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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,559 |
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Valued Member
United States
227 Posts |
For the forum mods: I posted this coin in the grading section initially (for grading) but this is a different issue. 1915-D Barber quarter, PCGS MS61 (in an old green holder). Best I have is seller scanned images - sorry, I know that it doesn't show luster properly. A little to my surprise this coin is coming from a very big and very reputable online dealer. Essentially some areas of the fields on the obverse are prooflike / reflective and show no luster. Most of the areas between the stars show normal mint luster, as does the reverse (no problems at all on reverse), but all the unprotected areas of the fields on the obverse of the coin are somewhat reflective. The reflective areas are encircled in black. As far as hairlines on the coin, they are only visible under 10x and dont seem to be completely straight and parallel. Can't tell if they are incuse; they are very faint. To me this seems like a cleaning/polishing was done but I'm interested to hear from people here because I'm not really experienced with coins yet. I only just started a month ago. I'm sad that the coin wasn't what I had hoped and it has to go back...  Edit: oops forgot pics   Edited by donkrx
06/13/2012 02:56 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
817 Posts |
Someone probably rubbed trying to make it just a little nicer.
Too bad.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I'm not to good at detecting good cleaning jobs. However, this one looks OK to me but a little suspecious about the tone and/or color. I usually look for any signs of dirt inbetween the letters such as inside a closed letter or number. None here at all.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6383 Posts |
The open areas of the fields will show dull luster from friction on coins that are lightly circulated. They are also the first areas affected by friction if someone tries to "shine up" the coin, as Las Vegas Larry has suggested. A soft cloth applied to the coin might produce this type of appearance. Apparently PCGS did not find any problem serious enough to reject the coin for numerical grade. Loss of original luster however might explain a net-grade of MS-61 since the coin looks a bit better than that.
I expect proof-like Barbers do exist and partially mirrored surfaces might be the result of dies that were given a fresh polish soon before this coin was struck. Regardless, if the coin doesn't meet your quality standards you by all means should send it back and look for a nicer one.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36710 Posts |
It also looks like some field scratches on the reverse above and below the motto and a gouge on the O of OF. Do they appear on the coin or are these slab scratches? I've seen BU silver coins that do very in luster on the fields. Maybe a photo of the coin at a slight angle would give us a better look at the area in question.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36710 Posts |
There's also a couple water spots on Liberty's bonnet which might indicate it was dipped and not rinsed properly.
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Valued Member
 United States
227 Posts |
The coin was sent back today and I had decided awhile ago to do that no matter what was said here because its just not what I expected/wanted. I'm pretty convinced something was done to it, I mean I easily could be wrong, but why even take the chance. I was only hoping you guys could give me a more definitive opinion for learning purposes.
And on that note, I'm thinking about investing in a better camera because I understand how you guys just cant give me a definitive opinion without good pictures. But thanks for the replies anyway as they are still helpful.
just_carl - as far as the dipping possibility (to explain the tone/color) I really don't care if it was dipped, as long as the luster is there. Even if it was dipped the luster on the reverse looks strong... its satiny, but strong.
IndianGoldEagle - I did not see a gouge on the O in "OF" but don't quote me on that because I really didn't care about that by the time I looked. Also interesting to note is that there is a big dent on Liberty's nose that I bet you didn't (and still can't) see.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36710 Posts |
donkrx I think you did the correct thing sending it back. You've got to be 100% happy with it or no sense keeping it.
Still can't see the dent in the nose that you speak of.
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Valued Member
United States
227 Posts |
As far as the dent its really, really hard to see in the pic. You have to know where it is to just barely see it because there's only an incredibly faint outline. In hand though it sticks out like a sore thumb. I drew a thin red line down the middle of it, for the whole length (the line does not represent the width). Look at the original pic (above) closely and you might be able to make out the left outline of the dent. The right side is obscured a bit by glare/light.  Edited by donkrx
06/14/2012 03:57 am
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,559 |
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Posted 06/13/2012 02:50 am
