How to tell a coin have been whizzed?

This one is whizzed, it's also out of my price range, just wondering how to tell from photo.

 

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I hope an expert comes along cause when I think of whizzing I think of seeing fine hairlines on a coin or seeing metal pushed around the devices creating like a lip or ghost type image. I am probably and could certainly use some clarification. I know I have a IHC that the color is really off and I bought it as whizzed - still a beaut. Maybe it is hiding behind the toning.

 

I'm with Mark. Usually you can see hairline scratches all over the surfaces, as well as areas in tight recesses where the original surface is still evident. Those pics are fixed so that none of that is visible if it's there.
Guy~

 

There's a couple of things going on with this coin. Poor attempt at "whizzing" is just one.

 

But what is pointing to whizzing or "poor attempt" an whizzing? I am not seeing any indicators. All I see is a previously cleaned coin starting to retone with a splotchy or uneven pattern.

 

Looking at the photos, I can't see any telltale signs of whizzing. On a closer view, one would see parallel ridges caused by successive passes of the abrasive brush, and metal "piled up" in thin ridges around the devices. This job was skillful enough to hide these signs. I suspect that some nicks and dings on the Liberty figure, and in the fields were smoothed out.

 

Kasparro, exactly. A wire brush was used. Hence poor attempt at whizzing. Secondly , the coin has been experimented with the process of "dipping", and That MM just doesent look right. IMHO

 

True "whizzing" Mark, if done expertly is done by using a powered rotating brush, but you can tell when this attempt was made, even if done properly. It breaks the "cartwheel" effect from the devices , through the surface to the rim of the coin.

 

Imo I don't see any signs of whizzing, the color looks a little unusual, but I'm not a 100% sure maybe re-toned? Btw the MM looks fine, they were all over the place on those quarters.

 

But the cartwheel effect can be broken by just over-dipping a coin. I have seen this on a few high grade morgans. I am really not trying to be difficult but am hoping there is another clue as to see and determine the whizzing.

 

This is also true Mark. Ksparrow said it best, I'm simply lazy and tired this evening. On close inspection you can see metal buildup along the ridges of the devices.(see motto) and date. I think on this coin, it's more evident that an attempt at altering the coins appearance was made with crude tools as opposed to those that are a bit more successful at fooling a novice collector. I apologize if I am not being more instructive at this time , my meds are kicking in, I should have signed off an hour ago. The coin was probably "brown enveloped" as well.

P.S. I don't take your insistence for more definitive answers as being difficult.

 

If you search Heritage archives for whizzed coins, you will find many that don't bear the telltale signs. The reason is that whizzing is extremely difficult to see in photos. The purpose of whizzing is to simulate luster but it looks very different than a coin's natural luster. Luster is the most difficult aspect of a coin's grade to capture in a photo. I have posted a photo of this coin many times before. At first glance it appears mint state. Upon closer inspection after noticing the odd luster is that the coin has been whizzed. Notice there are no hairlines.




Add that the OP coin has been retoned and seeing the signs of whizzing in a photo becomes even more difficult. My guess is that if you saw this coin in hand, you would notice something wrong almost immediately.

 

Thanks coinman and paul. That is like the 1868 IHC I have - you can't see the hairlines on it and the luster and cartwheel are flat. On it the color is way off.

 

Mark, check out the chin, on lehigh's example and the cap area as well.

 

great example lehigh. thanks

 

agreed GD. Thats why I stated it was a poor attempt at producing the desired "whizzing" result. Some folks have mastered that " counterfeiting " process using the proper tools. I'm sure you and Paul have come upon a few.

 

Thanks GD.

 

What exactly is "whizzing?"

Thanks.