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CoinTalk > Coin Forums > US Coins Forum Whatcha Think of Dirty Coins?

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Page 1 of 2 1 2 >   LinkBack Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes 03-15-2008, 08:40 PM   #1 (permalink) Catbert .     Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,458 My Mood: Whatcha Think of Dirty Coins? I bought this most common year of the Trade Dollars about 4 months ago after seeing so many that were cleaned. The dealer also showed me several counterfeit versions (for learning purposes) and I guess I went in the other direction and decided to have a "dirty" and surely original coin in my collection. What do my fellow collectors think about having such grimy coin in your collection? Do you find it distracting or unpleasant? And, while I'm at it, would you grade this as EF? Obverse Detail Reverse Reverse Motto Last edited by Catbert; 03-15-2008 at 08:52 PM.   03-15-2008, 08:43 PM   #2 (permalink) mark_h Numismatist     Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,189 No - not dirty - original toned coin. I really like that puppy - very nice indeed. __________________ the other mark Best Baan Community Empty airtite seeks unwanted coins. All sizes welcome.   03-15-2008, 09:15 PM   #3 (permalink) GDJMSP Numismatist     Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: PA Posts: 23,515 I'd grade the coin VF35. There is too much wear around the head and the corronet on the obv to go higher IMO. __________________ knowledge ..... share it   03-15-2008, 09:20 PM   #4 (permalink) clembo A closed mind is no mind     Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Southern tip of that big pond known as Lake Michigan. Posts: 5,748 One of my local dealers refers to that as "good, original dirt". Nothing wrong with that all. I have lots of coins like that. clembo __________________ A closed mind is no mind at all...   03-15-2008, 11:24 PM   #5 (permalink) 900fine doggone it people like me     Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,807 My Mood: Quote: Originally Posted by clembo One of my local dealers refers to that as "good, original dirt". Nothing wrong with that all. I have lots of coins like that. Right on. Nice coin. I've heard 'em call it "just good, honest wear - no problems". I kinda like the color of this one. Nice work, catbert !   03-15-2008, 09:22 PM   #6 (permalink) mark_h Numismatist     Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,189 No expert here, but I would probably say XF40 at best and GDJMSP may be correct. Of course you have the coin in hand and we only have pictures. I kind of like that dark look on that trade dollar. __________________ the other mark Best Baan Community Empty airtite seeks unwanted coins. All sizes welcome.   03-15-2008, 09:32 PM   #7 (permalink) ldhair Coin Collector     Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,396 Nice coin. VF35. __________________ Larry   03-15-2008, 09:41 PM   #8 (permalink) risk_reward Member   Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 40 I like them dirty. I just bought $40 face in junk silver. I enjoy going through them and seeing what I find. I was surprised to find a 42 Mercury that was very clean, looked like it might have been a proof. The oldest coin I got was a 1920 dime. I also got a standing liberty quarter without a date. Dirty means a story. Where has she travelled over these last 130 years? How did she end up in your hand and not destroyed or lost? Her next 130 years will be less interesting than her last 130.   03-15-2008, 09:46 PM   #9 (permalink) Cloudsweeper99 Treasure Hunter     Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 5,234 I don't mind wear and I don't mind toning. But I don't usually buy dirty coins. This coin looks to be very close to the line between VF and XF. Too close for me to tell.   03-15-2008, 10:10 PM   #10 (permalink) Aslanmia Coin Hoarder     Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 963 Beautiful coin! The dirt helps bring out the details.   03-15-2008, 10:30 PM   #11 (permalink) Ed Goldman coin collector   Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 819 Now the chinese will dirty them up.   03-15-2008, 10:51 PM   #12 (permalink) rotobeast Old Newbie     Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,789 I like it ! Nice final picture, too. Good shot of the eye to prove it authentic.   03-15-2008, 10:56 PM   #13 (permalink) Catbert .     Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,458 My Mood: Quote: Originally Posted by rotobeast I like it ! Nice final picture, too. Good shot of the eye to prove it authentic. I was trying to show the motto more clearly for your grading opinion. Now, I stumbled into showing the eye detail. Thank you for pointing that out! Please tell me more what a counterfeit would reveal in the eye area!   03-15-2008, 11:10 PM   #14 (permalink) rotobeast Old Newbie     Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,789 Quote: Originally Posted by Catbert I was trying to show the motto more clearly for your grading opinion. Now, I stumbled into showing the eye detail. Thank you for pointing that out! Please tell me more what a counterfeit would reveal in the eye area! A counterfeit eye would normally show no pupil. Here's a couple of sites to read about counterfeit Trade Dollars.... http://reviews.ebay.com/Fake-U-S-Tra...00000000049445 http://www.coinworld.com/news/102102/news-3.asp http://home.comcast.net/~reidgold/dr...s/chinese.html Those should help.   03-15-2008, 11:35 PM   #15 (permalink) SCNuss Senior Member   Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 354 In "cleaning' coins, I like to think of it as similar to cleaning your face. Dirt and grime need to be removed with mild cleaners, and reasonable care. However, scraping off the skin (toning) in the process is not desirable.   Page 1 of 2 1 2 > Bookmarks Digg del.icio.us StumbleUpon Google Would you like to support CoinTalk? Coin Talk Code of Honor 1. Post unto others as you would have them post unto you. 2. Keep it clean, like a 1950s family television show. 3. 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