So I received an Old Spanish Trail coin today on approval from one of my trusted dealers. I like the look of the coin, but I'm a bit mystified, because the finish doesn't look like anything I've ever seen on a coin before. It is not bright, lustrous or 'frosty' (as they describe some coins), but rather the lustre is more creamy and subdued. Both sides still have a cartwheel effect. My first question is whether this coin may be an example of what is known as a 'satin finish' (or lustre)? My second question is whether most or all of the Spanish Trail Dollars look similar (in terms of their having subdued, creamy lustre)? Finally, there are some parallel vertical lines that appear on the right horn of the cow's skull. They don't look like they were caused by bagmarks (they are just too perfectly parallel). Could these lines be the result of a die break? or perhaps could they just be part of the design of the die? Thanks for any insights and knowledge you can lend me. When all is said and done, I suppose that I should keep the coin, different kind of lustre or not, since I still like it.
i dont have any expert opinions. however I have always liked this coin and your example looks beautiful to my eye. nice pickup!
I have physically seen a few examples in hand back in the day when I was a real coin auction/ show circuit participant . Almost everyone I have seen in-hand is very typical of having a " subdued " steely look to them . The example you provided is in my opinion a very nice MS example of an extremely low mintage commemorative which was hardly well received by collectors of the day . Nice Buy.
