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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,508 |
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New Member
United States
46 Posts |
As an SLQ lover I have to admit I'm kind of proud of this one.  Look closer :)  This is a fantastic head, especially for a sub-MS SLQ. It looks even better in person as my camera's bad at max zoom. Here's the reverse:  And now the question: can any of you with more experienced eyes than mine tell me the nature of the black stains on the first A in America and the eagle's wing? I'm having difficulty telling whether it's some sort of organic deposit or if it's some sort of tarnish on the silver. In either case, I'd appreciate advice on whether there's anything I can do about this without cleaning it. Thanks! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1080 Posts |
wowzers, thanks for those photos. I'm sorry I can't tell you anything about the stains, but there are details on that coin I haven't even noticed in the PCGS pics. Nice, nice, nice!
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
As someone who's not afraid to advocate treating a coin under the right conditions, I strongly urge you not to mess with this one, regardless of the nature of the deposit. It's an utterly gorgeous example, and nothing you could do will improve it.
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Valued Member
United States
419 Posts |
Leave it the way it is! Nothing wrong with that coin!!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6384 Posts |
Looks like about an AU-53 gradewise and it might make Full Head status. Grading services will award FH designations to AU coins that qualify (in case you are interested in having it slabbed).
The stains are minor and should not affect the value of the coin. You could always give it an acetone soak and rinse which would remove most organic residues (without harming the coin or affecting the toning) but it already has plenty of appeal. Pretty nice!
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
You could always give it an acetone soak and rinse which would remove most organic residues (without harming the coin or affecting the toning) I disagree in this case, only because I think that the reverse darkness pierrot refers to probably is organic in nature. The rest of the coin has (to me) very attractive toning. I'm afraid that an acetone soak would remove the darker areas, leaving a "cleaner" untoned look behind that would contrast with the rest of the coin, and cause it to look "cleaned." |
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Valued Member
United States
461 Posts |
I am warning you right now, back away from the coin, don't even get those ideas of cleaning it around that beautiful coin!  |
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New Member
 United States
46 Posts |
Thanks for the advice, everyone. I don't ever clean anything, but considering the way those spots on the reverse look I was hoping that this was one of those special exceptions where something can actually be done without harming the toning. Due to the lack of consensus I'll simply leave it in its flip untouched :D
Special thanks to Jaobler for answering my next question before I even had the opportunity to ask it :) Given that heads of this quality are usually only seen on MS SLQs, I was curious if its AU status would automatically preclude it from the possibility of making Full Head status if I sent it to be graded. I've never sent a coin for grading before but I've been sorely tempted with this one. If anyone would be interested, I'll try and get better pictures of the head in hopes that someone here can help me better determine whether or not it's FH. Considering that it's a common date in a condition that wouldn't normally call for slabbing, it'd be a terrible waste of money if I sent it off only to get it back without the special designation.
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Rest in Peace
United States
4849 Posts |
That is a beautiful crusty original higher grade SLQ that I would be proud to display in a type set. Definitely leave it alone. The only reason I might attempt a light cleaning on a coin like this, is if it had active PVC residue or verdigris.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1534 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6384 Posts |
As an illustration, here is my 1924-D SLQ which was given an AU-55 FH designation by PCGS. The criteria for FH are 1) three "sprigs" (leaves) defined, 2) complete hair edge from forhead across face, and 3) visible ear hole. My coin was I think marginal for FH but the 1924-D is notorious for weak head detail so PCGS decided it did make the cut. If you can see these features I think your coin could get the FH label. Whether it is worth investing the grading fee is another story!    |
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New Member
United States
46 Posts |
FANTASTIC coin!  With only my eyes it was slightly difficult to compare that one to mine, but here's the best picture of the head that I could eke out of my camera:  In my inexpert opinion, mine's borderline. The criteria you provided made it a lot easier to determine, so thanks for that. I took the image and edited it to outline the details necessary to achieve Full Head:  1.) The sprigs (red): I can definitely see the outlines, but as is visible from the image they don't look entirely complete. 2.) The hairline (green): Looks complete and unbroken to me, but it's difficult to tell in the photograph because it's such a fine detail. Looked pretty strongly present with my eyes. 3.) Ear hole (yellow): the ear is visible on my quarter, and when the image is zoomed out or when I'm looking at the actual coin it's pretty distinct. So, in sum, I'm still not sure. The sprigs appear to be the weakest of the three details, but not so weak that I'd entirely count the coin out yet. Would an official FH designation for a common-date, sub-MS SLQ even make that much of a value difference? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1083 Posts |
Nice coin. Please don't clean and IMHO not a full head coin. You need a clear outline of the complete ear.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1304 Posts |
DO NOT CLEAN THIS COIN IN ANY WAY
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,508 |
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Posted 01/15/2010 7:17 pm
