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 Replies: 15 / Views: 2,942 |
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Valued Member
United States
102 Posts |
I came across this coin in a plastic sleeve. It was tucked away in a box with some other coins from my grandmother's estate. The coin itself looks to be in excellent condition, but it does have issues with haze on both sides. Take a look.   I'm assuming the haze is something that will cause the coin to grade lower when submitted, but is there something I can do to remedy this myself? Acetone? Ideas? |
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Moderator
 United States
15414 Posts |
This is a lovely, well-struck and well preserved coin that exhibits some all-around uniform toning from years of careless storage. My advise ...... DO NOT attempt anything to clean it! The 'hazing' as you call it (toning in my book) is not distracting at all ... and will not decrease any technical grade a TPG will give ...... but any cleaning attempts surely will detract from what this coin is today. Let it be just as it is.  For the record .... this 1936 Albany Half Dollar has a net distribution of only 17,671 coins. Fun fact .... did you know that Ms. Gertrude Lathrop (designer of this coin) kept for the duration of the commission a live beaver in her studio courtesy of the NY State Conservation Department? No wonder that fella looks so happy munching on a Maple branch. I'm curious about the bright spot I see on the Beaver's hip ..... (BTW, this is the Obverse of the coin, you have your photos backwards) .... the few marks I see there are perhaps planchet marks from the original strike ..... the Beavers hip is the high point of the Obverse design. Also wondering about the bright spots on the shoulders/coats/hair of Mr. Dongan and Mr. Livingston on the reverse. If this rub is wear than this lovely will come back from a TPG as AU58 ....... if not than I say the fields are clean and this is a MS65+ coin. Great well-struck coin filled with history ..... please do not attempt any cleanings. David Edited by nickelsearcher
06/21/2010 8:53 pm
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Valued Member
 United States
102 Posts |
David,
Thanks so much for the guidance. This coin is part of my late grandmother's collection, of which she has three near-complete sets of Commems. Some are "toned" as this one is, some are not. The bright spots are not wear, but places where the plastic sleeve had come in contact with the "toning" and rubbed it off. There is zero wear anywhere on the coin as best I can tell.
I will certainly NOT do anything to this coin before sending it out for grading.
And yes, that is one nice beaver.
Cheers!
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Moderator
United States
15414 Posts |
Excellent reply ..... you can really mess up by trying to 'improve' the look of these coins ...... My best advise is to keep them original and cherish each one as the gem they are. Quote:
This coin is part of my late grandmother's collection, of which she has three near-complete sets of Commems. Really! We would enjoy seeing more photos of that collection! Let us know how that lovely Albany turns out in TPG opinion. David |
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Valued Member
United States
102 Posts |
Okay, since you asked. 1936-D Cincinnati Commemorative   1937 Antietam Commemorative   More to come.sometime. |
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Moderator
United States
15414 Posts |
Wonderful photos of great coins ...... but it's time for me to go to bed for work at 0530 tomorrow! A few quick comments ..... Your 1936-D Cincinnati Music Center has a net distribution of only 5,005 coins ..... and a wicked tale of greed and deceit ... Google it for fun ..... you will find that this coin is the poster-child of the greed rampant in 1936 US Commemorative and minted for the profit of Thomas G. Melish. This events described on this coin have no basis in historical fact ..... the events commemorated were 'made up' by Mr. Melish ...... and served to put a spike in the great classic era. You have a wonderful example ..... DO NOT clean it. I say most TPG would grade MS64+. It's worth a lot of money as-is. Your 1937 Antietam is as well a wonderful coin ..... beautifully toned and well struck. Total distribution was 18,028 coins. Your great photos show wear on the high points of this coin .... General Lee beard and the trees above Burnside Bridge. Assuming that is real rub ..... this is AU58 ..... if not ... then this is as well as MS65+ coin. Great coins I say .... Post the remainder of your collection in individual threads so the experts can chime in with their opinions. David |
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Valued Member
United States
102 Posts |
And another interesting note.
Apparently, many of the commems in the collection were purchased from the store of David M. Bullowa, the man who, best I can tell, literally "wrote the book" on early commemorative coins. I know this because his shop's stamp is on the back of many of the small coin envelopes.
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Moderator
United States
15414 Posts |
We are all looking forward to whatever you can share of the collection ...... sounds like great fun and a learning experience for you. One 'request' if I may ..... a repeat from a prior comment ... Quote:
Post the remainder of your collection in individual threads so the experts can chime in with their opinions.
This helps to keep things orderly and grants maximum visibility to your coins ....... for example ..... I have to wonder how many folks actually viewed that lovely Antietam since it is buried inside this post on the Albany? We are here to help and share the joy of collecting. Show us some more photos. David |
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Valued Member
United States
102 Posts |
Okay, okay. Just calm down, David. :D
I'll have some time this later this week and this weekend to photograph another batch of 15 or 20. I'll post each in a separate thread, and I'll try not to overload the forum with new coins.
Any requests for Commems you'd like to see?
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Moderator
United States
15414 Posts |
Indeed ..... I'm calm as a clam waiting on those new photos.  My enthusiasm for your found collection is intended to help you with knowledge and history of these great coins ....... with no personal gain on my behalf. That is the only goal of CCF .... to help with collector education. Soooooo ...... Since you asked  ..... show us some individual thread photos of the following coins ...... the toughest to find in MS of the US Classic Silver series: 1893 Isabella Quarter1900 Lafayette Dollar 1915 Pan-Pacific Half 1921 Alabama Half 1921 Missouri Half 1922 Grant Half 1923 Monroe Half 1925 Vancouver Half 1926 Sesquicentennial Half 1927 Vermont Half 1928 Hawaiian Half 1935 Hudson Half Thats my personal Top-12 list ..... sooooo ... photos? David Edited by nickelsearcher
06/22/2010 10:09 pm
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Valued Member
United States
102 Posts |
Sorry to say, but you'll have to wait on the Hawaii. That one's stored away in a secure location far from prying eyes. But I'll have photos of your other requests soon. And seriously, thanks for all the information and advice. It's folks like you that make forums like this the special place they are. Cheers! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
Wow .. I was reading along and did not want to interrupt... But have to say those are some very nice coins. You are very lucky to have such a nice collection. I have never seen the Albany or Cincinnati .. outside of the RedBook. It will be very nice to see any others you would like to share .. when you have time. |
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Valued Member
United States
102 Posts |
Grades are in.
Albany - Genuine (PVC Residue)
Antietam - MS65
Cincinnati - Genuine (Questionable Color)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2120 Posts |
If they says it's PVC then a treatment may be in order along with a resubmission. Not sure how to properly treat PVC damage though. Hopefully someone will add on.
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Moderator
United States
15414 Posts |
It's difficult getting raw coins through PCGS ...... I can't see the problems in the Cincinnati although the MS65 for the Antietam is about what I expected. Keep a good cheer and continue to show the coins! David Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
PVC residue can be removed with a soaking in acetone. However, the residue may have already left underlying damage which would render the coin ungradable anyway.
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Replies: 15 / Views: 2,942 |
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Posted 06/21/2010 9:45 pm
