer the coin had graffiti and then he looked at it and agreed and told me he would ship it to PCGS. I kept track of the cert number on PCGS and PCGS deactivated the cert number within a few days of my conversation with the dealer, so it all might have taken a week or so from the time I could have purchased the coin to the time it was in the hands of PCGS and had its cert number deactivated.
However, I kept an eye out for the coin on various dealer websites, at shows and in online auctions to see if it would appear in a new holder or raw and I have not found it yet. So, after three months, I decided to give an update and let folks know it had been in a problem-free PCGS holder.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
nah, not that
the meme connection!