So, this coin has a little bit of luster...even though my super-macro image doesn't show it. Are all of these tiny scratches indications of cleaning? I didn't pay much more than melt value, but I still want to hear your opinions on the "cleaned" status of the coin so I can learn more about collecting. I realize that 83-O is a pretty common year, regardless. Thanks!
It is only worth melt value and no more. It has been harshly cleaned as you can tell from the hairlines going every which way. You would never see lines from die polishing at the Mint on any of the devices, only the fields. Chris
The 83-O can be found in MS64 for very reasonable prices. This is my favorite one in my collection. Besides having beautiful textile toning, it was an unattributed Top 100 VAM. To me, it was worth the $125 price tag. Chris
It's a nice coin, though. Put it in one of those sulfur envelopes, and look at it after a year. It'll never get back its surface, but it may rehabilitate, some. You just hate melting these, you know?
Here is my 83o. coins The first is an NCG 64, and I paid about $120 for it. The second is also a NGC 64 and I paid $110 for it. I am into toners
I wouldn't have guessed. It's important for the OP to note that toners routinely sell for a premium over blast white examples, and he should be able to find a nice one in the $75-85 range. Chris
I'll try that out! I'd definitely never melt one down. I picked it up because I just like looking at coins (and this one had great detail, cleaned or not) and figured this one was in the best shape I could get without paying a "numismatic premium". I don't mind the "toner" coins, but I do have a fascination with the "white blast"...so it's nice to hear they're on the more affordable side of things! Thanks for the insight everyone! I'm absolutely addicted now, but I'll have to wait to buy some nice coins with some numismatic value and beauty until I finish my PhD program.
Please tell me about 'Sulfur' envelopes...what result on silver, and are they designed for that, or is this an 'off-label' use?
I forget the brand of envelopes but really a lot of paper and cloth products contain trace sulfur. Coins are funny, though. Some will tone a lot, others right next to them won't tone at all. I know that from just the junk silver I used to keep in bags.
They are called Kraft envelopes and are 2"x2". You can find them at most coin supply stores online such as JP's Corner. Chris
That is great! Blast white coins are nice in their context. Be aware that most blast white coins have been dipped. A Silver coin that is 130+ years old would oxidize over the years and not be blast white. Generally, ALL Silver coins tone eventually, in one way or another due to environmental factors--just look at antique silverware, and you can see the same chemical reaction. As long as the coin hasn't been excessively dipped (after all, dipping does remove some of the surface of the coin), they are still market acceptable.
