Strange Gold Tone On This 1894 Half Dollar

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Author	Replies: 7 / Views: 1,539
Dcnw1983 Valued Member United States 264 Posts	Posted 09/22/2015 2:14 pm I received this coin back from NGC as unable to grade due to "altered surface". I can't see anything wrong with the coin except the color. It seems gold-toned instead of silver. Would that be the result of some attempt at artificial toning or could something have been applied to the surface? Is the coin now worthless? * Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. * Report this Post to the Staff

westernsky Pillar of the Community United States 7620 Posts	Posted 09/22/2015 2:22 pm Probably cleaned and retoned. A lot of coins are unslabable for this reason. It still has value but no where near what it would be worth if it were uncleaned. Report this Post to the Staff
Tryna Pillar of the Community United States 937 Posts	Posted 09/22/2015 2:26 pm I looked at the coin without reading your post. I saw the reverse and thought Woooaa that does not look right. Then I read your post. I think that the fields do not match the devices. It looks like they have been polished or smoothed and artificially toned. to me it is what the car show guys call 'a 25 footer' It looks better at a distance than close up. Someone tried to make it look better than it is Report this Post to the Staff
Dcnw1983 Valued Member United States 264 Posts	Posted 09/22/2015 2:43 pm I am very new at this. Could you explain what you mean by the fields and the devices? Report this Post to the Staff
bpoc1 Rest in Peace United States 4078 Posts	Posted 09/22/2015 3:24 pm @Dcnw1983, you can go to the Glossary left side of the page. Quote: device Any specific design element. Often refers to the principal design element, such as the head of Miss Liberty. Quote: field The portion of a coin where there is no design - generally the flat part (although on some issues, the field is slightly curved). I would take this coin in a heart beat. Edited by bpoc1 09/22/2015 3:29 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Tryna Pillar of the Community United States 937 Posts	Posted 09/22/2015 3:27 pm devices are the words and pictures ie the eagle The fields are the low areas with no words or pictures. So the fields look all smooth and have no visible dings etc. while the eagle has lots of loss of detail and wear. Report this Post to the Staff
Dcnw1983 Valued Member United States 264 Posts	Posted 09/22/2015 4:07 pm Thank you. I think I need to study up a bit. Report this Post to the Staff
Coinfrog Bedrock of the Community United States 94367 Posts	Posted 09/22/2015 4:18 pm Agree with westernsky that your coin was most likely cleaned and re-toned. Take a look at the surfaces with a good magnifying glass and see if there are tiny hairlines and evidence of polishing. You'll know it when you see it! Edited by Coinfrog 09/22/2015 4:19 pm Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 7 / Views: 1,539

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