When I first started collecting, about 3 years ago, I naturally wanted to buy the least-circulated, least expensive (bad combination, that!) examples I could find for my type set. eBay was only to happy to satisfy my misguided desires. In any case, before a grain of sanity began to creep into my mind (a mind which was living proof that "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing"), I had purchased these 2 coins. The first one is a Trade Dollar, an 1877-S of a somewhat scarce variety where the toe of the R in DOLLAR is missing (see, I was already into varieties before I cared much about surface condition), in an ANACS cleaned/au details holder. The coin was nearly black, but shiny, and the reverse in particular had a nauseating violet tone to it; the obverse was very reflective, almost PL, but still black. It was cheap, and I wanted it for the variety. The second coin was an 1836 bust half, in an ANACS AU55 details, cleaned, holder. Again, almost black, glossy, but I thought it had a mysterious look to it. Lady Liberty in a coal mine. both sat in the SDB until fairly recently. Looking at them again, I realized what a doofus I had been for buying these ugly things in the first place. They had obviously been AT'd in an effort to conceal signs of an old cleaning. I had read somewhere that people will soak coins in bleach to produce this kind of black "color." Acetone, alcohol, and hot water had no effect. Nor did a detergent type jewelry cleaner. In an effort to get rid of the AT, and reveal whatever lay beneath, I purchased a concentrated form of EZest from Wizard coin supply. Using a qtip, I quickly discovered that the stuff worked like acid (which it is) on the edge of the TD. I diluted it 1:1 with distilled water, which slowed the reaction a lot, and rolled (not rubbed!) the qtip moist with solution across the surface. this allowed more control over the process. When it looked like most of the disgusting black-violet color was off, I soaked it in baking soda solution, and then rinsed and soaked in distilled water. here is the result: Of course, now you can see the hairlines from the cleaning, but I no longer gag when I look at it. the obverse actually is PL, the reverse has cartwheel. At least it's honest, and an interesting variety (to TD dweebs). The bustie resisted the dilute solution, and I wound up using full strength on it, I guess whoever ATd it wanted it to really 'stick!' Again, cleaning marks are obvious, but there is a lot of luster and some neat reverse die cracks (and some clashing too). At least I'm not ashamed to have it in my collection now, and it's a reminder of my foolish newbie buying habits.
No offense - but I liked them before the ezest dip. Maybe if I saw them in hand I would change my opinion, but based off the pictures I like them better(especially the bustie) before the dip. I also have some graded NCS cleaned busties in my collection, but I like them as they are. Just my humble opinion.
Thanks for your opinion, Mark. There's really no way to make purses out of these particular sow's ears, I guess! WRT the bust half, there was a sort of greasy sheen to it that I just couldn't tolerate- kind of a fingernails-on-the-chalkboard thing. Carrying it around for a while as a pocket piece, instead of using the EZest- may have resulted in a better look- but I'd probably lose it or scratch it with my car keys, as happened with another bright, cleaned bust half I own.(D'oh! just admitted another stupid purchase!) I may put these in paper envelopes for a few years and let nature take its course.
It must not have been heat treatment, because using EZest on the cotton swabs removed all of the dark discoloration. The remaining luster is consistent with the details grade. It would be interesting to experiment with a junk silver coin and bleach and see if the same 'midnight' look could be achieved.
I like it better with the black stuff gone. Now, to get rid of the hairlines, put it in your pocket and carry it around for a couple of years. You'll end up dropping a couple of levels of grade, but no more hairlines. Plus, you'll have a nice pocket piece to show off for a couple of years.
To me the Trade dollar was six of one half dozen of the other, but I did like the Bust half much better before the eZest treatment.
I'd call it improvement in both cases, but I have to admit I'm not a fan of toning in any case. I always have and always will consider "toning" to just be a euphamism for corrosion, created just to try to convince somebody that a defect in the coin that should make it worth less actually makes it worth more. Too bad the coin industry hasn't created euphamisms for cleaned, scratched, and damaged... you can bet they will if they think they can get away with it. Coins will naturally darken a little with age... I can live with that, but when they start to tone all kinds of weird colors like red, green, purple, etc. IMO that basically means they're ruined or at best should be worth significantly less, not more.
The Trade Dollar was definitely hideous pre-treatment. Virtually anything would have been an improvement, imo. The bust half was a tossup. The ebony look was too dark for my taste, but I suspected it concealed some significant hairlines-- I was right. I was bothered by the doctored surfaces, too, and derived some satisfaction from undoing someone else's misguided attempts at 'improvement.' So, now it's back to 'baseline.' The pocketpiece idea is certainly a possibility. So is the paper-envelope-and forget it option. What I like about it right now is that I can see the remaining cartwheel and the die cracks a lot better (along with the hairlines!). Everything's a tradeoff!
I think this is actually a pretty good point. The only way to make this a problem free coin would be to wear it down a bit so the hairlines are gone. I don't know if I would do it...but it is a interesting solution.
