Hello again... Started going through and imaging a few coins I'll be listing on eBay over the next month...and I noticed the porous surface of this nickel. At first the coin appears to be a nicer coin...but the surface isn't smooth at all. Do we think it's a dug coin that has been whizzed? Also, I noticed a bit of the green under "CENTS" and I'm curious whether it should be left alone or if something like acetone would remove it? I'm not going to do a thing to this coin - but I'm just curious. I'm grateful for thoughts/opinions!
Really don't think it's been whizzed , unless it toned later . Can't really tell from those pics , dug is a good possibility . How does the third side look ? aka rim .
the brown color makes me think it is dug. I don't think that acetone harms coins but i've never used it before.
The frustrating part is that I have such a nice camera...but as I'm still stuck home for the summer I don't have my tripod/copy stand...so all these macro shots are taking me 15-20 attempts just to get one in focus. Yikes! Here is a closeup of the detail on the left side of the obverse, should give you an idea of what I'm seeing.
I just don't want to list it as something it's not and have someone be ****y at me for "misrepresentation." What grade would you guys give this coin?
The off-color surfaces (brownish) are not unusual for those coins when poorly stored such as in an envelope made with non-archival paper. Strike looks good with just a touch of wear in the expected places. I think it could easily make an AU grade EXCEPT for the spot of verdigris at 6 o'clock on the reverse. Try some acetone but don't expect it to help that much. Best guess is that you might get $20-30 for it as is.
Great candidate for an whiz job and later re-listing on ebay if this went for like $30 to a coin doctor since it is close to MS details.
Why not describe it similar to the way you have done here ?..... Possibly was found with a metal detector, surfaces are of unusual color, nearly uncirculated details, make your own conclusions on this one. I guarantee the coin is genuine only.
Hey, sorry I totally skimmed over the question about the rim. Honestly, it looks solid to me - no seams or strange marks. It's mainly the fields that look quite porous and caught my eye as less than satisfactory. You're right...plenty of detail left in this coin and few damaging marks. I was trying to decide whether to keep it (as it has more detail than any other shield nickel I've owned) or to sell it. If it's only going to bring $20...then I'll probably keep it and try to neutralize the verdigris with acetone.
I agree with Kanga easily Au details, but if you put it on ebay no telling what people will bid. I think keeping and neutralizing the verdigris is best..
Still a nice coin for someone on a budget or YN , it has plenty of detail and withoutn the porosity on the surface would get a AU details grade . I like the coin . Great to see honest sellers like you .
It seems not too many people understand the value of a good reputation these days. Everything is about what's happening in the moment.
I experimented with one of these that had some kind of schmutz on it. I did a Tarn-X dip for about a minute and the surface came out looking like that. Clean, but porous looking. I think the acid ate the copper away from the surfqce.
You'd be suprized , I'd rather deal with someone honest like you , than save a few bucks with a person I couldn't fully trust . I think most people would in the long run . Good luck in your endeavors .
I appreciate the vote of confidence! On eBay once I was accused of lying about the item I was selling. However, in the ad (for a box of newer Lincoln Cents that had a few older coins mixed in) I had: 1) Shown a photo of each roll laid out - these were the clear plastic rolls that you could see what the coins looked like 2) Listed the item as a mostly newer cents but not 100% 3) Counted each cent that even looked remotely like it wasn't a newer cent and listed the count in the description 4) Described the lot as mixed in the description Even after this, I was verbally abused in emails and given a negative feedback after I'd given him a positive (he'd bought it within 3 minutes of my listing it, BIN, and paid right away per their rules.) Of course, eBay decided that they couldn't do anything to help me, even though I had eight thousand pieces of proof that I had done everything right except give him the item and refund his money, along with sending him all the money in my bank account. His negative stood. Ever since then I try to be extremely careful - because no amount of money is worth people looking at me like they can't trust me, and no coin is worth stealing. I dunno...but I read all these posts on here about buyers pulling scams and taking advantage of the system...and I think, "When is the system going to be weighted in favor of the honest?"
I've got five items listed on eBay now - scared to death someone is going to try to pull something on me or be one of those online maniacs that's absolutely unreasonable. I wish those people could be banned from the Interwebs....lol...and maybe Earth...
You can't avoid them. If you're honest and complete in your listings then you can't do anymore. Fortunately coins seem to have fewer problem buyers than most other categories. I've got about 1000 sales behind me (that includes stamps) with only 1 or 2 refunds and NO negatives. It's going to happen. I'll get smacked. But when it happens I'll try and treat it as just water off a duck's back.
