1881 S Help On Type Pl/Dmpl/Proof

Caveat: I have slight reservations about the originality of the surfaces. For the purposes of this post, we'll assume they are original.

It won't be a proof - those were minted in Philadelphia with a very few exceptions - but it may be the finest 1881-S business strike I've ever seen. Holy cow, this coin is amazing!

It's a slam-dunk 66 with a real shot at 67 from any TPG. Let's put it this way:



That's an NGC MS67. Here's a 68:



Your coin does not really have to take a back seat to either. Twohawks, this is one of the finest coins a member has ever posted from their collection to Coin Community. Thank you for allowing me to see this one. I would travel to you for the chance to get it under my lens.

Wut?

It would be a great pleasure to have a go at this coin. I would warn you, though, to consider that this is the Internet, and either of us could be entirely different persons than we represent ourselves to be. It's not like I have anything except Moderator status and a demonstrated skill with photography to convince you to trust me with what might be a $2000 coin. Well, maybe that and the fact that I've done stuff like this before.

With that said, I'm like a 2-hour drive from Bobby and Susan, they know where I live and I'm not sure I could take him if he's mad enough.

I will PM you with my physical address. If you choose to send the coin, I strongly advise you to send it via Priority Mail Flat Rate. My best guess at grade is a strong 66, which makes it about a $250 coin (the jump to 67 is huge) and that's what I'd insure for if it were me. That will require me to sign for it at this end. The cost will be about $10 each way insured.

In return I'll shoot it under black, white and grey backgrounds with both direct and axial lighting. I think this one will really pop under axial lighting, which will give you and the rest of the membership an idea of the "deception" involved with toners - you have to light them properly to be as pretty as the pictures show.

very nice R.....I hope to get my lighting right I'll post something..
Gorgeous coin!!Gene

Got the coin on my way to work, will comment more when I get home tonight. Posting from my phone is a slow process.

Dave E-mailed me The coin has been cleaned hard some time ago. It shows up under the lighting Dave is using. I will keep it anyway, as it still looks very nice in hand. But as Dave told me it would get kicked by any (good) TPG.