It would be an interesting experiment to see how much handling it took to get "crud" versus how much it took to get wear. I bet the crud could develop a LOT faster.
I get it, I was just wondering if there was an event or something that caused it to happen then. Something that cold be pinpointed.
I wouldn't bet on that. Yes, wear is usually due to repeated contact at a given point, but it doesn't have to be repeated very often to break the luster !
I was browsing ebay today and saw this MS graded coin. No way the graders could have missed all this dirt and debris in the devises! Wow.
Not that I am an expert, but I would have given it a 60. I don't think dirt necessarily will lower a grade. It reduces eye appeal....
I've also noticed quite a few times older slabbed gold that has clearly visible residue from putty or something all over it that apparently was missed when graded yet became more visible after it aged.
Why? The hairlines? Gold is super easily marked up. You can tell in the holder picture it actually looks pretty nice.
Nice looking group of gold and and all look mostly accurately graded, except for the 1906 QE, which looks like an MS-62/63. 'dude
That effect is commonly seen on genuine Indian Head quarter eagles. It is caused by later die state erosion of the die faces. It would not really effect the grade or desirability of the coin.