I bought this at the Greater Jacksonville Coin Club show, and didn't even care about the "grade"
TallahasseeCoinClub
Posts: 56 ✭✭✭
It doesn't even grade "Fine" yet I find this coin delightful. One of several pleasing coins I picked up at the show.
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Love it. Raw coin club show purchases will always hold a special place in my heart. If I won Powerball tomorrow I’d still be into them!
Nice pickup. That’s some cool album color on a 150 year old VG
Sometimes even the well circulated coins have a certain eye appeal.
The photos make it look like it had an old cleaning.
It is a strictly original coin.
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Beg to differ. It has pits and strange reflectiveness that leads to the conclusion that it was cleaned long ago. The age of the cleaning is the source of the color along with, perhaps, some interactions with the chemicals that were used on it.
Toning is not an indication of originality. This piece was bounced back to me years ago for "cleaning." When you looked at it from the certain angle, you could see hairlines.
Might not have hairlines from cleaning but looks dipped, too shiny for a VG/F.
Guys, I appreciate the comments as they say more about my poor photography skills than the coin itself. But I can assure you as someone who has done this a long time... this is a strictly original coin that has never been dipped nor abrasively treated.
Official PCGS account of:
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Then you are shining way too much light in your photos. I started collecting the Seated Halves years ago. Purchased a couple at the local show and go hooked. Got to about 50% complete when I realized could never finish based on cost. Sold the collection, regret the decision. This is the look I am familiar with, that dirty heavy patina look.
Those were super-quick iPhone grabs using a horrible (for photography) LCD bulb, so I didn't spend a lot of time trying to get the images accurate. Let's see if these are a little better and not so harsh?
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I am very happy you are happy with your coin. I would be happy with it too. Know this. 99% of Seated coins are not "strictly original". The very dark carbon areas around design features such as the stars are usually left over carbon from a coin dip. It was standard practice to dip this type of coin for many decades in coin collecting. I have spent 35 years studying and collecting Seated coins. Here is something you can use in the future. One of the most recessed areas on the Liberty coins is the area inside Liberty's left arm holding the pole. You will see this is very dark. that is the color your entire coin was at one time.
I have looked at around 30 to 40 thousand Seated coin either in hand or in pictures and have seen 3 that "Might" be strictly original. Having said all that I think your coin has rather attractive secondary toning. James
Actually the new photos are worse. Looks like graffiti on the obverse now, in addition to the polishing/harsh cleaning.
Weren’t you looking for door prizes for your club? This would make a nice example
I don’t see what I’d characterize as graffiti, polishing or harsh cleaning, though the coin does look cleaned to me.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
It still looks like an old cleaning to me.
First glance at the 1877 and I saw a cleaning albeit maybe an old one. I had to smile when I read his words stating that he has been around for a long time and knows original from not original. How many times have I heard that one, and I must admit I thought I knew when a coin was totally original too and learned the hard way that not only did I fail at that assumption but learned that the number of total original coins is sooooo minuscule that their existence is probably close to nil. I now appreciate when a classic coin looks near original lol
OC
Proud follower of Christ!
Cleaned.
Yep, I have the same exact thought when I see someone ELSE make the same comment. I am not saying that the TPGs have the final word on what's original or not, but having gotten certified thousands of classic and early type, I am pretty well versed in what'll get detailed for cleaning and what won't and I am on the high side of 99% certain this one would straight grade.
Official PCGS account of:
www.TallahasseeCoinClub.com
It looks like a kid took Ajax and scrubbed your half dollar 40 years ago.
But, maybe that isn't considered cleaning in some collector circles?
Regardless of how the coin looks in hand, do you understand why everyone says that it it looks cleaned in the pictures?
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It might straight grade. But huge quantities of other cleaned coins have also been straight-graded.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Straight grade =/= Original
There are many hundreds of thousands of non-original coins in straight graded TPG holders.
If by original, you mean will grade, perhaps. By any other definition of the word original, not likely.
chopmarkedtradedollars.com
Is it "original looking"? I say no based upon the pics. There's a slickness to the surfaces that indicate a details grade upon a TPG review. It has been cleaned and retoned, methinks.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Cleaned with some corrosion on the shield and dress associated with corrosive "black schmutz."
It may have been in a corrosive environment, possibly a soft flip, for a while.
Thanks for the comments, guys. Even though I do not agree with the overall opinion as to a possible cleaning, I am utterly confident of the in-hand quality, and do sincerely appreciate all the conversation!
Official PCGS account of:
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That is a nice coin.
It's harsche.