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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,245 |
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Rest in Peace
United States
2684 Posts |
Take a look at this auction. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...m=8355401674This 79-CC Morgan at first glance appears to be Mint State with what appears to be really nice luster. But, a closer look reveals a bunch of problems including damage, circulation wear, and signs of cleaning (the dark amidst some of the letters). It is, granted, relatively light circulation (XF, perhaps AU), but how did they get such nice luster, almost cartwheeling returned to its surfaces? I don't know any dipping which would restore original-like luster like this. Electroplating? Just Photoshopped? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
954 Posts |
Harshly cleaned, polished. I just bought a 1901-o I knew was cleaned on ebay for $6 shipped. It greatly reduces value. It's bright and shiny but there will be no mint luster. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
954 Posts |
Let me try to show you with an experiment I did. I took a Kennedy and polished the devices. The fields were left alone. See how bright and shiny his face is? But look at the fields, they are original, that's what the coin should look like.  Then I took a wire wheel and whizzed the same devices, they look like a frosty proof. If I had polished the fields I could have made the coin look like a DMPL.  |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
My guess is a Dremel with a felt polishing wheel. They got it into some pretty small places, but the inside of the closed lettering and inside the points of the stars just don't lie.
A few months ago I scored a couple '21 Morgans which would have been easy high-MS coins if they hadn't been polished to a proof shine. Not enough material had been removed to account for any but the most superficial marks. Broke my heart.
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New Member
United States
27 Posts |
This is one that I would stay away from. The seller lists the grade as simple circulated, not even an assigned number. This indicates a lack of numismatic knowledge imho. Furthermore the fact that this is a key date Morgan dollar I myself would want a certified piece. From the pic it does indeed look like about an EF-45 to AU 50. It would appear that it has also certainly been cleaned. I say this becouse it is a circulated coin that is not somewhat "dirty". This is not normal for even an AU-55 or higher piece, as it will surely show some "dirt" in and around the devices. Also it appears to have flash as opposed to an even cartwheel. This is difficult to see unless you actually have the coin and can rotate it in your hand. If it were to be purchased found by the graders to have been cleaned the grade likely would be reduced. (if a buyer were to have it slabbed) |
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Rest in Peace
 United States
2684 Posts |
Last I checked, the seller had 11 bids for over $200 indicating there's a lot of uneducated buyers out there (unless they WANT a coin with major problems), but the fact that it hasn't already gone over a thousand indicates that a lot of would-be buyers saw the coin for what it is.
Becky, I would not mistake your second Kennedy for a frosted coin; it just doesn't have the right luster - it's too even without "depth". As SuperDavid wrote, it might have been done with a felt wheel on a dremel, but even that should show unnatural luster. That's why I wondered about a very good dip rather than a whiz.
Two persons asked the seller if it had been cleaned. He replied that it might have been cleaned at some point in the past, but that he hadn't cleaned it. HOWEVER, he did NOT state that he had not whizzed or dipped it.
Fred
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Valued Member
United States
363 Posts |
I don't think dipping does much for a circulated coin. Just dulls it out. I vote for the wire brush method on this coin. Or, maybe I should say it was polished in some way.
Edited by adobero1
11/26/2005 12:28 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
980 Posts |
MF, it does have an unusual luster for what looks like a cleaned coin (the parallel lines across liberty's chin are deep.) I'm guessing combo of polish (lower obverse pic beween "US" in e pluribus and Liberty's cap looks like circular polish lines?)and photoshop to enhance reflection. In upper obeverse pic there is what looks like original luster between/around the 3 stars below "E, in lower obverse pic same area looks like "normal" original sheen.
Don
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Valued Member
United States
421 Posts |
That Morgan looks polished to a high gloss!
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Rest in Peace
United States
2684 Posts |
I still think the luster is too good for a "normal" whiz unless the guy has come up with a new polishing technique. I'll definitely buy photoshopping; it's a good job if it went this route. I'll abandon the notions of electroplating and dipping since dirt still remains among some of the letters.
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Valued Member
United States
421 Posts |
Maybe it is my cheap monitor but I see more just reflection rather than indications of good luster. It just looks shiny on my screen.
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Forum Mom
United States
5877 Posts |
I have to agree with Stujoe. I don't see any indication of luster on the coin, just brightness.
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Rest in Peace
United States
2684 Posts |
That's the problem with images - can't tell for sure. On my screen, I get more luster than brightness, more typical of real MS coins than of cleaned coins, but in any instance, it doesn't require a 10X loupe to determine this coin has problems. It sold for slightly over $300, lower than XF value - I hope the buyer doesn't have any high expectations.
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New Member
United States
10 Posts |
Looks buffed to me. Too much shine and not enough luster in the fields. Also, it has the dings that go with a circ., but there is no dirt. A circulated coin needs a circulated look.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,245 |
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Posted 11/25/2005 6:54 pm
