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 Replies: 880 / Views: 96,527 |
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Valued Member
United States
403 Posts |
Quote:
I used to know this collector who would try to wear down a coin in his pocket sometimes to get a lower grade. Is that considered "cheating" by the lowball fraternity? Interesting question, since we like to think lowballs get in their condition as pocket pieces without PO-1 intent. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
Absolutely not cheating. Actually that is just about the only legitimately acceptable way of doing it. Now, if one does it by mechanical means on an accelerated time table that is no bueno. Think.of it like toning... You have Natural Toned coins that took years in bags, envelopes, albums etc... (Original casino / circulation lowballs) Then you have Natural Toning that was done rather quickly (only months on 999 silver) by putting it in a window sill etc which is fully acceptable... (pocket piece lowballs) BUT then you have the dreaded coin doctors that will tone coins in a matter of days, hours or even minutes. This is Artificial Toning and not accepted by the numismatic community... (Lowballs that have gotten there by mechanical means) So, a lowball that has gotten that way naturally over many years of circulation and one that was at say an ag03 or fr02 that someone "pocketed" for a couple years to get it to p01 (yes it takes that long or longer in a pocket just to drop a single lowball grade) is perfectly acceptable BUT if someone came on here and said they can get a grade drop in a week with a rock tumbler or dremel etc, they would be run out of town  Edited by Cascade
04/15/2016 09:04 am
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
955 Posts |
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For many, the lowball represents the true story of a coin. Sure it's beautiful to see an Uncirculated 1800's coin, but what had that coin experienced in its life? A bag? A lonely shelf? The circulated coin was handled by hundreds or thousands of people before it got to you. Survived the melting pot, and made it into your collection.
If a coin could talk, we would be interviewing the lowball, and the unc would jealously watch from the holder that it is imprisoned in. Big Silver  And how could intentionally wearing down a coin not be cheating. One has to say that that is true , otherwise the purpose is null and void. I'd like to be a fly sitting beside the unc. coin. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
It's not seen as cheating because if done by pocket it takes YEARS just to drop a single grade point or two. I've had an fr02 morgan in my pocket for about a year and it barely looks any different let alone close to a p01 yet. But like I said... Anything else, ie quick mechanical means, is indeed cheating.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
Quote:
I used to know this collector who would try to wear down a coin in his pocket sometimes to get a lower grade. Is that considered "cheating" by the lowball fraternity? I was going to answer, but Cascade hit the nail on the head. I've had two 1899 quarters (one AG, one G) in the pocket nearly every day since last October or early November and an 1885-O Morgan (AG-ish) with them since the beginning of January, and I've hardly seen any change in any of the coins. PO-01 is the goal, though. Quote:
1797 Great Britain Penny Very nice lowball cartwheel! I've been thinking about getting a low-grade cartwheel penny or twopence. Edited by Numisma
04/15/2016 4:32 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2130 Posts |
I wanted to bring this thread back to life. You just got to love a true Morgan lowball! Oh the places this one has been...   |
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Moderator
 United States
188660 Posts |
A nice one to bring it back.  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2843 Posts |
once you have already resurrected it... I went back and bought the lowball Trade dollar that I mentioned earlier in this post. I paid $18 for it.   |
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Moderator
United States
188660 Posts |
$18 is a great deal. She is a very nice lowball! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2843 Posts |
Thanks JBuck. If I understand lowball "rules" correctly, this would not be worth sending in since the mint mark is not distinguishable. There was an S, CC and a rare no mint in 1878. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2130 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Wearing it done though carrying it as a pocket piece has to be legitimate, because who is to say that these other lowball coins didn't get that way by being someone's pocket piece 100 years ago.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
1863 Great Britain Penny   This specimen is very similar to another I'd posted earlier on in this thread, and I'm equally certain it'd certify at P01 if submitted. Colligo ergo sum
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5174 Posts |
As one of my sadly many ongoing projects, I'm trying to assemble (as much as reasonably possible of) a date set of 1860-19? pennies (no real end date, but I doubt I'd get any of the Elizabeth II coins) in similar (or, at least, reasonably worn) condidion.
I have something like 30-ish by now, but some are duplicates (partly because of wide/narrow date varieties - which I want to keep if they come up in the same bargain bin - partly because I'm not always sure whether I already have that date).
One of them (really should make a photo if I get enough time) is an 1862, in about the same grade as your 1863 (perhaps a bit more worn), that is apparently a very rare variety. (I do not believe this identification, personally.)
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Moderator
United States
188660 Posts |
Quote:
1863 Great Britain Penny Nice and smooth! |
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Posted 04/15/2016 08:56 am
