Can you tell if the left side of the reverse is damaged or if this might just be interference with the picture by the slab? The denticles on the left side appear to be corroded and the leaves on the wreath just to the left of the tails of the arrow appear to be worn down. Otherwise, it looks really good.
Looks like a weak strike to the left and the light was positioned to the left when they took the picture so you may have some distortion from the slab or the lighting. Lou
Well some collectors would pay less if it's not a perfect strike but other collectors would love to have a coin like this. Just depends on the individual. I would want to see a few more pictures before I made the purchase. Lou
For the sake of curiosity what grade did they give the coin ? As to your question, it certainly looks like something happened - the luster in that area is gone. Do you have any pics of the obverse ?
If I was the owner of that coin, I'd submit it under PCGS's grading guarantee. All I have are pics to go by, but I suspect that is PVC damage.
Yep, that's it. Is was PCGS graded MS 64 RD. I wasn't quite comfortable with the way it looked in the photos. The obverse is the nicest I've seen, however. I added the obverse photo here. (Good detective work)
Since you brought that up, to my (admittedly limited) knowledge, PVC damage would have to have come from a source other than the slab. Aren't the slabs acrylic plastic? The seller of this coin has a warning in the listing that slabs are not air-tight or moisture-tight. Is this correct? If so, what is the best way to store them?
Definatly a weak strike. in my book a weak strike on the outer part or the denticles in this case is a big no no. this coin should actually probably be bought at a precentage less than bid. only fully struck gems command prices over ask. might be a great bargain if the coin is a key or a better date.
Yes the PVC had to be there before it was slabbed, and the TPG'ers missed it [/QUOTE]The seller of this coin has a warning in the listing that slabs are not air-tight or moisture-tight. Is this correct? If so, what is the best way to store them?[/QUOTE] No, they are not airtight. In a moisture/humidity controlled environment.
Personally I think it is the lighting and not damaged. I will say over-priced, but it is a nice coin. As for the strike everything I have read points to the fact that the 1909-S was a weak strike. So it is not a suprise that this coin is a ms64 graded coin. I think you will find that PCGS comes closer to grading the key date indians better than the other grading companies - I am only basing this off the number of coins I looked at before getting my 1877 and 1909-S. I know for a fact my 1877 is NGC graded. Then again maybe I am undergrading the key dates. Just my humble opinion.
Mark - take a look at the original pics on the link to the auction. Look closely at the reverse, center serif of the E in CENTS, bottom serif of the C in CENTS, and at the wreath immediately to the left of the C - you will see green in all locations. Now look at the large leaves on the bottom left of the wreath, the inner edge of the leaves ( as compared to the outer edge ) going up the left side, and the field surfaces to the left and between the O and C. Can you see how these areas are slightly grey in color as compared to the areas immediately adjoining them ? That's where I believe PVC has been removed before the coin was slabbed. But - they didn't get it all - the green I mentioned above. I could care less about the denticles being weak.
I saw the areas that you mention - to me it looks like the lighting with some dirt specs. The lighting make it look somewhat green. I would not gamble on the coin for that fact alone. As for the coloring around the leaves that looks like smudges on the holder casting onto the coin. But I bow to your wisdom on this coin. I think this is one of the reasons it is always better to see something in person. Maybe I will start another thread later - I have IHC from the picture it looked like it was scratched from the pictures I might ask questions on it.
I see no damage whatsoever on dentils on the reverse. What I do see is either weak dentils on the die from die erosion, or more likely, just a weak strike. That said, I do not like this coin. I do not like the color -- to mottled, but what worries me even more is that RD IHCs are a ticking time bomb, IMHO. The spots on the reverse are also problematic (see below). Thanks for sharing...Mike p.s. On the green spots: Green can be PVC, it can also be copper sulfate, a common corrosion byproduct. I cannot be sure from the photos, but if I had to guess, I would guess corrosion, not PVC. If I owned the coin, I would send it back to PCGS for a grade review and would be sure and mention the spots on the reverse.
