Hey folks, I recently purchased a morgan silver dollar that was advertised as MS 65 - alright I can't get enough of ebay - the pictures were high quality and seemed to support the grade - so I thought When I received the coin I immediately thought I've been had. This coin is not close to mint state. Upon further inspection under a microscope I'm thinking that this coin has been cleaned or brushed or something -- I want to learn from this coin and would like feedback on what you think. Is this simply a coin that has been lightly circulated or has it been altered/cleaned in someway. The pictures are of the UNUM on the obverse - there are similar uniform lines / scrathes throughout the rest of the coin. What think??
whizzed - a whizzed coin has been buffed or polished to give it the appearance of the luster found on a mint coin. Often whizzing is done on a high grade coin to try to sell the coin at a higher grade than it really is. Sometimes done by using a fine brush attachment on a high speed drill. Whizzing a coin may hurt the value of it rather than help it because it actually causes wear to the surface of the coin.
At first I thought it was die polish lines but after looking I agree with Dockwalliper...whizzed. Speedy
Entire Coin The close ups are done using a Digital Blue QX5 USB Microscope - It's a kids toy, but really get's you up close to the coin. Unfortunately for the entire coin the biggest I can get on this thing is a penny or dime. I've scanned the coin at 150% and included it in this post. Let me know what you think.
Sure is a pretty coin until closer inspection! How can you tell the marks are from whizzing and not from die polishing? I don't see the buildup of metal on the letters indicative of cleaning...thanks. Also, nice photography by the way.
That's what I'm hoping to learn here. Out of 30 or so other Morgan's this is the only one with marks like this.
I don't know much about Morgans, but from what I have read, it looks more like die polishing than cleaning to me too for the same reason. I also concur on the great photography.
whats up with morgan Looks like a great coin to me. I have been into morgans for a few years, and could be die polish or light cleaning. If you don't mind, how much did you have to give for it? Also, how is the luster? good cartwheel?? If so, I would hang onto it and be proud. EDITED--no offers to buy/sell/trade in this forum please! Your friend and fellow morgan freak- Rick
cost?? Paid? -- Too much -- about $85 under CDN bid for a 1902 in MS 65 condition -- To be honest this coin photographs really well. It doesn't look this nice in person -- the luster really isnt there. I'm so curious about this that I might just hang on to it to find out more about it -- very expensive lesson, but better experience than I'll get from a book! The seller has offered the standard refund less shipping -- who know's....
Coin Dealer says -- can't decide on the marks, but the coin surface lacks the luster found on mint state or au coins.
If the marks are from die polishing they will be raised. If they are from cleaning they will be incuse. In this case, since the marks seem to be rather uniform over the entire coin - I think it's cleaning. Don't know that I'd go as far as to say it was whizzed though. If it was it was certainly very lightly done in the fields and heavily on the devices. This is the reverse of the normal. But you have the coin in hand and both you and your dealer say it lacks luster. Well if the luster aint there - it aint MS65. I'd send it back in a heartbeat.
This was fun. Seller agreed to give a full refund and the coin went back. I'm going to look for a couple morgans that are being sold as cleaned / whizzed and compare to these pictures. Very curious.
I agree with the guy who said those are some excellent pictures... wow! unfortunate what they show, but good follow through.
Good question. Now is the time to figure that out. This has really sparked an interest for me. I almost wish I would have kept the darn coin to get some definitive answers - but too big a loss $$. I'm looking for a coin with similar attributes so I can do some more research without paying too much. I've got bunch coming that are marked as cleaned / polished we'll see if we can find a match to these pictures.
