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 Replies: 19 / Views: 2,559 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
832 Posts |
Hi and thanks for looking - here's my 1920 Pilgrim Tercentenary Half Dollar. I'm looking for opinions on grade. If you need close-ups, let me know.   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
I'll say AU-58, possibly some evidence of cleaning?
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12252 Posts |
I see what appears to be a large number of straight-line scratches in the obverse fields. Are these visible on the coin when it is in hand (vs. being an image artifact)?
If "Yes," I would have to say the coin was mechanically cleaned at some point and would grade as AU - Details by the major services.
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
832 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
AU-55,
Still quite an attractive coin.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12252 Posts |
I'm sorry, but from the images provided for this Pilgrim as well as for your Illinois, I just don't see original/natural surfaces. The "look" of the each coin just seems "off" to me. It could be the lighting or some other artifact of the imaging, but, as is, I would consider each a "Details" coin.
Of course, that's just my opinion. Others may see them differently.
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5661 Posts |
AU details, I agree that it looks like some signs of cleaning.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
832 Posts |
Thanks for all the views so far. I agree that the coins may have been cleaned, but if so it was long before my time. Both coins look great in hand.
I think AU-58 details is a fair grade on both these coins. I plan on listing them for sale on this forum soon so I wanted some expert opinions on grading and value.
Meanwhile, I'd love to hear from other members - what do you think? AU-58 details? Better, worse? Are these coins cleaned or just normal wear?
Edited by jeffbuckes
03/05/2022 11:11 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5602 Posts |
Love the UNITED die Breaks...... IMO, These commemoratives were minted with NOT too well designed Dies, therefore, the appearances of scratches, while could be post cleaning lines, are probably mostly in the die........ jmo. PS, In hand is the Only way to know for sure.... Thanks for sharing......... AU-58 .
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Pillar of the Community
United States
832 Posts |
@Morgans_dad Thanks for looking and grading. Did you see my other half dollar? I think it's a bit nicer than this one. Take a look: http://goccf.com/t/418155 |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12252 Posts |
Quote:
IMO, These commemoratives were minted with NOT too well designed Die,s therefore, the appearances of scratches, while could be post cleaning lines, are probably mostly in the die After looking at, literally, 1000s of mint state US commemorative coins over the years, I have to strongly disagree with this assessment. The physical dies used to strike US commemorative coins were of the same quality as the dies used for regular coinage. While it's true, some dies were subject to over-polishing which resulted in lines being transferred to the coins (e.g., 1922 Grant half dollars), it was not the norm and not exclusive to the commemorative coin series - die polishing happened across all coin series. (But everyone is entitled to an opinion.) Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5602 Posts |
commems, I should of been more clear. I apologize. The dies, after being clashed or damaged, the remaining grinding/polishing marks are Still present in the dies, THAT is Very common in strikes from the say Morgan, Peace and Commems as seen here.....
The dies that struck this commemorative, has those die marks, seen above in it! Wear can easily be misrepresented by some of the marks seen on examples like this.....
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12252 Posts |
@morgans dad: OK, I appreciate you circling back with your clarification.
I still believe, however, that the surfaces of this Pilgrim are not original and that it has been cleaned.
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5177 Posts |
Surface looks bubbly to me. Could it be a cast Chinese fake?
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12252 Posts |
Quote:
Could it be a cast Chinese fake? I've been wondering the same thing myself since the coin was first posted, but unless it's incredibly obvious I don't like to use the "C" word. I do know that from the images provided here, I wouldn't buy the coin. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5177 Posts |
Quote:
I do know that from the images provided here, I wouldn't buy the coin. Agreed. |
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Replies: 19 / Views: 2,559 |
Posted 03/04/2022 6:28 pm
