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Is This 1897 Morgan Polished/Cleaned?

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Aesop50's Avatar
United States
8 Posts
 Posted 07/19/2013  7:31 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add Aesop50 to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Got this one on ebay, and the seller didn't mention any polishing/cleaning, but I'm thinking this one was polished a bit at some point. I couldn't tell from the pictures in the listing, but in hand it has a mirror-like surface evenly on basically every part of the coin on both sides, both in the field as well as devices. Basically, it just doesn't look quite as "natural" compared to other uncirculated Morgans I have.

Kind of hard to show it in a good picture, but pictures 3 and 4 are where I can see a uniform, smooth "mirror" like surface to the obverse that looks like it's been polished to me. There's also only barely a cartwheel effect when angled to the light, and I'd expect a stronger one for an uncirculated Morgan.

Is-This-1897-Morgan-Polished/Cleaned?

Is-This-1897-Morgan-Polished/Cleaned?

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Is-This-1897-Morgan-Polished/Cleaned?

Is-This-1897-Morgan-Polished/Cleaned?

Is-This-1897-Morgan-Polished/Cleaned?
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BadToTheBone's Avatar
United States
1795 Posts
 Posted 07/19/2013  8:31 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add BadToTheBone to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Well not having it in hand plus being packeged makes it a little tough. Looks nice but I think I agree with you. Doesn't seem to have any luster though it does appear to be shined.
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SsuperDdave's Avatar
United States
23522 Posts
 Posted 07/19/2013  8:45 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add SsuperDdave to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
With the understanding that the images, in a flip and nowhere near large enough, aren't sufficient to justify an accurate opinion, I'm not pessimistic about the surfaces as I see them here. I don't see evidence of the need for polishing on the obverse - usually that's done to remove crud/color and they rarely get it all; one can normally see telltales in the tightest crannies of the devices. Further, the reverse looks to be a very nice, original toning progression. If the coin is recovering from a past dipping, it's certainly doing it right.

Given the huge mintages involved, I'm not surprised at a coin which doesn't show great cartwheel. The second image illustrates an evenness of finish that doesn't necessarily alarm me. But again, I'm expressing opinions based on what I know to be insufficient evidence, and with larger images I might change my mind very quickly.
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dave700x's Avatar
United States
10625 Posts
 Posted 07/19/2013  9:06 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add dave700x to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Let's see some shots of this outside of the 2 x 2. What I see so far looks nice
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Aesop50's Avatar
United States
8 Posts
 Posted 07/19/2013  10:16 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Aesop50 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Here's some pictures outside of the flip, the first couple are under white lighting in my bathroom, the rest in my living room with yellow light.

Is-This-1897-Morgan-Polished/Cleaned?

Is-This-1897-Morgan-Polished/Cleaned?

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Is-This-1897-Morgan-Polished/Cleaned?

Is-This-1897-Morgan-Polished/Cleaned?



Is-This-1897-Morgan-Polished/Cleaned?
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vermontensium's Avatar
United States
16677 Posts
 Posted 07/19/2013  10:22 pm  Show Profile   Check vermontensium's eBay Listings Check vermontensium's eCrater Listings Bookmark this reply Add vermontensium to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
This coin at this level, should have slight cartwheel luster, even if light.
I see a coin which was possibly dipped/retoned.
Nevertheless, I love that reverse.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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IHPO8S's Avatar
United States
374 Posts
 Posted 07/19/2013  10:30 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add IHPO8S to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Agree with Vermont dipped and or wiped and now retoned. I also see a rim bump.
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vermontensium's Avatar
United States
16677 Posts
 Posted 07/19/2013  10:34 pm  Show Profile   Check vermontensium's eBay Listings Check vermontensium's eCrater Listings Bookmark this reply Add vermontensium to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Good eye IHPO8S. If you look just under the second star, it appears metal has been pushed up indicating a drop closer to obverse edge. Not bad though.
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Aesop50's Avatar
United States
8 Posts
 Posted 07/19/2013  11:03 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Aesop50 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks for the responses, everyone. I'm debating myself whether to keep it or not, as I do love the reverse and the dipping/cleaning appears to have been not toooo harsh since there is still a light cartwheel on both sides (stronger on reverse). And it didn't cost me all that much. Still, I'm annoyed that someone who sells a ton of coins on ebay apparently didn't recognize it as dipped/cleaned and state so honestly. :-\
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westcoin's Avatar
United States
9792 Posts
 Posted 07/20/2013  12:10 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add westcoin to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
NOt polished, but I'm in agreement with SsuperDdave's comments. The reverse is spectacular!
"Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013!
ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector.

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smokeriderdon's Avatar
United States
3755 Posts
 Posted 07/21/2013  2:28 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add smokeriderdon to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
That is a keeper for sure IMO. After seeing the second set of pics, not polished. I am not going to say dipped either, but I wont say it wasn't. Regardless, the toning on the reverse is awesome and its overall eye appeal is good. If you decide not to keep it, let me know. I will give it a good home.
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