Hairlines and Grading
rooksmith
Posts: 1,112 ✭✭✭✭
Can someone post a photo of a cleaned coin with "visible hairlines" that would be cause to believe the coin was cleaned.? A side by side of an uncleaned coin of the same or better grade would help.
I keep hearing about hairlines on "cleaned" coins, but I havent really noticed any on mine.
I keep hearing about hairlines on "cleaned" coins, but I havent really noticed any on mine.
“When you don't know what you're talking about, it's hard to know when you're finished.” - Tommy Smothers
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The best way to see them is to rotate the coin under a close light source (a desk lamp, for example) while viewing it through a 5x lense.
Check out the Southern Gold Society
50c: Allow me to clarify my query a bit: I'm really not interested in seeing a 3 inch photo of the entire coin. What I am looking for a definitive photo of a hairline itself - so that I can be better at chosing coins in person. And to be able to determine if its even worth submitting a coin to PCGS for grading (or degradation as the case may be!)
I've given up on buying on EBay because of all the dishonesty - with the exception of course of PCGS or NCG graded coins. That is unless I can see a photo thats as good as PCGS's or Heritage.
If a seller cant provide a photo that shows evidence of a LACK of hairline scratches, how can you tell? It seems that noone has a photo that actually shows hairline scratches. Maybe DaveG is right: its hard to show on a photo.
For educational purposes I'd like to know more.
I think I found one - on :
Mark Goodman's excellent coin photography site
That scratch is deep - I dont know if it qualifies as a "hairline"
Here's a Franklin Half with hairlines.
Hairlines don't usually come by themselves (although, sometimes, an individual light scratch might be called a "hairline scratch".
When you want to see hairlines, you need to consider how the lines were placed on the coin, for example:
a) "slidemarks" - these come from a Dansco-type album. If a coin isn't seated properly in the album page, the plastic cover can rub against the coin when it is slid back and forth. The result is usually three or four light lines on the highest point of the bust.
b) "hairlines from a cleaning" - these are usually from a light cleaning, for example wiping a proof coin with a cloth. The resulting lines are usually numerous and parallel to each other.
Since the best way to see hairlines is in person, I recommend you go to a coinshop or coin show and talk to some dealers. If they're not too busy and you ask properly, most dealers will take the time to show you some cleaned coins so you can see the hairlines.
To further your education, I highly recommend you read "The Coin Collector's Survival Manual" by Scott Travers. Among other very useful information, he discusses cleaning and hairlines. (You don't necessarily need the 5th edition, which is printed on cheap paper. I have the 3rd edition, which is printed on better paper.)
A few years ago, Kranky went to the ANA Summer Seminar and took the grading classes. He posted an excellent summary of what he learned. Read this.
Check out the Southern Gold Society
Lincoln set Colorless Set
Same coin.
Russ, NCNE
I recommend that you keep the first photo, it's a lot more appealing.
Russ, NCNE
that must have been in the $4 silver days.
<< <i>Yeah, it looked like a gorgeous monster in the eBay image that was presented by the seller I bought it from. I spent it at the grocery store.
Russ, NCNE >>
Q: did the guy misrepresent the coin, did he get a neg, and is he blocked ?
To me, it is important to give as accurate a description and telling photos as possible.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
Thanks for any help!
Here is what I said about one of my favorite Charlotte coins:
Were it not for a patch of hairlines on the obverse near 5 o'clock, this original half eagle would probably get dipped and end up in a higher grade holder. Lucky for us, there are the hairlines!