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 Replies: 28 / Views: 9,331 |
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Valued Member
 Poland
263 Posts |
Thank you CoinsKelly, I appreciate that. Giorgio11, it is very interesting and your link to great pictures of 1892 proof was very helpful. I tried to took some better photos with my camera (cell phone), to show maximum of details. Now coin look darker and little grainy, because I set very high level of contrast and sharpness at camera settings. Pictures from Imageshack are in higher resolution, third picture was made with extra strong light. I think details of ship are similar with 1892 proof version, I see all sails and globe lines, also ocean waves. Obverse is quite tough to compare to me. I think I got Columbian fever:) http://imageshack.com/a/img547/9096/8nhh.jpghttp://imageshack.com/a/img541/6823/mesl.jpg Edited by thusdayclub
03/08/2014 08:51 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3283 Posts |
That's a very convincing video showing mirror fields.
Old proof coins are very tough to know and require professional grading IMO.
Even some of the coins in my 1950's proof sets in original packaging don't look very 'proof' to me,
and certainly not as nice as your coin.
Good luck, great coin either way.
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Valued Member
United States
406 Posts |
The latest photos show a lot more details and I agree that it looks much more like a proof than before. Still not really convinced one way or the other ... You will have to decide how to get it certified, I would recommend PCGS. I think they have a European office somewhere do they not? Good luck! Best Regards,  George |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12284 Posts |
@thursdayclub: Thanks for sharing all of the images of your coin!
@CoinsKelly: Thanks for the email â€" just saw it!
Determining whether a particular Columbian half-dollar is a proof example is best done with the coin in hand. That said, I have a few comments based on the images you have provided.
Your coin appears to be highly reflective, but this alone is not enough to declare it a proof piece. There are several strike characteristics that need to be taken into account.
The design details on a proof coin are most definitely much sharper than on a regular strike. Your coin appears to have above average detail in Columbus' hair on the obverse and also in the sails and rigging on the ship on the reverse.
The characteristic that leads me to believe that your coin is a proof-like example and not a proof coin, however, lies in the denticles. A true proof coin should have nice, fully-formed denticles on both sides of the coin. From your images, I see some flatness on the denticles in sections on each side of the coin. For example, compare the denticles on the reverse from about 1:30 to 3:00 o'clock to those on other sections of the reverse. From your image I see denticles with flattened tops in this area.
From what I can see, I would suggest that your coin is an early strike, proof-like coin. Certainly a very nice coin to own, but one that is not as rare as a true proof piece.
Online images can be misleading, however, so I would suggest (as others have) to have the coin examined and certified by one of the top grading companies â€" PCGS or NGC. I don't think PCGS uses the "Proof-like" designation on their holder for these coins, but NGC does. That may factor in to which service you choose.
Good luck! Keep us informed!
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Valued Member
Poland
263 Posts |
Commems - thank you for your answer, now I know much more. I will try do better picture of section which you talking about. With my amateur camera it is very tough to show every details in one photo, especially Columbus' hair. When I turn camera to different angle I see another section of hair details. In hand it looks much better, I think I see full lines, but other way, I don't know if I have right. Last of my pictures here, shows hair lines quite nice and near to real coin details. Also, I think that coin was treated in wrong way by previous owner, because it has some issues (like rim hit at 9 hour) and surface is not perfectly "clean" - my first thought, was that this coin was "circulated" in hands for some time. What makes me believe to this is a proof coin, is almost perfect mirror effect. I can read small letters (like from newspaper or bill) with this coin, even from more than 15 inches distance. Also, Columbus' head looks like someone "put" it on a mirror, not like a part of the coin. It is very nice looking effect - I hope you understand, what I am talking about:) But now I understand, that nice mirror effect is not only way to determine proof coin. I know that I must send this coin to TPG, but as I said it is quite expensive from Poland and for now I am trying to get your comments, as many as I can. And if you think that there is any chance to "score" here, I think I will take a risk. To be honest, I paid for this coin 200$, because of this awesome mirror effect. I know, that I paid a way too much, if it is not proof version. Commems - if you need better pictures of some area's of this coin, please tell me what can I do. Please tell me, did you saw my movie from end of first site? It shows in best way real look of my coin. Thank you for your help guys, I appreciate that. Sorry for my english. Edited by thusdayclub
03/09/2014 6:54 pm
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Valued Member
Poland
263 Posts |
I think I will send this coin to NGC, because of proof-like designation and because in Poland we have authorized dealer of NGC. In other way, I am quite worry to give my coins to stranger, because he is working with NGC only from end of 2013. From what I read at PCGS and NGC sites, they grade coins only in USA, office's in Europe are only for customer service. I will have some questions for you guys about sending coins to grading, but I will create another topic for this. I made a comparison with 1892 PR64, from PCGS site. Sorry for so small area, but I was trying to get maximum details at my camera, so I choose most detailed area of coin. Sails were strongly lighted and they didn't look good at this picture. http://imageshack.com/a/img191/4803/pkw3.jpghttp://imageshack.com/a/img543/3044/zner.jpg |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
IMHO, that is a good idea. Please keep us up to date on what NGC says.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2936 Posts |
To throw my 2¢ into the mix, I purchased a pair of Columbians last year - one an 1892 and the other an 1893. The 1893 displayed the same characteristics as yours (deep mirrors in the fields and sharp detail). I sent both coins into NGC for grading and they both came back MS-64 (no PL on the '93). There are some real beauties out there, but it appears to be due to early die state. PG
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Pillar of the Community
Sweden
729 Posts |
Quote:
I think I will send this coin to NGC, because of proof-like designation and because in Poland we have authorized dealer of NGC. In other way, I am quite worry to give my coins to stranger, because he is working with NGC only from end of 2013. From what I read at PCGS and NGC sites, they grade coins only in USA, office's in Europe are only for customer service. I will have some questions for you guys about sending coins to grading, but I will create another topic for this. NGC's office in Munich, and PCGS in Paris, accepts submissions if you are a member. they will ship it over to the US for grading though. I have used NGC, and had a great experience with their level of service from their EU office. Let me know if you need more info |
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Valued Member
Poland
263 Posts |
Epikur, thank you for your desire to help. I will ask you few questions for sure, because I have a lot of doubts about sending coins to the grading. I will send you email (via CCF) in few days. Thank you once again!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
I hope you keep the rest of us up to date. I found this thread very informative - before this, I was unaware that there were proofs for this coin!  |
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Valued Member
Poland
263 Posts |
What I found on internet about Columbian proofs - there was 100 proofs struck for 1892 and only 5 for 1893. Only 2 were graded, one at PCGS and second at NGC. I will inform you for sure and I hope it will be good news:)
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Valued Member
United States
243 Posts |
An old thread but would like to see an update concerning this coin. This is a proof like 1893 Columbian half dollar I used to own. Used as a reference:   |
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Replies: 28 / Views: 9,331 |
First Page
Posted 03/08/2014 08:55 am
