First Attempt At This Grading Stuff

The coin appears to be abrasively cleaned with AU details, so NET VF/XF.

I agree with Prethen about the cleaning, I'm afraid. I'm not 100% positive if the flatness in the detail is due to strike (O-mint) or rub.

Are the areas of flatness in the design lustrous or kind of a darker color? That would be a real shame if it was a cleaned Unc.

I noticed the green too. I don't know if it's PVC damage or not; try dipping in acetone. [final statement retracted]

Texasmick- The flat parts look to be the about the same color as the raised parts. There is a slight copper color around the top right edge- from the r in pluribus to the m in unum, and it's just in the flat part.

Texasmick- Ok. I'll go get it this afternoon and give it a try. Do I just dip it in for a few seconds or let it soak. Rinse? Air Dry?

I just posted pics of another Morgan on that same page, but a smaller image (easier on the camera battery). Do you guys need the larger size pics or is that smaller image ok for trying to grade?

TLS- I'm looking at the ANACS site and they say they don't grade coins with active PVC. Is that what the green stuff is?

I agree with TLS5933 on all counts. That's a nice first coin to put in front of us.

Preferably, use the larger pics for grading. Great shots, by the way. Every detail you can possibly add to the pic is further help with estimating an accurate grade. You're using rechargeable batteries, right? In addition, Nikon offers an AC Adapter for that camera, so you can use it to your heart's content without worrying about batteries. It is Nikon model #EH-62A, and can be had for about $30.

Coin pics really lend themselves to AC power. You can take a bazillion shots, varying settings, and never have to worry about charge. The Canon Rebel XT I posted in your camera thread uses a proprietary battery; I've taken almost a thousand shots with the camera so far, and the battery is still in the plastic.

Maryhm,

I recommend you go back and read some of the extensive conversations we've had about cleaning and acetone in particular.

In brief: you can soak as long as you want--it won't damage silver. Use only in a WELL VENTILATED area. Don't rub. Acetone is very volatile and will flash/evaporate in seconds unless it's very cold. Some suggest acetone, then rinsing with distilled water to get any impurities off, then another quickie in acetone.

As for cleaning this particular coin, I retract my earlier statement about it being good to experiment on. TLS may be correct that it may still have substantial value. I will try to be more restrained in the future.

To address the PVC topic: Acetone does not react with silver. You can leave a silver coin in acetone for as long as you wish.

Now. Acetone is extremely flammable. It's going to be the most flammable substance in your house when you bring it home. Treat it with extreme caution; even the fumes will affect you if you breathe them for very long. The fumes are explosively flammable.

I cannot overemphasize the flammability of acetone.

Me, I use a shot glass for Morgans, with a glass plate cover, because the acetone will evaporate out of a shot glass in hours if not covered. The coin should catch on the rim and lay tilted; that's why I use she shot glass. Leave it in for 24 hours, and then change the acetone. You should probably see a difference in the green by then. If you see no change in the green by, say, 3 or 4 cycles of changed acetone, it's probably not something that the acetone will help.

Acetone will remove PVC contamination, but not the permanent damage that PVC (actually, the softening chemicals that are blended with the PVC) causes.

I have left a Morgan dollar in a sealed acetone bath for more than a month, without ill effect.

By the way, soap and water will clean the shot glass as if it never had acetone in it.