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 Replies: 11 / Views: 918 |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
18687 Posts |
I'm reposting this from a while back in hopes that billjones and a couple others can comment on it. I'm specifically interested in thoughts about the color and and original surfaces. I have couple others i'll repost also. thanks for the comments   |
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
The most right cap of hair of Liberty shows the very lightest touch of contact rub. But I don't see much else, even on the highest points on either the obverse or the reverse that give any indication of circulation.
The fields of the obverse are a concern to me. I've seen a fair number of early coppers that have been whizzed to give the fields that perfect untouched look. But in every case, even if the person doing it is a master of the craft and avoids the design elements, there is always some rub on the rims. I don't see that here.
The luster beneath the surface of the patination does not show sufficiently to judge if this has unbroken luster.
The safe grade is AU-58 with no details. However, in hand, it might be a 63 or maybe even a 64, Brown. The reverse carbonation is not sufficient to give details, I don't think, either.
Very nice coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
I hope the surfaces are lustrous and not altered. I would not buy it as original from those pictures. It just looks weird.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
Looks like an original N-8, I would grade it EAC 50/45 with minor accumulations of debris on the reverse. Later die state with crumbling denticles obverse. Color looks original to me but I suspect coin may have been lacquered/varnished at one time which was later mostly removed.
Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3163 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4469 Posts |
It is a beautiful coin to look at, but it appears to have been altered to look MS. AU Details
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1499 Posts |
I hate to say it, but I think that this coin has been worked on to the extent that it would not get a straight grade from the TPGs. The obverse looks too glossy, and the color looks like it has been re-toned. The "glossy" could come from an application of "CARE" or "Blue Ribbon," but it just doesn't look right, and the color, if that's the way it looks in hand, is not natural. The coin probably had a stubborn layer of gunk on it that wouldn't lift easily. The gunk was lifted leaving surfaces that were a bit too bright. The obverse appears to be an odd reddish brown for the most part with maybe some left over gunk on the left side. Of course this could be an issue the photography, and my opinion might be all wet, but this is what I see in these photos. This is more like the kind of surface one would like to see on a Mint State or virtually Mint State large cent with brown surfaces. I bought this one raw at one of the EAC conventions and have never had it slabbed. I like it the way it is, but it will have to go into "a plastic prison" eventually to get the money out of it.   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
AU-58 straight. I like the application of "Care" explanation.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
18687 Posts |
thanks for all the great comments and insights. I dont know what CARE is. I'm assuming that is some type of surface enhancer. paralyse thanks for the N-8 designation. I did not know that. I dont like to slab my coins and really dont anticipate selling it so I wont be sending it in for a grade
I was hoping it might grade low MS on a long shot. I had it at AU58 with a possible details designation. I've had it for a number of years and never recorded the original price I paid. in hand there is still some light luster in a couple places peeking through. not much but there is a little. I think the lighting and my non-perfect photography are masking it.
several months ago, I gave it light soak in verdicare and it removed most of the gunk but I didnt want to do to much to it. mostly to just preserve the surfaces
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1499 Posts |
"CARE" and "Blue Ribbon" are lubricant like oils that a fair number copper collectors apply to their copper coins to preserve. Both products are no longer made. There was a time, which still might be true, where copper collectors were willing to pay $100 for a bottle of "CARE" which some regard(ed) as "liquid gold" for copper. I don't know if that is still true or not.
Many copper collectors have recommended that copper coins be treated with "CARE" or "Blue Ribbon" before they were slabbed for preservation purposes. Those reagents also make copper coins look better in photographs.
The concern that the atmosphere will react with the coins over time that can in the long run lead to corrosion. "The long run" depends upon how much humidity there is in the atmosphere. Back in the days when air conditioning was rare in places like Florida, the Sunshine State was said to be death for copper coins. Now with temperature and humidity control, not so much.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
18687 Posts |
thanks Bill. I think the verdicare may have given it a similar look and precipitated your comment regarding that as the surfaces now seem to have that light gloss over them. which I think is ok and should help in preservation
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
Blue Ribbon occasionally pops up for sale on ebay where it brings between 40-100 bucks every time. Verdi-Care is an equally good, if not better, surface conditioner and protectant, and it's a lot cheaper. I use VC on all my raw early copper not just to treat any verdigris but also to protect and conserve the surfaces against further oxidation. It can leave a light "sheen" effect. There are also heavier conservation solvents such as Coin-Serv which use hydrocarbon or mineral oil bases and which leave more of the oily, glossy look. In the "old days" people used to retone cleaned copper with sulfur creams and other less-than-honest treatments, which imparted distinctive looks to the coins. VERY old coin collections (pre 1920s) were occasionally coated with lacquer or varnish for "protection." It tended to attract dust and dirt, and can be very difficult to remove. Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 918 |
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Posted 03/19/2016 11:43 pm
