Just wondering what you think was done to this coin? It was pretty cheap and I liked it anyway. I think the scans make it look worse than it really is. I will get to my real question after a few posts. To me it looks like it was re-colored or dipped in some fashion or form. And yes I know my scans are not really the best.
I bought some that look just like that from a dealer at the KY show---him and his wife....there were dipped....I sent one to ANACS and it came back cleaned.... I don't know if this dealer always does it or not but I didn't get his name....but if you got it at the show and it was an older dealer with a dark headed wife....younger than him....then it might have been the same guy. Speedy
I got this one online for $40 - the dealer stated that it was whizzed. I can not see the whizzing at all - plus I would have expected the whizzing to leave marks on the coin. I can not see any. Plus with my regular 1868 I can not see whizzing changing the color this much. I guess a profession "whizzer"(could not resist) could probably do one this good, but I am not sure. My real question is can "whizzing" a indian head penny change the color like this? I think I know who you are talking about - there was an older guy with his wife in the center aisle. Might have been them. I did not get any coins - the ones I really wanted were too much to haggle over. I am talking a couple chain cents. I am deciding if I want to go back tomorrow and buy the 1872 that I saw - if they still have it.
For $40 that is a deal, looks to be a solid EF - AU, depending on how much luster remains. I see no signs of of severe whizzing, though it does looks suspiciously clean.
mark, whizzing was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw your pictures. However, I agree that there don't appear to be any marks from the whizzing on the coin. Kinda strange...
I think the dealer hit the grade on the mark - ef-40. With the coin in hand you would see more wear. And what is "thumbed"?
"thumbing" a coin is to rub the coin with your fingers (usually the thumb, hence the term) the oils on your skin can hide hairlines to the untrained eye, the coin will darken over time in the area that have been thumbed. Its a scamers way to temporarily make a coin look higher grade then it is, by the time the unsuspecting purchasers discovers the problem the thumber is long gone... http://www.coin-gallery.com/cgglossary.htm and: http://en.mimi.hu/numismatic/thumbing.html thumbing is most often found on Morgan dollars.
Whizzed, dipped or thumbed, it's a beautiful example. I'd loved to have it for myself. I don't think 40 was too much to pay. Nice find!
