Lessons in problem coins: Whizzed.

Yes, but I believe dealing in whizzed coins was specifically named as "unethical" by the ANA.

 

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Could be. It's not in the by-laws and I don't have the manual of resolutions. It's kind of like a statute book.

 

I meant that years ago it was specifically named unethical. I think they have removed that language since.

 

Why would they do that having done it? But yes, we went through a period where the Board was petrified to sanction ANYONE for ANYTHING.

 

Scary thing is, many collectors would look at this coin and listing and think, "must be MS65, minimum!"

 

That is diagnostic of whizzed surfaces. Notice how “spead out” the “luster” is.

 

I'm in over my head. I had a conversation with a well known dealer at a show a couple years ago about this topic and the ANA. The details of that conversation have faded over time. But it left an impression on me.

 

The Parliamentarian is still of the laissez faire school of thought.

 

That is a classic case of whizzing. A while ago, I bought a whizzed coin for a reference piece. Close up examination of a whizzed coin is invaluable.

 

This seller did us a big favor by posting lots of pics. Here you can see the entire obverse at a different angle.

 

Here, you can see another result of whizzing. Namely, the "dark" areas that appear on the eagle, that have the same "liquid" look of the fields.

 

Usually, @C-B-D, the whizzing is only in the fields. The dark areas on the eagle are more likely artifacts from the wear and lighting of the photographs.

 

THAT! That is exactly it. The polishing or whizzing imparts a liquid look. That is precisely what makes the surfaces appear unnatural.

 

I don't know. In this case, it appears to me that the device was spun over the entire coin. I could be wrong, however. Although the coin does indeed show wear. It is not "BU," as the seller states. It is AU details.

 

Also sometimes called, "false luster."

 

Yes! That's the term I was looking for!

 

Lastly, I'll share a close up of the "halos" that others have mentioned. The dremel used for whizzing the coin could not get into the tight spaces up against the devices, leaving a halo effect.

 

Ouch. The only way that poor coin could ever hope to be “fixed” is if it was carried in a pocket for 10 years and allowed to wear down.

 

I once saw a whizzed coin where the surface melted and started to bubble.

 

I have never seen anyone good enough to make a buffing wheel miss the devices - even with a dremel. They just don't show up as much on the devices (the raised designs break up the lines) like is seen in the fields.