Oddly Toned 1809 Half Dollar, Maybe Cleaned?
7Jaguars
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I got this not long ago from Europe whilst on the lookout for coins in my area and liked it for the minimal outlay. The iPhone picture seems to lack some of the in-person presentation. There is no metal loss at the cheek, though some of the toning is absent for whatever reason.Anyway, here it is:
Love that Milled British (1830-1960)
Well, just Love coins, period.
Well, just Love coins, period.
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Looks cleaned and cleaned again.
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From the photo it looks very, very cleaned.
Of all the cleaned 1809 halves, this one was cleaned the most.
the color is likely from some funky conditions where it was kept
what part of which country did you buy it from?
ok
a question for the crowd - considering the polishing, would it hurt to just go ahead and dip it off?
I suspect that this coin was left in a jar of Jewelluster at least overnight, if not for days. More dipping would not help.
If it were mine, I would gently rub it with nose oil on a finger every few days for 3-6 months until it looked more natural.
Might be worthwhile to get it attributed. If you're lucky, it's a rare die variety.
I did a quick look at your photos... maybe O-104 (R.5 "Rare")? But also maybe O-102 or O-103 -- both are R.1 "Common" varieties.
Anyway, I couldn't definitively determine this coin's Overton number from the photos.
Maybe someone with more experience will chime in.
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@7Jaguars . I was taught this concerning Seated coins, but I am sure the same rule applies to Bust coins.
Coins have a skin just like people. How often should coins of this age have the same appearance on both obverse and reverse. Think of a person who sunbathes (nudists included). Would you expect their face and their rear end to be the same color? (Even the nudist would have to stick his rear end in the air 50% of the time). Cleaned, altered, maipulated? Pick whatever adjective you prefer but there is little chance this coin has not been played with. James
If it were mine I'd rinse it with acetone and leave it on my nightstand for a couple years, flipping it every few months.
Mighty fine strike of your stars.
Yes, I really did like the strike as well, and the stars showed it. The coin is not as washed out in hand and has nearly a prooflike quality but could not really find hairlines. Anyway, at the price and in hand I like it, even though I do not care for capped bust coins in general.
I got this in a UK auction and actually bid on the WRONG lot even though I liked the coin itself & especially at the price. LOL.
Just for kicks I will try to see if I can get a better photo. BTW, I agree that it looks dipped but not rubbed if that matters.
Also, I have occasionally lucked up on some very nice coins such as a 1909 S VDB in the raw for about 1200 USD that graded by hosts at MS64RB, and a beautiful 1872 S Seated Half raw that graded MS 63 but wonderful in hand, and a 1905 O quarter raw that graded MS64 at hosts...
Well, just Love coins, period.
Just from a wear perspective, would it look MS62ish?
That image is REALLY hard to tell, but it appears to have been dipped (probably more than twice) and somewhat retoned.
The details are high AU, but the luster almost certainly isn't. But again, it's an ugly image to gauge by.
Also, for reference, it's an O-103.
“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
Looks like environmental damage and then dipped. AU details
It looks like maybe it was exposed to a heat source.
I was wondering the same thing. Actually the coin has really good lustre and esp. on the reverse. Will post hopefully better pictures this pm.
Well, just Love coins, period.