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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,249 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4846 Posts |
Hey all! I purchased this coin along with a few others from ebay. Unfortunately I wasn't aware of what happened to this coin before I bought it, so it cost me $80. It was an uncommon practice to sandblast the devices of an uncirculated Morgan to make it appear DMPL. This doctoring was called a "California Cameo" or "California Proof". The main giveaway for this doctoring is the lack of luster on the devices. When I first saw it, before I had any suspicions about it, the very first thing that I noticed was the "dead" devices. Not a big deal, it's a lesson learned, and not a huge loss.   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Must agree it looks sort of "dead", but I'm not skilled at evaluating something like this.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5887 Posts |
Wow, that is certainly evident on the obverse at the bottom of the bust and on all of the devices. Good catch.
-CH27
Collector of U.S. Coins, Varieties, and Colonial Coinage
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3848 Posts |
I've never heard of California Cameo. Super cool, thanks for sharing!
Suffering from bust half fever. Want to learn how to attribute early half dollars by die variety? Click Here: http://goccf.com/t/434955Shoot me a PM if you are looking to sell bust halves. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4846 Posts |
I took a steep angle picture of the coin, here you can see the rough surface of the sandblasted area.  Edited by Adam_E
03/08/2022 01:03 am
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Moderator
 United States
34397 Posts |
That last pic really helped me to understand what you were describing. Thx for adding that.
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2333 Posts |
I've never heard of this before either...I would have just thought poor lighting or pic skills.
Clever little buggers...
Something else to keep in mind...
Thanks for sharing.
smat
Edited by smat45
03/08/2022 07:16 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19126 Posts |
Yes, does look to be 'expired'.
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
It would make a nice belt buckle. I did hear the term used years ago but could not find where but I'm pretty sure it was a member here on CCF. Edit to add - found it. I thought it was @westcoin. http://goccf.com/t/107263#906608Edited by dave700x
03/08/2022 08:18 am
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
Ouch!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote:
I did hear the term used years ago but could not find where but I'm pretty sure it was a member here on CCF.
That was probably be me. They were known as "California Prooflikes" and they tended to be a lot better than this one. Often the fields were more highly polished to a mirrorlike finish and they usually did a better job withte frosting of the devices. I have an 1881 S with about 10 inch mirrors and the frost is well done. I haven't seen one in years and the last one I saw was believe it or not, done to a Peace dollar! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
The lazy way to do this is to put a coin in a rock tumbler with pebbles and sand. It gives the sandblast look to the whole coin though. It is more useful for improving the appearance of shiny polished coins.
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
Quote:
That was probably be me. They were known as "California Prooflikes" Yep, changed my exact phrase search to "California Prooflike S" and you came up in numerous search hits.  |
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,249 |
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Posted 03/07/2022 11:23 pm
