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 Replies: 24 / Views: 1,345 |
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Valued Member
United States
291 Posts |
I've never collected Indian cents, but recently acquired this. Would this be worth sending in to get graded and if so, what do you think it'd grade?   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11880 Posts |
The 1908 is one of the most common Indian cents. It looks uncirculated but the color is off. As a result, I do not recommend stabbing it. Unc details questionable color is my assessment for this coin. A nice looking coin nevertheless. IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.comEdited by numismatic student
11/15/2025 2:13 pm
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Valued Member
 United States
291 Posts |
Are these prone to counterfeits?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11880 Posts |
Every coin is prone to counterfeiting these days but this is not an expensive coin and neither is the metal content. Efforts would be better directed at faking higher value coins.
IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2137 Posts |
For some reason, this Indian cent looks plated or painted to me; something is not right.  |
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Moderator
United States
15396 Posts |
I see an MS state cent with questionable color, it's too golden. Is this the color of the coin in hand?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1502 Posts |
Altered surfaces, colored. Obverse spot just off R is telling. UNC details, not worth slabbing.
I swing a metal detector and have a knack for finding dirty old coins. Dirt coin restoration projects - https://www.prodetecting.com/restorationsDirt coin restoration blog - https://www.prodetecting.com/blog/ccawDirt coin dig videos - https://www.youtube.com/@prodetecting |
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Valued Member
United States
291 Posts |
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Obverse spot just off R is telling. Would you mind expanding on this one? If I get a piece of dust or lint in a flip, this will happen on my other cents. But thanks everyone for the feedback, I didn't know you could color a cent. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73812 Posts |
I agree with above. Not worth slabbing.
Errers and Varietys.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7006 Posts |
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Every coin is prone to counterfeiting these days but this is not an expensive coin and neither is the metal content. Yes this is true..however I remember seeing a post recently about several that were sent in for grading and determined to be counterfeits. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36678 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
187862 Posts |
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I see an MS state cent with questionable color, it's too golden. Is this the color of the coin in hand? I agree. I suspect or hope the photo is inaccurate.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1502 Posts |
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Would you mind expanding on this one? To me that spot has the appearance of rapid spotting - week or two at most. But the coin is otherwise pristine - not a trace of dirt and more importantly, discernable oxidation. I don't care how it was stored, the coin is 117 years old and would have oxidized to some extent. Rapid spotting can occur in high humidity and a few other scenarios however, this coin has no other indicators. One of the most prevalent reasons for rapid spotting is altered surfaces: cleaning, plating or recoloring. Reason being, the surfaces become chemically active again since the oxidation layer has been removed, or subverted. IMHO, the following image shows what I believe to be spotting on an oxidized (untouched) coin. Of course, this is only my opinion but it is how I go about considering any purchase with spotting that looks off. I've had this happen to me directly a dozen or so times after I have restored copper metal detecting finds. Now, the very minute I finish a restore, coppers get a coat of MicroCrystalline Wax.  I swing a metal detector and have a knack for finding dirty old coins. Dirt coin restoration projects - https://www.prodetecting.com/restorationsDirt coin restoration blog - https://www.prodetecting.com/blog/ccawDirt coin dig videos - https://www.youtube.com/@prodetecting |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2137 Posts |
@DOCC - Oh my, I just looked at your " Dirt coin restoration projects" link — your work is truly something else. You do/did a fantastic job. Words can't even express how outstanding your work is ! 
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Valued Member
United States
291 Posts |
@DOCC, thanks for that thorough explanation! When I look at the coin, I can see multiple spots; however not as dark as those, but they are present. I ask questions like these to learn, not to discount. If someone altered the surface, wouldn't some of the details be lost?   Edited by rlu7732
11/16/2025 5:26 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1502 Posts |
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If someone altered the surface, wouldn't some of the details be lost? Not necessarily, depends on what was done. For sure if the whole surface was whizzed. However, I can use my dirt coin methods on any coin and not lose any detail whatsoever. That includes throwing them in a toning chamber (artificial toning...questionable color). Only caveat is if dealing with corrosion. I don't plate or color coins with chems so can't speak to that. What I do know about plating is the layers are super thin - 3 or 4 microns - so while it may affect details a little I can't imagine it would be visible to the naked eye if done correctly. |
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Replies: 24 / Views: 1,345 |
Posted 11/15/2025 2:13 pm
