So, this Judd-1732 trade dollar (see link) was struck in copper, and then was silver-plated in the early 20th century. PCGS still saw fit to slab it, but did mention the silver plating on the label. Think I could silver plate one of my 2-cent proofs and get it slabbed? It would look nice all silvery and shiny with its special slab label. Link: https://coins.ha.com/itm/patterns/1...4-4444.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515 Sold for $70K, Heritage, Apr 2017, lot 4444. Cal
am I reading right they only minted 10 of these 84 proofs?? that's why they slabbed it, it's essentially in an "authentic" slab with different words. People would spend 70k no matter what was written on the slab as long as they knew it was authentically one of the only 10 in existence.
My thought is this - although it was done post mint, they were both plated. The one imaged looks to have been plated well, without disrupting the underlying devices. This is one of two struck in copper, both are plated. It has been my experience that the uber rarities like this get special consideration at the TPGs. Right or wrong, they take some faults with a grain of salt on coins like this.
With only 2 known examples, I think they are letting the PMD silver plating slide. If you were to silver plate your coin(s) and send in for grading it would come back details.
I think you all missed the boat here? This is the first time I have seen such a strong pedigree chain on a coin and a Judd Proof and all of a sudden we see two silver plated examples. Probably a mercuric silver amalgamation type plating and not a Sheffield silver plating from my experience from zooming in/out on the surface and how this plating has worn from a well preserved Proof example? I am even thinking this may be a low zinc brass host and not even a high copper alloy. Very strange ... VERY WEIRD in terms of its metallurgy. John Lorenzo Numismatist United States
The silver plating was probably an attempt to make the pattern coins struck in copper look like the "regular" proof coins, which were struck in silver. Even though there may be as many as ten of the regular proofs to one privately available of the silver-plated copper patterns, the former are worth a lot more. Most recent sale of a silver 1884 trade dollar was for $420K versus $70K for the silver-plated copper proof. In other words, the silver plating of the copper pattern was likely done in an attempt to defraud. The silver 1884 trade dollars, all proofs, were made for collectors. They are mentioned in various mint records, but were supposedly all destroyed on Dept of Treasury orders. Ten or so were sold or traded clandestinely to dealer William Idler. They did not surface until the 20th century when Idler's estate was settled. Cal
That's so me good info Cal, when Colonial said that two have shown plated, it made me wonder, is it altered or, plated?
I want to be there when you silver plate one of your 2c proofs Cal. And I know exactly which one we should do too
