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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,478 |
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New Member
United States
24 Posts |
I'm looking at a token on ebay. The obverse and reverse are very nice, but there are two small chips at 9 and 3 o'clock on the edges. The chips don't interfere with the obverse or reverse design, coming within a millimeter of the rim. In your opinion, would such damage lower the value of a token? I could post the picture, but I'm not sure if that would violate forum rules. Edited by beancounter
08/27/2018 11:33 am
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
21603 Posts |
It wouldn't violate any rules to post pictures.
That is the best way to help you is with a photo
of both the Obverse and Reverse.
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New Member
 United States
24 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
They seem innocuous to me. Nice looking item.
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Quote:
They seem innocuous to me. Nice looking item.  ; Whatever the heck innocuous means .  |
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Moderator
 United States
188213 Posts |
Damage is minimal and not distracting at all.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
509 Posts |
It means harmless or insignificant.
Edited by jst1dreamr
08/27/2018 2:47 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
IMHO, the rim cuts are less distracting than the splotchy color of this piece. I strongly suspect that this piece was once burnished/cleaned and retoned. Note the well-worn, heavily rubbed sails. This is not a particularly difficult token to acquire, and at the price this one's offered, I'd personally seek a more pleasing, problem-free example. Just my take, for what it's worth ....
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New Member
United States
24 Posts |
Thanks for your replies everyone!
ExoGuy - Thanks for the info! I keep an out for cleaned tokens, but I guess I never thought someone would go through the trouble of retoning.
I definitely don't want a cleaned piece, but generally speaking, wear on a token's high points doesn't bother me.
There does seem to be an abundance of high grade tokens available, which kind of makes me leery.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
Quote:
I keep an out for cleaned tokens, but I guess I never thought someone would go through the trouble of retoning. The retoning of early copper coins and tokens was/is a fairly common occurrence. Ask any of the EAC guys, dealers in and collectors of the early American coppers. Personally, I don't mind owning a cleaned token, if it's well done and/or a rare one that might otherwise be unattainable. To me, there's more value in the history than the appearance. That said, I've bought many a token simply for its beauty!  Quote:
There does seem to be an abundance of high grade tokens available, which kind of makes me leery. The collecting of tokens really escalated during the mid 1800's. There were coin dealers who then issued their own tokens. Collectors actively sought and saved tokens, even to the point of having special ones made by diesinkers for their personal collections. The 1850's era merchant tokens seem to have far less circulation than did the earlier hard times tokens. Then too, the 1850's era tokens, often made of brass and other metals, didn't much resemble circulating cents. Getting back to the subject piece, the darkened areas make be suspect that this token may have been stained by ink or some other dark liquid; this, perhaps having resided in a desk drawer. Admittedly, this is speculation on my part, and pics can be deceiving. Looking closely, the fields have an unnatural, rough appearance, being not what I'd expect to see on a higher grade piece. Burnishing may have removed much of the stain, and retoning would soften the remaining dark area. Just my thoughts .... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5029 Posts |
All in all it is a good looking token. I do like the ship on that one.
That year had a normal and a thick planchet as well. So NY573 and NY573A for the copper tokens. As Exo pointed out the surfaces in the pics do appear rough. That may just be the photo quality though. If you are considering this piece ask the seller for some more photos of the token and see if the surfaces look better in different photos.
Also, cleaning of tokens is not the same taboo as it is with coins.
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,478 |
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Posted 08/27/2018 12:24 pm
