Re-titled: I have never harshly dipped before - should I this time?

KurtHorn · June 28, 2005 3:49PM

I know what caused this but I want to see your opinions as I am considering sending it in for slabbing as a favor. This coin belongs to a friend of mine. Will it body bag? Is it AT or NT? How do you think it will grade? I will post the answer as to how this happened tomorrow. I will also give you my opinion of the grade. I think the toning is bizarre and I'm not sure what to do with it. If I dip it I'm afraid since the toning is so thick, it would probably require a severe dipping which I've never done. The toning on the reverse is actually much nicer than my pic. Gold, brown, red and amazing blue... It's a better date coin, in EF it greysheets at $90 in AU at $118...

p8nt · June 28, 2005 4:13PM

Sloppily taped into an album?

PerryHall · June 28, 2005 5:09PM

Very unattractive IMO. A dip would improve this coin and it certainly couldn't hurt it.

fivecents · June 28, 2005 8:52PM

I would say AU53. I does look like a strip of tape was across the coin. Make sure you acetone the coin to remove tape residue. Luster looks washed out on the untoned area of the obverse. It might BB for old cleaning.

KurtHorn · June 29, 2005 12:07AM

OK here is HOW this coin got this way. The coin belonged to a friend's father. He wrapped the coin in a piece of paper towel and put it in a saftey deposit box probably 30 years ago. When I looked at it my first reaction was that it had been taped. When I looked closer I realized that parts of the obverse had a coating on them. I suspect it was finger nail polish, but I suppose it could have been some type of lacquer. I soaked the coin in acetone for a day, rinsed it in water and the coating is completely gone.

I had a terrible time getting a pic to show the real colors. It is much more attractive in hand, but the white areas on the obverse are kind of bizarre. So, to dip or not to dip... that is the real question... it would be ashame to lose the color on the reverse.

magikbilly · June 29, 2005 12:11AM

<< <i>OK here is HOW this coin got this way. The coin belonged to a friend's father. He wrapped the coin in a piece of paper towel and put it in a saftey deposit box probably 30 years ago. When I looked at it my first reaction was that it had been taped. When I looked closer I realized that parts of the obverse had a coating on them. I suspect it was finger nail polish, but I suppose it could have been some type of lacquer. I soaked the coin in acetone for a day, rinsed it in water and the coating is completely gone.

I had a terrible time getting a pic to show the real colors. It is much more attractive in hand, but the white areas on the obverse are kind of bizarre. So, to dip or not to dip... that is the real question... it would be ashame to lose the color on the reverse. >>

Some people will still insist that paper in a safety box (concentrated environ) is perfectly safe and does not outgas over time. Same goes for wood, glue, tape and all sorts of other stuff including velvet that are not chosen very carefully.
The coin seems to have been abrasivley cleaned at one time prior to storage?
IMHO it is a problem coin already - has been since the apparent cleaning long ago. The color is not attractive either - but underneath will likely be a ton of hairlines that are fairly well obscured now I'd guess. Not sio after a dip or two.

Billy

KurtHorn · June 29, 2005 12:27AM

I think in trying to get the color to jump out at you I took the coin pics in a very harsh light. I also bumped the contrast to try and get the color to come out. I suck at this photography of toned coins thing. Anyway, I can assure you and for now you'll just have to trust me that I DO know the difference. The coin has never been cleaned except for my acetone bath. I can also assure you there are marks and wear on the coin. I would grade it a technical EF 45, but the bizarre look could knock it down a couple of points. Or, conversely if you like the color and I do, it could AU except again, I doubt it because of the wierd effect on the obverse.

magikbilly · June 29, 2005 12:35AM

<< <i>I think in trying to get the color to jump out at you I took the coin pics in a very harsh light. I also bumped the contrast to try and get the color to come out. I suck at this photography of toned coins thing. Anyway, I can assure you and for now you'll just have to trust me that I DO know the difference. The coin has never been cleaned except for my acetone bath. I can also assure you there are marks and wear on the coin. I would grade it a technical EF 45, but the bizarre look could knock it down a couple of points. Or, conversely if you like the color and I do, it could AU except again, I doubt it because of the wierd effect on the obverse. >>

What are all those parallel vertical lines all over the Obverse? How much luster is coming through?

Billy

KurtHorn · June 29, 2005 12:39AM

They are some light scratches. Under a 10x loupe it's obvious they were made during the course of circulation. At this point I have no fear of a body bag for cleaning. If I dip the heck out of it... who knows. BB for questionable color... quite possibly because it is a bizarre effect.

AlaBill · June 29, 2005 12:41AM

As is, it is a very unattractive coin, at least for my eyes.

bestclser1 · June 29, 2005 12:43AM

magikbilly · June 29, 2005 12:50AM

<< <i>They are some light scratches. Under a 10x loupe it's obvious they were made during the course of circulation. At this point I have no fear of a body bag for cleaning. If I dip the heck out of it... who knows. BB for questionable color... quite possibly because it is a bizarre effect. >>

I think I might. You'll run a very good risk of highlighting those scratches and removing whatever remains of the luster. My thinking - it may be ugly but it has a look of some age and "originality" if you can call it that. Once dipped, it will likely be even more unattractive - it will gain the "attributes" of being washed out and unnaturally bright. Dipping an EF Morgan can be a very bad idea.

Billy

KurtHorn · June 29, 2005 1:57AM

Anybody else? Other opinions?

beartracks42 · June 29, 2005 2:42AM

I think that if I were in your shoes, and my friend ask me to try to get it in a slab, I would send it in just as I received it.

billboat · June 29, 2005 2:50AM

<< <i>I think that if I were in your shoes, and my friend ask me to try to get it in a slab, I would send it in just as I received it. >>

I agree--since it's not yours I wouldn't mess with it.

KurtHorn · June 29, 2005 3:11AM

He has total faith in me. Though since I have never harshly dipped anything, I'm leaning towards sending untouched it to ANACS for him...
The obverse sure is butt ugly though.

Re-titled: I have never harshly dipped before - should I this time?

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