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 Replies: 14 / Views: 2,719 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Here's my latest find, arriving today in the post. This time, I'm fairly confident I've found an 1887 DDO S-1. This all began at an ebay auction, where I noticed this coin: Original ebay photo: click for full detail Something struck me as unusual about AMERICA on this IHC, so I downloaded the image and after processing with Photoshop, I brought out these details.  Immediately I tried to rule out Strike Doubling as a possible cause, and I looked for details I could compare with known examples of the 1887 S-1. Admittedly, there's not much to work with on this blurry picture, but I found some intriguing details on the upper serif of C, apparent serif separation of I, and some doubling on the feather edges and shafts—which I doubt would happen in Strike Doubling. When I received the coin today, everything became crystal clear. What's more, under a scope I see distinct doubling of LIBERTY, particularly for the letters B, E, T, and Y—which appears doubled the most.  Click for full detail Click for full detail And to my surprise, there is also some faint doubling on the reverse, which I cannot determine whether is due to a doubled die, striking, or some other cause. I do see faint doubling of vertical lines in the shield, and some possible separation of serifs, as noted by arrows in the photo below. Has a DDR been documented for this variety? Today was a very good day!  Click for full detail 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3507 Posts |
I think it is too! Nice Find! Only consideration is if you want to get it slabbed. It has been cleaned and oiled so you have to pick the slabber carefully.
GREAT Coin!
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5318 Posts |
Thanks! I saw that oil too, but I also saw quite a bit of dirt in the letters which suggested it hadn't been aggresively cleaned. No tell-tale signs under the scope...with the exception of a few areas, most of the coin looks very original.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3507 Posts |
I dont think it was aggressively cleaned either. It has that look of a coin that was "done" by an early copper enthusiast. They oil it and then brush it with a soft bristle brush.
It results in a slight unnatural color and a surface that is too uniform in appearance.
I'm not trying to take away anything from the fact that it was a nice pick up. It's just that it will be tough to get into a slab if you want to try.
Some slabbers will send it back for unnatural color and surface.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
quote:
It results in a slight unnatural color and a surface that is too uniform in appearance.
Hmm...perhaps, but take the color of my photos with a grain of salt, because those colors are never true. This is your typical chocolate-brown IHC, but I did notice some areas that seem cleaned. As far as whether it will get slabbed...I can't say. I'll probably send it to Rick Snow for his advice. Given the potential value, I may get this coin conserved. Thanks for the congrats! Edited by KurtS
01/07/2008 11:40 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2602 Posts |
Wow, that is a nice find. How much did you pay and was the coin listed as a DDO or did you successfully cherrypick this one? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
quote:
How much did you pay and was the coin listed as a DDO or did you successfully cherrypick this one?
Thanks and yes--this was quite a find; the dealer did not know what they had! But, the value I bring to these transactions is from all my hard work, as I spent several hours analyzing this coin. (For the record I've often told dealers about their unattributed varieties). This particular example cost me $18. My whole strategy is to find potential valuable coins for cheap!  Edited by KurtS
01/08/2008 4:27 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2764 Posts |
Very nice find. Thank you for sharing.
It's not just hard work; it's hard work with knowledge (you need to know what you are doing)!!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2443 Posts |
Isn't cherry picking fun? Congrads on the find.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1571 Posts |
Kurt, Your strategy seems to work! The only thing I am curious about, is, do the dealers you told about the "finds" , resent your "having done" them? They shouldn't, because most dealers are in business to sell coins, and not to research them BEFORE sellig them. Your coin is a real beauty, and the oil I imagine is mineral oil. That is the only safe oil to use. There are some that like olive oil, but it being organic, means to me that it can harm. Looks like your contest paid off in dividends. It put you even more alert to the possibilities, and of course I learned something, (which I won't be forgetting)! My sincere congratulations!
Dick
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Dick, yes...I'm rather amazed how well it's worked! The things I'm finding right under dealer's noses! Pretty soon, my mugshot will hang on the wall of their shops . Oh, and regarding telling people about my finds--over the holidays I told a good half-dozen they had rare coins before I even tried to buy. It just felt good to tell someone news like that! Sometimes people thank me, other times they don't believe me. No worries! Congrats again, and regarding the "oil"...some of the sheen you see is the mint finish, and the rest I plan to have NCS conserve from this coin...it's certainly worth it. Edited by KurtS
01/12/2008 01:09 am
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1014 Posts |
Can I buy it off you for 20 dollars? You would profit two dollars.... :PPPPP Congrats on the find.. :D
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
quote:
Can I buy it off you for 20 dollars?
Sure--if you pay with a US $20 gold piece! |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1014 Posts |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 2,719 |
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Posted 01/07/2008 10:44 pm
