What's the best thing to do with this 1921 peace dollar to make it look more attractive

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by 1916DMerc, Oct 26, 2017.

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What's the best way to make this coin more attractive

  1. How to clean

    3 vote(s)
    60.0%

  2. What products to use

    5 vote(s)
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Multiple votes are allowed.
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  1. Stork

    Stork I deliver

    Then don't ruin it by dipping it, lightening it, cleaning it. Let me use the language you are speaking...if you mess with it you will cut it's value and leave cash on the table.
     
    Stork, Oct 26, 2017
    #21 + Quote Reply
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  3. C-B-D

    C-B-D Well-Known Member

    Not to mention a 1921 with better than average strike in the hair/central areas!
     
    C-B-D, Oct 26, 2017
    #22 + Quote Reply
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  4. TheFinn

    TheFinn Well-Known Member

    The world doesn't need another washed-out, over-dipped '21 Peace Dollar. If that is what you want, there is one at every other table at any coin show. Go buy one of those and sell that one to someone that appreciates what you have there.
     
    TheFinn, Oct 26, 2017
    #23 + Quote Reply
    Two Dogs likes this.
  5. Jaelus

    Jaelus The Hungarian Antiquarian Supporter

    Looks fine. Don't touch it.
     
    Jaelus, Oct 26, 2017
    #24 + Quote Reply
    baseball21 likes this.
  6. BigTomato

    BigTomato New Member

    Please leave it alone!
     
    BigTomato, Oct 26, 2017
    #25 + Quote Reply
  7. Dougmeister

    Dougmeister Well-Known Member

    Give it to me. It will look much better on my desk.
     
    Dougmeister, Oct 26, 2017
    #26 + Quote Reply
    FBLfinder and Clawcoins like this.
  8. kkathyl0

    kkathyl0 Active Member

    I would try to take a picture from a slight angle to catch any of the original luster, outside of that you can do anything that will make it better. Cleaning a coin is to ruin it. I like it just the way it is.
     
    kkathyl0, Oct 26, 2017
    #27 + Quote Reply
  9. fish4uinmd

    fish4uinmd Well-Known Member

    @1916DMerc The hardest part about cleaning a coin is...not cleaning it.
     
    fish4uinmd, Oct 26, 2017
    #28 + Quote Reply
  10. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    You started out with this, and then you said this -

    So I've got a question for you. Which came first ? Were you thinking that you wanted to lighten it up before you asked your friend his opinion ?

    Or was it his opinion that made you think about lightening up the color ?

    The reason I'm asking the question is this, ever hear the old saying "beauty lies in the eye of the beholder" ? Well to a large degree I think that's what's going on here. Some collectors prefer their coins "white" and some people prefer their coins "toned". In other words it's a chocolate and vanilla thing - a matter of taste.

    Now some might argue that there is no right or wrong in this, that everyone is entitled to like what they like. Yet others will argue that is not the case at all and that it should only be this way or that way - white or toned. This argument, this decision about which is "better", has been going on for a couple of centuries now. And it is not likely to go away.

    Personally, I like coins both ways, but it depends on the coin. And when it comes to deciding if a coin should be dipped or not I do not make my judgement based on my likes or dislikes, I make my decision based on whether or not the coin needs to be dipped.

    Some may not understand that, some may even say that could never be the case that there is no such thing as a coin that "needs" to be dipped. But I strongly disagree with that sentiment. I say that because there are cases, examples of coins, when the toning is so advanced that unless the coin is dipped the coin will literally be destroyed by the toning. So by dipping the coin you are protecting the coin, literally extending its life. In these cases by dipping the coin you are making things better.

    Then there are those coins when dipping the coin is not going to help anything, in fact it may even make things worse.

    This concept is what SuperDave was trying to explain, did explain. But not everybody gets it. And when they don't it's usually because they like their coins this way or they like their coins that way - white or toned. For them that is the only deciding factor.

    So where does that leave us ? Well, that's a good question I suppose. But over the years I have found that those who allow personal likes or dislikes to answer the question do so because they have limited experience when it comes to dipping a coin. And because they have limited experience they have a hard time foreseeing how things are going to turn out if a given coin is dipped. They can't look at a given coin and know what to reasonably expect if you dip it.

    And that's kind of the thing, nobody ever does know for sure. They may have reasonable expectations but it is never a given - dipping a coin, any coin, every coin, is always a crap shoot. You can never be 100% certain what's going to happen, how it is going to turn out.

    Given that, what does one do ? For me the solution is quite simple - only buy coins that you already like, just exactly as they are. Do that and you'll never have to ask yourself these questions - let alone answer them.

    And what does one do if and when one finds oneself in this predicament - finding out that you don't quite like a coin as it is, after you've already bought it ? Well again, to me, the solution is quite simple. You either sell the coin or trade it for one that you do like. Do that and you don't have to do anything to the coin. You don't even have to consider the questions anymore.

    I find these two simple solutions quite elegant because in the end everybody ends up happy ;)
     
    GDJMSP, Oct 26, 2017
    #29 + Quote Reply
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  11. Brooklyn coinguy 2016

    Brooklyn coinguy 2016 Member

    That '21 peace is gorgeous. LEAVE IT ALONE.... Don't be a fool and mess with it. That baby will be in for some gorgeous toning as time goes by. (imo)..
     
    Brooklyn coinguy 2016, Oct 26, 2017
    #30 + Quote Reply
    Two Dogs likes this.
  12. rrholdout

    rrholdout Active Member

    I agree, leave the coin as is. Looks natural to me. I believe I read somewhere that the planchet they used for the peace dollar was chemically treated or something which made it very resistant to toning, unlike Morgans. So you have a choice between an incredibly boring often dull silver with wear, or a nice gold tone, which with enough luster is quite beautiful. It's a little odd I guess that the gold tone she's developing is in the field towards the center and not on the rim but not unheard of - I think I've seen several in this intermediate phase before.

    I went through a time of collecting peace dollars due to the low mintages of the later years. I gave up due to the difficultly of grading through an online photo, the widespread mishandling [and often hellacious bag marks], overall poor relief/strike of the coin, thin rim, weak design, it's reluctance to tone [I love toning], and I'm not sure it will ever come out of the shadows of the Morgan. It's the only coin I've often been disappointed in purchasing when in hand. My favorites are a lot I bought from a jeweler [for some reason my jeweler purchases have always been great - I guess they have an eye for quality], that truly grade AU or better, have all that luster a peace should have at that level, and a beautiful natural gold tone throughout. They are very nice. I've come to the conclusion if I'm in the market for peace dollars, outside of a few obvious prominent details, go by the luster - it should be nearly blowing her head off in the high grades. But competition for these, esp. in semi-key or key dates, is often fierce.
     
    rrholdout, Oct 26, 2017
    #31 + Quote Reply
  13. jwitten

    jwitten Well-Known Member

    Please don't clean it. That's a nice looking coin, and you would lose a lot of the value by cleaning it.
     
    jwitten, Oct 26, 2017
    #32 + Quote Reply
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  14. Michael K

    Michael K Well-Known Member

    I agree with post #2.
    Toning seems natural. Artificial toning is usually some rainbow garbage to sell a coin for more than it is worth.
    If you clean it, you will ruin it.
    1921 is a key date.
     
    Michael K, Oct 26, 2017
    #33 + Quote Reply
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  15. jtlee321

    jtlee321 Well-Known Member

    I REALLY like the look of that coin. It has the look that I would want when I go to buy one. It has a great strike and the current toning, patina, skin or whatever you prefer to call it, really helps to accentuate that strike and details. In my opinion and most everyone else's here, dipping it would ruin it and make it one of the average looking, find anywhere '21 Peace Dollars.

    I have to tell you that almost every '21 Peace Dollar I have looked at just does not speak to me. This one does, and it will speak to many others as well. If your end goal is to sell it, then your vastly better off leaving it as is. I know I'd probably buy it the way it is. :)
     
    jtlee321, Oct 26, 2017
    #34 + Quote Reply
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  16. Lemme Caution

    Lemme Caution Well-Known Member

    True, but an electric sander would be more efficient.
     
    Lemme Caution, Oct 26, 2017
    #35 + Quote Reply
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  17. mikenoodle

    mikenoodle The Village Idiot Supporter

    Most 1921 Peace Dollars that I have seen raw have been cleaned and have washed out luster. This coin has beautiful toning and would be a nice addition to any collection AS IT IS.

    Please don't try to improve this coin.
     
    mikenoodle, Oct 26, 2017
    #36 + Quote Reply
    Two Dogs likes this.
  18. Rassi

    Rassi #GoCubs #FlyTheW #WeAreGood

    Looks great as it is - please leave it alone.
     
    Rassi, Oct 26, 2017
    #37 + Quote Reply
  19. BooksB4Coins

    BooksB4Coins Newbieus Sempiterna

    It's your coin to do with as you see fit, and this is all that really matters. Personally, I too believe you'd be making a mistake, and one I'd put money on that you'll come to regret, but sometimes the best way to learn one's lesson is to actually live it.

    If you do decide to dip it, please at least be sure to post after photos. Welcome to the forum, sir.
     
    BooksB4Coins, Oct 26, 2017
    #38 + Quote Reply
  20. Mike Thorne

    Mike Thorne Well-Known Member

    LEAVE IT ALONE! DON'T DIP IT!
     
    Mike Thorne, Oct 26, 2017
    #39 + Quote Reply
  21. Mike Thorne

    Mike Thorne Well-Known Member

    I'm saying this as someone who has ruined his share of good coins by unwise cleaning. You might make it look better to some people by dipping it, but it'll look worse to others.
     
    Mike Thorne, Oct 26, 2017
    #40 + Quote Reply
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