Hi, I'm obviously a newbie around here (and to coin collecting too) and was hoping someone might have some insight for me. I've got a 1941 Walking Liberty half dollar that is 2 toned. That is, Liberty herself and the round part of the sun are gold (or some other gold colored metal). I can't seem to find any record of a coin like this anywhere. I've attached a picture (I think). Has anyone seen one like this? thanks! Hans
That seems pretty suspicious to me because the bust is is the only part of the coin that is toned. I don't think its natural, but i'm also not a toning expert so don't take my word for it. Plus, am I wrong, or does toning usually start at the edge?
Thanks for the reply - perhaps I shouldn't have used the word 'toned' but I didn't know what else to call it. It looks intentional to me as well.
Agree, I don't think it's 'toning' either. Bad choice of words on my part.Actually it's not just the bust. It's all of 'Liberty', the round part of the sun and the date. It doesn't look like paint or a marker to me. It actually looks like a different type of metal but I'm not sure. I don't think I want to scratch it to see how deep it goes either
Thanks Mod! Are you certain? It does look plated to me too if anything. I would assume that it's practically worthless then?
Certain ? No, of course not, not without seeing the coin in hand. But I have seen plenty of them that were plated in exactly that manner and I would bet this another of them. As to value - CT is correct - it's worth melt.
Thanks again for the replies! Just out of curiosity, why would someone plate a coin like that? Would it be a carnival prize or souvenir shop piece?
Because they think they can sell it for more than they could if it was not plated. Believe it or not, there are many folks who collect these things. Just think of all the plated SQ's that have been sold. And they do the same thing ASE's as well.
I would definitely say that someone plated the design elements of the coin. Its still a silver coin though!
im kinda curious in what the coins weight if in fact the inlay is gold wouldnt that increase the melt value to more then the approx amount of 3 to 4 dollars for the silver? just wondering,
Gold is one of the most malleable metals known, and the amount used for the kind of partial coin plating used on that coin will be worth, at most, a couple of cents when gold hits $1,000.
