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 Replies: 9 / Views: 474 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6473 Posts |
I bought this coin on ebay because it was inexpensive and I liked it. The reverse does have some staining or corrosion, and the N in CENTS got smeared by something. The two things I want to figure out are 1. How to correctly grade this coin, and 2. How to assess stains, corrosion, discoloration on vintage coins. As I move backwards from Jefferson nickels, the coins on offer are a lot less pristine. What is acceptable, and what is a bad buy? My initial impression based on obverse hair, leaves, grain is maybe 40-ish? The reverse confuses me a bit, because the flowers seem to have wear, but then the bent leaves have way more detail than the examples in Photograde.   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
I'll say EF details (ED with attempted cleaning).
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
10492 Posts |
 That's too bad about the damage and cleaning. If a coin is corroded and has haitlines on it then stay away from it unless you like it and it is inexpensive. Unless of course the 85 P & 86 P, 1912 S. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6473 Posts |
The education is worth the $3.25.
I assume the cleaning hairlines on the neck are directly related to the splotches on both faces? i.e. this coin's condition was probably worse, and the cleaning attempt was only partly successful.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73844 Posts |
Agreed, EF details.
Errers and Varietys.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6473 Posts |
So let me ask this. This nickel has already endured one cleaning attempt, so the numismatic value is largely gone. Would it be possible to correctly clean it to remove or diminish the splotches? I have seen some rather miraculous transformations of nickels on this forum, including ones that were buried for long periods of time. This seems like a good practice coin (perhaps after a few corroded ordinary Jefferson nickels). |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36678 Posts |
EF details, environmental damage.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10492 Posts |
You could use the coin to experiment with but if the spots/corrosion have eaten through the surface I don't think much can help it.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
18645 Posts |
nothing is going to repair the areas of corrosion. also the coin was moderately cleaned. there are hairlines across the obv from K8 to K3 through the neck that were done by swiping something across the coin. that in and of itself would details the coin baring the corrosion.
so you have several problems with this coin that has eliminated any collector value so if you want to play with it, you're not going to hurt it any more. the corrosion has eaten into the metal. you might be able to remove some of the remaining discoloration using acetone but I don't know of anything else you could do.
its possible this was a dug coin at some point as I don't believe this could occur even in an environment not conducive for storing it. they are comprised of 75% copper which is reactive to about everything it comes in contact with.
as for grade XF details (ED)
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 474 |
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Posted 05/29/2024 6:02 pm
