New Quiz: Can you follow instructions, EXACTLY?

Putting aside all the "jokers" on CT who are only interested in trying to be funny rather than learning something...

...because there are some things that are not funny in numismatics. Let's see those of you who can read and follow instructions exactly.

Describe what you see in this 20X image:

You are not to mention the visible stars or design (it's a Trade dollar). The quiz is to describe EXACTLY what you see on the surface of this coin's field in the 20X micrograph.

I'll start. I see the right side of a Trade dollar obverse. The field is virtually flat with lots of small contact marks. Now, without repeating what I see, describe WHAT YOU SEE to add to my comment made to a blind collector.


PS As you will see, there are no wrong answers, only some better and best answers so hopefully all of you will give it a try.

 

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The first thing you did was mention the design...a trade dollar.

 

............. it also appears to have been cleaned sometime in the past and looks a little dull, lusterless in places as if struck thru a little grease

 

Doubling of the stars' rays.
Doubling on the left side of Liberty's left (to viewer) leg.
Rock details appear poorly struck or at least not detailed enough for what appears to me to be the degree of wear.
Liberty's fingers are poorly detailed. So, it's either a poor strike, a worn die, or a counterfeit.
There are raised pimples on Liberty's legs. These could be die rust or something associated with a counterfeit.

 

This quiz will get you to have a better eye for detail. So, I'm going to use this post I quote as an example BECAUSE toughcoins can take my abuse better than the "snowflakes."

Remember you are asked to describe what you see to a BLIND MAN.

ToughCOINS, posted: "The surface in the area of the field looking the smoothest is actually the most disturbed. [Disturbed? This tells the blind man nothing. What does it look like?] Conspicuously absent from that area are all of the contact marks one should expect to see [Good observation! The blind man can imagine this] , as evident from same in the better protect areas of the coin."

 

Publius2, posted: Doubling of the stars' rays.
Doubling on the left side of Liberty's left (to viewer) leg.
Rock details appear poorly struck or at least not detailed enough for what appears to me to be the degree of wear. Liberty's fingers are poorly detailed. So, it's either a poor strike, a worn die, or a counterfeit. There are raised pimples on Liberty's legs. These could be die rust or something associated with a counterfeit."

Nice description that a blind man can visualize but the instructions said to IGNORE all of this.

All that was required is to describe what you see in the coin's FIELD.


expat, posted: "It also appears to have been cleaned sometime in the past and looks a little dull, lusterless [Good, The blind man understands this] in places as if struck thru a little grease[/QUOTE]

WHAT ELSE?

 

First thing I saw was the "Left Side" of a Trade Dolar.

 

Aside from the small contact marks in the field that Skip mentions, there is also a mottled haziness to the field......the center of which looks like an old dried up uneven oil stain on a garage floor.

 

BuffaloHunter, posted: "Aside from the small contact marks in the field that Skip mentions, there is also a mottled haziness to the field......the center of which looks like an old dried up uneven oil stain on a garage floor."

Good. Need more details - the guy is blind.

 

I see aliens. lol



and yellow dots that move...

 

A cleaning and retoned covered by a dark spot.

 

Multiple pin head spots that may have had a cleaning attempt. Irregular stain like surface of varying tone that may be the result of a cleaning attempt.

PS
Could you have used a less condescending thread title? Maybe something thought provoking that makes the reader want to read further like "Describe exactly what you see".

 

@Insider You still haven't acknowledged that your instructions were wrong to start out. This is not the "right side of a Trade dollar obverse".

 

Don't try and teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time, and it annoys the pig.

 

Dynoking, post: "Multiple pin head spots that may have had a cleaning attempt. [Good] Irregular stain like surface of varying tone that may be the result of a cleaning attempt.

PS
Could you have used a less condescending thread title? Maybe something thought provoking that makes the reader want to read further like "Describe exactly what you see"."

No. When I didn't follow the instructions in my "blue book" I flunked the quiz. When I had EVEN one grammar/spelling mistake in a paper I had to write the entire composition over. The Jesuit wrote at the top in red: 60 (failing) REWRITE PAL.

 

I see a field with some very small dings....I see some discoloration blotches...I see some bagmarks.....but for a field at 20X, I would say it is pretty clear and not heavily scuffed or bagmarked.

 

I went back for a 2nd look.....the stars and the shape of the leg look very well-struck, not blotchiness or mushy strikes....tell signal of a well-struck coin.

 

Inspector43, posted: "You still haven't acknowledged that your instructions were wrong to start out. This is not the "right side of a Trade dollar obverse".
Those words were NOT my instructions! They were my mistaken comment at the start.

60, Rewrite pal.