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 Replies: 11 / Views: 2,183 |
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New Member
Australia
43 Posts |
Just brought my first coin off ebay and have some questions that are concerning me a little so appreciate some help. It's a 1903 Philippines Peso. Q1: Has it been cleaned? If so, is the damage bad and can I do anything about it? Q2: About how would you grade it? I mean, what grade do you think it is? Q3: Why does it measure only 37mm, since a 1903 peso measures 38mm according to wikipedia? Can old silver coins shrink? Q4: Could it be a fake possibly?   Edited by smn
06/14/2015 01:23 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6478 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1704 Posts |
With the coin in the plastic it is very hard to determine whether it has been cleaned. The angle of your pictures makes it hard to assess a grade. Are you physically measuring the coin or just going by how loose it is in the plastic holder?
Coins do not shrink in diameter unless it was deliberately filed down. Compare its actual weight to its specification weight. It should be very close.
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New Member
 Australia
43 Posts |
Quote:
Are you physically measuring the coin or just going by how loose it is in the plastic holder? I was using the lighthouse 38mm coin holder as a measurement, lol. It's a little lose in there, but I just physical measured it and it is 38mm! Here are some scans of the coin. I can't take a proper photo with my phone, and it's dark out now where I am so I'm not getting the right lighting with a lamp. Sorry, but will these scanned images work?   |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
Quote:
Coins do not shrink in diameter unless it was deliberately filed down. Couldn't a coin over time "shrink" do to circulation use? John1  |
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Valued Member
Japan
349 Posts |
Q1: Has it been cleaned? If so, is the damage bad and can I do anything about it?
Maybe, but it doesn't look too bad. Is there any luster remaining?
Q2: About how would you grade it? I mean, what grade do you think it is?
XF-
Q4: Could it be a fake possibly?
It is most probably not a fake, just by looking at the pictures.
It should weigh very close to 26.96g and the thickness at the rim should be about 2.7mm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5828 Posts |
Not a fake, although it has been cleaned. Looks XF to me. This coin is now on my list of US coins to buy, I like it! |
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New Member
Australia
43 Posts |
Quote:This coin is now on my list of US coins to buy, I like it! I love it. I love the design and to me it represents a time in history when America became a word power immediately after the Spanish American war. It's my favourite coin, so I brought it to start my collection. |
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Moderator
Australia
16826 Posts |
Quote:
Coins don't shrink, 1 exception...
Coins do not shrink in diameter unless it was deliberately filed down.
Couldn't a coin over time "shrink" do to circulation use?Normal circulation will not make a coin shrink by very much. Coins do not wear evenly, all the way around; most of the loss of metal due to wear on a coin comes from rubbing the two sides. A coin can "wear" on the rims if it gets over-used in a slot machine or vending machine of some kind. As the Philippines had very few such machines back in the early 1900s, this is not likely to be a problem for this particular series. A " Dryer Coin" also has a shrunken diameter, but has other distinctive features such as an extra-thick rim. Something that can make a coin shrink evenly on all three sides (obverse, reverse and edge) is chemical attack. Most of the "shrunken coins" I have seen that were not obviously Dryer Coins were acid-corroded. However, silver is pretty resistant to most acids so a silver coin is unlikely to suffer this fate. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12819 Posts |
@COTW: why do you say it's been cleaned?
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New Member
Australia
43 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Nice looking coin. If ever cleaned, good job since looks OK to me. For sure almost an AU. Not much wear. I like that one. Quote:
Couldn't a coin over time "shrink" do to circulation use? One of the biggest problems with old coins in Folders. The fall out due to wear making them a bit smaller. One reason kids spit on the backs of the coins when putting them in Folders. Gets the glue wet and the coins stay put. |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 2,183 |
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Posted 06/14/2015 02:05 am
