| Author |
 Replies: 15 / Views: 3,450 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2815 Posts |
Hello all. I know this is a stretch, and it may be quite obvious either way to the more experienced collectors, but could this 1892 Morgan be an impaired proof? I ask because it exhibits reflectivity like a proof coin, and it just looks completely different from any other Morgan I have. A Guide Book of Morgan silver dollars by Q. David Bowers states that 1,245 prof 1892 Morgan dollars were minted. What do you guys think?   |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
8137 Posts |
I don't know for sure, but that would be one heck of a find if it was. I heard somewhere that the rims have to be perfectly square and it doesn't look like yours is. Here is a pic of a proof 1892 Morgan I found that you can compare yours to...  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7620 Posts |
Your coin looks like it was coated with Mercury a long time ago to make it "look better". Coating coins with Mercury was a big thing to do in the 1950's and 1960's before we knew the dangers of Mercury contamination.
If it were mine, I would get rid of it (or store it in a glass jar and handle it as little as possible).
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
What westernsky said. It may not be mercury - treat it as if it was - but it sure ain't what the Mint wanted it to look like.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
2815 Posts |
Crap. I handled that thing with my bare hands. Is there anything I can do to remove it?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1291 Posts |
Darth: If you don't make a habit of handling mercury, and if you don't have a history of handling mercury, you'll be fine. When I was a kid in the 60's my dad worked in a refinery and he'd occasionally bring me little vials of mercury to "play with". I liked to coat old dimes and nickels with it. I lost lots of it to the grey carpet in my room. All these years later and I'm still NEARLY normal...
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2815 Posts |
Thanks, weerdsteev. I feel better now. LOL. I've only handled it by the edges. At least I know now that it is definitely not a proof.
|
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Yeah, even if it's mercury there isn't enough there to warrant worry as long as you don't use the coin orally.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2815 Posts |
Quote:
Yeah, even if it's mercury there isn't enough there to warrant worry as long as you don't use the coin orally.   |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5855 Posts |
Quote:
I heard somewhere that the rims have to be perfectly square OK, pardon my ignorance, but what does it mean for a round coin to have "perfectly square" rims? |
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
OK, pardon my ignorance, but what does it mean for a round coin to have "perfectly square" rims? In cross-section. Particularly the corner where the rim drops off into the field of the coin, one wants to see a nice sharp edge. Less-so the corner where the rim drops into the reeding, but you should see notable "squaring" there too. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5855 Posts |
So, this would be considered perfectly square:  |
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
It requires a closer look on your part, closer than the images allow. The area where rim meets denticles, and the denticles themselves, will show that sharpness. The coin you depict has been polished within an inch of its' life, which would explain the finish.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
2519 Posts |
Call me crazy but I'm actually interested in owning that coin, if it is mercury coated.
I've found a mercury-coated nickel in a roll, it has a "greasy" feel which doesn't come off. I labeled the plastic bag it is in as "do not eat".
Also, elemental mercury (when not in vapour form) isn't anywhere near as dangerous as its compounds. I volunteered to clean up a broken thermometer last year so I could have fun rolling that little sphere of molten metal around.
A Google image search chows that barryg's coin is a proof, graded PR62 by PCGS.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5855 Posts |
Quote:
The coin you depict has been polished within an inch of its' life, which would explain the finish. Actually, I don't think it has (although my photo may not show it well). Here's another look at it:   |
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
Actually, I don't think it has (although my photo may not show it well). Here's another look at it: Odd, that. I'm not bothered by the reflectivity all over including devices - I've seen that on 1900's Morgan Proofs before - but the upper obverse field sure looks brushed including the odd toning which follows it. You own it, though, so I'll defer to you. I'll call yours "pretty good evidence" of that cornering we're talking about. Morgans aren't the best of examples because well-struck ones can match Proof quality strikes. The details are physically larger and easier to strike. On the other hand, you can probably compare the actual reeding to a Business Strike and see clearer evidence than a Dime would show. |
| |
Replies: 15 / Views: 3,450 |
|
Posted 02/26/2015 12:23 pm
