Halo Effect on Circulated Seated Liberty Dollar

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hookedoncoins
hookedoncoins Posts: 1,239 ✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

I came across a circulated seated liberty dollar that has a distinct halo around liberty on the obverse and the eagle on the reverse. My understanding is that this is typically caused by cleaning. However, this coin is straight graded by PCGS (see True View below). Is this a case where PCGS is being lenient on a light cleaning given the high number of seated dollars that were cleaned? If not, what causes the halo?

PCGS XF40

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  • 1northcoin
    1northcoin Posts: 5,544 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Source for the referenced "understanding?"

  • CaptHenway
    CaptHenway Posts: 34,164 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Take for example the two areas under the two wings. Is that the “halo” of which you speak?

    On a new coin, the fields in these two areas would have been fully lustrous. As the coin is handled, the pads of many fingers touch these two areas, and as they do people’s skin dips down into the two hollows they disturb and then destroy the luster in the most open areas. However, the skin does not touch the entire surface of the field, because the height of the design lifts the skin away from the field in the angle where the field meets the design.
    So, on a lightly circulated coin like this the designs and lettering can be surrounded by a “halo” of original luster. Is that what you mean?

    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
  • hookedoncoins
    hookedoncoins Posts: 1,239 ✭✭✭
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    @1northcoin said:
    Source for the referenced "understanding?"

    Source

  • hookedoncoins
    hookedoncoins Posts: 1,239 ✭✭✭
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    @CaptHenway said:
    Take for example the two areas under the two wings. Is that the “halo” of which you speak?

    On a new coin, the fields in these two areas would have been fully lustrous. As the coin is handled, the pads of many fingers touch these two areas, and as they do people’s skin dips down into the two hollows they disturb and then destroy the luster in the most open areas. However, the skin does not touch the entire surface of the field, because the height of the design lifts the skin away from the field in the angle where the field meets the design.
    So, on a lightly circulated coin like this the designs and lettering can be surrounded by a “halo” of original luster. Is that what you mean?

    The halo that I'm seeing is most pronounced on the obverse, down liberty's arms, head and leg. It is also above the date. The spaces below the wings are similar though. I agree that the areas that are "haloed" should be the last ones to lose the original luster. I just don't typically expect to find original luster on an XF40 coin.

  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,040 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    as a halo, i'm thinking ring-ish

    i see what you are talking about - it's a bright outline around the devices

    what to expect on an xf40 coin has me wondering too

    could it have a dipping with following re-coloring?

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,749 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The field areas that are next to the raised design elements are somewhat protected from light circulation wear by the raised design elements. This is a normal wear pattern and it makes sense when you think about it.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
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  • johnny9434
    johnny9434 Posts: 34,049 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Its crusty somewhat, I kinda like 🤔

  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,044 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @CaptHenway said:
    Take for example the two areas under the two wings. Is that the “halo” of which you speak?

    On a new coin, the fields in these two areas would have been fully lustrous. As the coin is handled, the pads of many fingers touch these two areas, and as they do people’s skin dips down into the two hollows they disturb and then destroy the luster in the most open areas. However, the skin does not touch the entire surface of the field, because the height of the design lifts the skin away from the field in the angle where the field meets the design.
    So, on a lightly circulated coin like this the designs and lettering can be surrounded by a “halo” of original luster. Is that what you mean?

    This!

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • seatedlib3991
    seatedlib3991 Posts: 1,629 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    You will find that this coin exhibits something often referred to as "secondary toning". There are very, very few Seated dollars that have NOT been put in a chenical dip to remove dark toning. Silver is a highly reactive metal. A white and or even lightly toned coin many decades after being made is nearly imposible. If the TPG company's refused to straight grade "dipped" coins the entire straight graded Seated population would probably be 3. James

  • Cougar1978
    Cougar1978 Posts: 10,067 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 23, 2025 5:21AM
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    Idk about cleaning but don’t like the black spot on reverse - pass.

    Investor
  • CaptHenway
    CaptHenway Posts: 34,164 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Cougar1978 said:
    Idk about cleaning but don’t like the black spot on reverse - pass.

    Perhaps that was the cause of a net grade down to 40? Overall it does look better than that.

    I like the coin. I should look so good when I am 175+ years old!

    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
  • Barberian
    Barberian Posts: 4,643 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I believe these are the halos you're talking about. I bought this coin about 10 years ago and was proud to show it here . . . until someone pointed out the halos and claimed it had been cleaned.

  • hookedoncoins
    hookedoncoins Posts: 1,239 ✭✭✭
    edited August 23, 2025 10:50PM
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    @Barberian said:
    I believe these are the halos you're talking about. I bought this coin about 10 years ago and was proud to show it here . . . until someone pointed out the halos and claimed it had been cleaned.

    Yes, that coin has a similar type of halo pattern, although it is slightly different. My coin's obverse halo appears to have more luster than the rest of the coin. I'm not sure if that is original luster or it is a byproduct of being dipped and re-toned.

    Ultimately, I ended up buying the coin. I would prefer if the dark spot on the reverse was not there, but after looking at a lot of ugly seated dollars at the ANA show, I'm happy with the overall eye appeal.

  • Walkerfan
    Walkerfan Posts: 10,391 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 24, 2025 3:33PM
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    @CaptHenway said:

    @Cougar1978 said:
    Idk about cleaning but don’t like the black spot on reverse - pass.

    Perhaps that was the cause of a net grade down to 40? Overall it does look better than that.

    I like the coin. I should look so good when I am 175+ years old!

    I agree. It looks.MUCH better than 40.

    Here’s my 61 for reference:

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  • ChrisH821
    ChrisH821 Posts: 7,147 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I like it and think you did well to pick it up. The spot on the reverse doesn't bother me much.

    Collector, occasional seller

  • coinkat
    coinkat Posts: 24,542 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    How does the coin like in hand in contrast to the TrueView?

    I ask mainly because I am wondering about the grade... Why 40 and not 45? I suspect a quick in hand look at the fields/surfaces might answer my question.

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • hookedoncoins
    hookedoncoins Posts: 1,239 ✭✭✭
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    Here is another view of the coin.

  • jacrispies
    jacrispies Posts: 1,637 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The direct lighting that PCGS has been utilizing lately had accentuated the halo effect. With normal lighting in your photo, the haloing is not as visible. Nice coin, and I agree with the grade.

    "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you" Matthew 6:33. Young fellow suffering from Bust Half fever.
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  • Walkerfan
    Walkerfan Posts: 10,391 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That second photo looks a lot more like a 40. The color isn’t as accentuated, either.

    Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

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