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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,378 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1490 Posts |
I was going through some coins tonight and came across this 1942 Merc I bought sometime back. I would like opinions as to whether you think the toning could be natural or artificial. Any thoughts on grade would be welcome too although I know this will be harder given the toning. There is luster under this toning I will tell you that. Thanks,     |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1130 Posts |
I'm suspicious of the blue/violet color because household chemicals combined with heat can cause that, but maybe some people here can shed more light into it.
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Valued Member
United States
143 Posts |
From what I can see I believe the toning is natural and beautiful! It could be BU but I'd say AU-58 I see maybe some wear on the cheek, it's a little hard to tell without having the coin in hand. Toning natural or artificial hides wear especially in AU-BU.
Nice, Nice,Nice!
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1267 Posts |
JimR, the toning on the merc is AT. That funky purple is a dead giveaway, and there is no flow between the colors (they just kind of look splotchy). 1sikevo has it right, heat and household chemicals most likely caused that toning.
Grade? Looks au.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1490 Posts |
Given the knowledge I have gained while being a part of the CCF family I was afraid of that.
Like I said I bought this Merc a while back shortly after getting into coin collecting and when I pulled it out to look at it I immediately wondered if it was AT or not.
I was really hoping for a unanimous NT evaluation but felt in my heart of hearts that it was AT.
I guess this is one that will be posted on e-bay sometime soon.
Thanks for the opinions.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19943 Posts |
I am no expert, but that looks completely natural to me.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1267 Posts |
Here's an example of a known AT'd ASE that shares many of the same characteristics as JimR's coin. Those splotchy areas of blue were most likely caused by the pooling of whatever chemical was added. Also, if you look at the reverse of the merc, notice how the blue crawls over the M and E in dime, and then continues up and over the 'um' in unum and the 'rib' in pluribus? There should be some sort of shadowing or color transitions associated with the changes in the coins surface that resulted from the metal flow during striking.  Image:  ATaserev.jpg46.32 KB |
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Valued Member
United States
143 Posts |
I have mercs in old albums that have been in my safe for years. I have a 1916 that looks quite similar to this coin and I know for a fact it has not been artificially toned. I Know the flow doesn't look right but for some reason I believe it's natural toning. Who knows where this coin has been, where it was stored or what it was stored in before JimR bought it. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and this is mine and I respect yours.
Edited by mr merc
02/09/2008 08:00 am
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Member
United States
3242 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
328 Posts |
It looks beautiful, and (I think) the toning looks natural. I'd say BU for the grade, it's a really nice coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1490 Posts |
 Wow...Strong opinions on both sides of the issue. Keep em coming. Thanks |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1267 Posts |
I have mercs in old albums that have been in my safe for years. I have a 1916 that looks quite similar to this coin and I know for a fact it has not been artificially toned. I Know the flow doesn't look right but for some reason I believe it's natural toning.Mr merc, I do not doubt that the coin you have is natural......after all, you have had it since it was untoned. Does your 1916 still have luster? Is it toned the same on both sides like Jims? I ask that because AT'ing usually subdues the luster, and the heat cannot be added to only one side. Sadly, Jims' coin has many of the attributes that are seen on the mass produced toners readily available on ebay (heat, chemicals, etc). Even if the coin in question was natural (and I do not believe this to be the case) these similarities will earn a 'questionable toning' from anacs or a body bag from ngc or pcgs.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1490 Posts |
There definitely is luster still present under the toning but the more I think about this Merc I tend to agree with Hadleydog that this would probably come back in a bodybag for questionable toning. I think what has sealed it in my mind that its AT is the similarity if the blue splotches that my Merc and Hadleydogs ASE share. |
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Valued Member
United States
206 Posts |
AT - bleach and a hot oven for a few hours.
-Steve
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,378 |
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Posted 02/07/2008 9:51 pm
