Coin Experiment That Went Right

Was going through my inherited coin collection recently and my LCS noticed my nice circulated 1817 large cent, but noted it was heavily polished, to the point where it was shiny and purple-looking. Decided to try an experiment on it that both of my LCS have told me about, since I had nothing invested in this coin and can't really ruin it anymore than it already is. I made a bag of old wheaties and stuck the LC in it and sloshed it around while at work. I knew it would maybe knock it down a grade, but I had nothing to lose. After messing with it for a better part of the work day, I put it back in a flip and returned to the LCS. They were shocked at the results. He said he was making a submission for PCGS and that I could throw it in if wanted. I was hesitant, thinking it would still get a details grade. It came back today with a clean grade. You can still see some of the polished color in the back in the middle, but not as bad as it was. Also, it has some verdigris on the reverse. Its not the most attractive coin, but not bad. So, I have $28 invested in this total. I am happy.

Sorry, I didn't take any "before" pics, which would make this thread a little better. I never think of these things before it's too late.

 

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Do you have a before image? That might help a lot for the discussion.

 

That's too bad.
I mean, good for you -
Too bad in general.

 

No I dont. I don't think of doing things like that until after the fact. I know it doesn't help not having it.

 

What's too bad?

 

Probably that the coin is in the condition it is in (being polished and having verdigris) and that PCGS didn't catch it.

 

One reason to not put blind faith in the graded coins that come in an "expert big name" slab

 

I agree - if you can fool the so called best then what about the rest? How many slabbed coins are slabbed just for the $$?

 

So what you`re saying is that you took a heavily polished, shiny coin, put it in a bag of old wheaties, and after a day it got covered in patina we currently see on the photo? Did I get it right?

 

That's what I understood him to say but I don't believe it.

 

I didn't just put it in the bag with the wheaties. I shook and rolled the bad around to simulate years of circulation. It knocked off the top layer of polished junk and was left with the natural copper below.

 

What would I have to gain here lying about this? My LCS saw it themselves.

 

Glad to see PCGS was the one INCAPABLE of identifying a problem coin.

 

That must have really looked weird...walking around all day with your hand in your pocket, shaking it around. I'm surprised you didn't get fired or arrested.

 

Hahaha! It was in a ziplock bag, but I did have it in my pocket some.

 

I reported this for inappropriate content. My children read this and are crying. HAHAHAHAHAHA

 

There was a natural patina under your heavily polished, shiny coin? Is there a natural patina under every polished coin surface, or was your coin special?

I got the feeling you`re not describing your coin right. Was your coin dark brown, but with some kind of lacquer or varnish on it?

Or was it bright red and shiny? That's how I always imagine heavily cleaned copper coin, maybe this is why I`m so confused by this story.

 

It was almost a deep red/purple color. I have another coin that kind of resembles what it looked like. Will have to upload.

 

Pile on.......!

Heck, I've got a scrubbed Stone Mountain that I've been thinking of cracking out and putting in my pocket change for a spell. Nothing wrong with that, and if I ever decide to submit it to one of the TPG's, well? At least it wasn't whizzed and I know it would probably grade. I could care less ,as I don't submit to the TPG's but in my estimation, OP has done nothing wrong.