toned morgan ... artificial or natural?

thanks dimefreak ... yes, there was something about this coin that I found compelling ... it has the detail of a MS64 with the character and charm of a well worn VG

Hey by the way ... since you are a dime freak ... do you think the 1792 Half Disme was a pattern coin or a legal tender coin intended for circulation ... there seems to be some controversy over this ...

 

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is that yours????


Now for you question. Both, the coin in the photo attached is actually one intended for circulation. You can tell because first off it is silver and pattern coins are composed of copper. second they would have made sure the coin looks as perfect as possible and thats certainly not the case with the coin in the picture.When the coin was made it was clearly not going to be around for too long, I guess you could call it a trial coin??? I have never seen the copper pattern in person but it is rumored to have existed.


Most interesting thing about the coin is apparently the silver used to make the coin actually was from George Washingtons stash.

 

thanks for that info dimefreak!

no it's not mine (i wish!)

i actually agree with you that it must have been intended for circulation ... but it doesnt appear in the Redbook of US Coins as part of the Half Dime section

i was interested to read the the woman on the coin might have been modeled after Martha Washington (not sure if that is true or not) ... i've heard some people call it the martha washington half dime. it certainly looks a lot different from the other US Coins minted in the 1790's

Do you (or anybody) happen to know what the words on the obverse mean?

 

Liberty Parent of Science and Industry

Its a very small window so they just shortened a couple words is all

 

Ooops I thought you wanted to know what the were

It was part of the enlightenment (this country was free at one time). The forefathers didn't want this country to be like all the others. Religion was not the number one priority in the United States. And also the portrait is of Martha and the reason behind that goes back to the words on the coin in a sense. George felt if he was on the coin it would kind of be like he was king. ( The idea of being a president was brand new at this time.)

 

thanks dimefreak ... i never knew that!!!

i find this sort of stuff really interesting

 

It's listed under Contract Issues and Patterns (p.85 of 2008 book), but the bust doesn't look right. Granted, the photo in the book is very small, but the swept-back hair seems slightly different, as does the eye and the three large ringlets of hair around the ear.

Chris

 

thanks cpm ... so redbook thinks it's a pattern coin

on the coin not looking right ... i dont know ... it's not mine ... found the image doing a web search ... photos of this coin are hard to find

 

Yep, she is naturally toned, and I think she's a beauty!

 

yes and PCGS lists' it as a Pattern also. the fact still remains that washington wanted circulating money so he issued these coins.

 

I'm a junior member and am just learning about altered coins, dipping, all of that. I am in love with the Morgan dollar though, and I think this coin is gorgeous! (I'm buying a few 78's and 79's now, but nothing this beautiful.)

 

I just got this coin in the mail today

This is what the photo the seller posted looked like ...


This is what the coin looked like in hand ...


I guess this shows

1. what a bad photographer i am or
2. how any coin can be made to look great with lighting saavy

I think i am going to return it. I bought it because I liked the photo ... unfortunately the coin doesnt do the photo justice.

Thoughts?

 

I does not surprise me at all that the coin does not look like the photo. Typically when you see slab glare on a photo of a toned coin, it indicates that the rainbow toning only appears at a particular angle. And at that angle it is impossible to take a photo that captures the toning while eliminating slab glare.

If you are unhappy with the coin, I think you should return it. Rainbow toned common date MS64 Morgan Dollars are not rare and you can be very selective with the one you purchase. Make sure you like everything about the coin, including the untoned side.

 

Thanks for that feedback Lehigh ...

I am a babe in the woods re: toned coins (this is the first one i've ever bought) ... maybe i should just buy one that I can see in hand and forget about auctions and optimized photos.

 

Thanks GD ... yes i am sure it's the same coin ... i just didnt realize how homely the coin would be in all angles except a "special one" in bright light!

maybe i should just stick to nice worn circs and brilliant uncs ... they look the same (pretty much) from any angle

anyway this was an educational experience!

 

This is a really good discussion. I've picked up some very useful information. I'm focusing on reasonably priced, circulated coins right now, at least in Morgans. I'll probably wait till live auctions where I can hold the coin in-hand before bidding on any toners.

 

Doug,

While I understand your point and agree with you to a certain extent, I promise you that nobody (including you) would look at my coins in hand and says "ehh, so what"

Discerning true eye appeal from a photograph is not easy, but it can be done. My collection is proof of that. Want more proof, you and I both knew what this coin was going to look like before the buyer photo was posted. We very rarely ooh and aah about coins that don't deserve it.

Paul