I asked my local coin dealer (to whom I have much respect) to send this coin to PCGS. I enjoy sending in a few coins a years "just to see what happens/how they grade." Anyway, he suggested that I not send it in as the coin was 'whizzed' ... He was really busy so I didn't ask many questions about his diagnoses. Could the group please pitch in here? I scanned high megapixel photos.
I think that your dealer may be correct. The coin is an AU coin which is a prime candidate for whizzing. The purpose of whizzing a coin is to simulate mint luster and pass an AU coin off as a mint state coin. The problem with whizzing is that it is much easier to detect in hand than in photographs. And you have given a scan which tends to mute luster. The appearance of the obverse, even at first glance just seems off. The devices are heavily bag marked while the fields are very clean. That is very strange. My guess is that if the coin is whizzed, they only whizzed the fields. When looking at the scan, the right obverse field provides the best evidence of the whizzing. If you look at the letters of TRVST, there is a small area above and between the letters RV that they missed and still show the original surfaces of the coin. When you compare that area with the appearance of the surrounding area that has been whizzed, the altered surface becomes much more evident.
You're right about my scan! I bought a really nice scanner with the hope of getting great results on coins... it's really, really bad for them. I spent so much on it that I'm kinda stuck with it..
Great explanation by Lehigh96! The coin has certainly been messed with an would receive a details grade at PCGS.
Paul, great explanation for people who aren't that familiar with field whizzing on coins. It is definitely a details coin that was AU, and has been messed with mechanically--if not a whizzing, a rough polishing, with a buffer. I have seen coins cleaned with Silver polish and a shoe buffer that creates a similar effect to whizzing. Shame as it is a good date, and would have been valued as an AU coin.
Sure looks messed with , but to tell for sure we'd need to see it in hand . I don't see any tell tale metal pushed into the devices , but the fact like Paul said that the right obverse field is so clean when the face isn't is a red flag . Also I don't see any brush strokes , but the better whizz jobs they are hard to see . There are a few hits in the fields but that could have been done to cover the whizzing . Still with this pic I can't tell but would definitely leave it alone .
Yes Morgandude it is a shame... just the age old coin hobby question, "Why?" ---- After looking the coin over at 12x for the better part of 10 minutes, I FINALLY see/understand what he was talking about. There are *tiny* what look like brush strokes in the fields. These go opposite of what they should (the ones I saw went from her eyes to the 4 o'clock position on the coin) Almost like "fake" luster.... What's funny is that when put it with other Peace dollars in a folder the coin actually looks quite nice, despite its bad traits! Strange thing is I almost feel bad for the coin... and want somebody to enjoy it.... weird eh?
Not at all , after all most of us love our coins , the fact is someone will enjoy this coin even if whizzed they'll just get it cheaper .
Help me here guys. Shouldn't I be seeing some 'movement of metal' if the coin was whizzed? I ain't seeing it.....or what the devil am I missing?
FYI NGC 's definition helped me understand what to look for. WHIZZED coins have been cleaned with a fast, rotary wire brush in order to simulate the effect of mint luster on a circulated coin. These are easily spotted by experts, as their lettering and other design details typically are distorted a bit by this action.
