Original surfaces vs lightly dipped?

The age old questions comes up. Having just bought and received a Bust Half with Undipped original surfaces, I wanted to compare it to a lightly dipped but market acceptable coin of the same series to compare. The 1833 Bust Half is mine. The 1829 is a random one I picked on eBay which is not my coin, but obviously not original at the same grade. What is the general consensus on eye appeal, and which would you rather own, with date being not a consideration? Assume they are the same date.

original surfaces



lightly dipped

 

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Possibly. If so, it was a long time ago. If it was, it has substantially retoned.

 

I think its funny that we have a general assumption that a majority of coins have been dipped. i think its less than most people think (but have no real evidence except that i talk to dealers that don't dip often yet they buy a lot of coins from individual older collectors), that said, its really more of a question of how much do you like toning..isn't it? I personally like minimal toning, but i also am mainly a collector of MS coins. In the end, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

 

Depends on the coin. If the “original” toning is ugly, I’d like it better lightly dipped. If the coin is below AU-55, I’d greatly prefer original surfaces. If the coin dates before 1878, I prefer original surfaces

 

I would bet that almost every bust half I have posted on this site, was dipped/cleaned at some point.

 

I'd choose the top example, a coin with this much circulation needs some dirt and "circulation skin" on it.
That being said, I've taken an interest in CBH varieties and will buy examples that show what to me are acceptable problems. Kind of a middle of the road between quality and quantity.

 

Or at least cleaned. While I've read several accounts from older collectors that it used to be a standard, and well accepted, practice to "clean" coins back in the '50s and '60s, and maybe before that, I'd agree that the assumption that an older coin has been cleaned in the past is more accurate than saying they have never been cleaned. Just my opinion based upon stories I've heard. No actual facts to back it up.

 

I totally prefer yours (the first one). But if I were to list both on eBay at the same price, I'm sure the second one would sell first, while the first might languish for a while.

 

I collected long before the 80s, and I never dipped or cleaned any of my coins. Doug, I think you are way overstating how much dipping went on. None of my friends who are collectors dipped or cleaned, and we all knew to wear white gloves, and handle coins only by the rims. Perhaps most dealers dipped, but collectors? I can only speak for what I directly know. I have dipped two coins in my entire collection career, since age 8, and both were experiments.

 

Both have probably been dipped but yours has retoned nicely. I would choose the top one any day.

 

I have read the books and articles, Doug. I know the practice of dipping was extant, but believe you are exaggerating the degree. I am your age group, so I have access to the same knowledge base.

 

"Lightly dipped" is like "slightly pregnant." A coin has either been dipped or it hasn't.

I would bet that few early US silver coins exist that have never been cleaned or dipped. I'm not sure if you could ever prove that a coin has not been dipped.

 

All I know is that throughout the 60's and into the 70's one could not go into a restroom at a coin show without nearly choking to death on the fumes from dealers dipping their new purchases. In local shops if you did find a toned coin in stock dealers would dip them right there in front of you prior to finalizing the purchase. (often without even bothering to ask if you wanted it dipped.)

 

I never experienced this, even once, and lived in a major city, with numerous coin shops. Nobody ever dipped a coin in my presence.

 

I still think it is funny! While i disagree with you about the %, i respect your knowledge and perspective. You may be right, we will never know for sure.

 

I took two Gold Panda's to my LCD to send in for grading. The first thing he asked was do I want to have him dip the coins. I did not not know was he meant. He explained and I said yes. He dipped and both coins did look better and retained original luster. Both coins graded higher than the dealer expected.

 

i just asked several of my coins, and a few of them were upset that i would even imply they skinny dipped.