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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,711 |
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Valued Member
United States
467 Posts |
This is a Twenty Cents from my collection graded MS62 by PCGS. Is it possible for a 155 year old coin to make it all the way to the 21st century and still be white? What is the current market acceptability for dipped coins? Fire away with your honest opinions. I'm trying to make up my mind whether or not I want to sell/trade or keep this piece. Thanks in advance for your input.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1436 Posts |
The older and more rare a coin is, the greater leeway it is given by the TPGs in regard to cleaning. Normally, you would expect a coin that old to have toning or dis-coloration, but if kept in a cool dry environment, it is possible to retain it's original condition. It could be possible that it at some point was briefly dipped, but still retain the vast majority of the luster
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2495 Posts |
Of course it is dipped. How can a 155 year old silver coin stay brilliant white for so long? Let me add that I do not equate dipping with cleaning. Dipping is as commonplace as artificial toning is and if these two 'man-assisted' processes were truly identifiable and also deemed as 'non-gradeable' then I'd say 95% of all coins would not be in TPG holders. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3234 Posts |
Always nice to see such a beautiful piece.
Would that fine line coming off of her forehead and down into the field to the left be a die crack?
The same mark/die crack seems to follow over her hair towards the back of her head and stopping at the I in Gratia.
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
9862 Posts |
I agree with doubleeagle59
Thiourea dipping is not cleaning when done properly.
Contrary to popular belief,it does not enhance the luster of a coin,it has the opposite effect.Overdipping can deaden original mint luster.
"Dipping" is not considered cleaning...
-from PCGS website
Edited by DBM
04/18/2013 10:31 am
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
618 Posts |
It looks weird--pinkish to me--too clean--a great coin with no toning to speak of. Bright nicks and scratches, we need an expert here to tell us--
What,When,Why and How.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1554 Posts |
 Beautiful coin and difficult to find in an MS state with date if full. Usually this particular series is known for the weak date. Also hard to tell from scan, however take a close look at the date and inspect the "5" to see whether it may be the Re-engraved 5? Personally, I would keep the coin, there appear to be no fine hairines in the fields consistent with cleaning and at worst if was dipped, someone did an excellent job at it. Lustre appears original + P.C.G.S. slabbed it which makes it a bonus. They are quick to bodybag cleaned/problem coins or at least not grade 'em and call them "Genuine". Glenn  |
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Valued Member
 United States
467 Posts |
"Always nice to see such a beautiful piece.
Would that fine line coming off of her forehead and down into the field to the left be a die crack?
The same mark/die crack seems to follow over her hair towards the back of her head and stopping at the I in Gratia."
The line that you noted there is actually some clashing, as this piece features a lot of that on the obverse, especially underneath the neck in the vicinity of Canada. The D in DEI is also doubled or repunched or something like that. Glenzy, I'll check the 5 in the date for reengraving the next time I'm at my safe deposit box.
I feel a little better about the piece now that I have heard some opinions. When viewing the coin in hand there is a hint of the original mint luster around the periphery on both sides which, you can see in the photos, but the centers are just white and there is not a hint of toning anywhere. I have a lot of nice toned coins in my collection and this one is the antithesis of all of those. I suppose that I should hang onto it to remind me not to acquire any more dipped coins :)
Also, the coin resides in one of PCGS' old green holders (OGH in coinspeak). Otherwise I might consider removing it from the holder and leaving it out in the open air for a couple of years to get some color back into it. Too risky though from a monetary standpoint, especially if it didn't recertify and my pockets are not that deep where I can chance letting nature take its course on a piece where a lesser grade would diminish the value.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
618 Posts |
One of the finest 20 cent piece I've ever seen--I agree with MS62 if it has enough luster.
The eyebrow is fantastic.
No top knot wear to speak of.
Top braid- no wear.
Central laurel leaves-no wear.
Only sell it, if you have a better one in hand--or trade it for a better one.
PCGS had only graded 37 coins since 1986, above yours.
Dipping is over-ruled by the rarity of your coin.
A couple of points on your coin :
Doubling of D E I may be related to my post about "Twisted E" coins.
The 1858 is known for a weak strike--Yours is pretty good.
The 5 looks to be re-punched .
Congrats. on your $2,000-3000 coin
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Valued Member
United States
467 Posts |
Lambecolin, thanks for the nice comments. I'm not inclined to upgrade it at this point - as a matter of fact I was hoping that I would be able to break even on a trade toward upgrading my Victorian fifty cent collection when the right coin comes along. I'm glad to hear that the dipping does not appear to have affected it and I have received my education on the merits of the re-engraved 5 and the strong date.
If it is valued at $2,000 to $3,000 then I appear to have come out slightly ahead of the game as I traded a whole bunch of common date stuff valued at slightly over $1,800 to get it back in the day when I was doing the PCGS registry type set game. Thanks to everyone for their input.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,711 |
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Posted 04/18/2013 09:28 am
