My latest pickup 1856-O Half Dime

I rarely to never buy raw coins off ebay ... but I just loved the colorful patina on this 150 year old half dime. The seller listed it as "AU+ Superb Album Toning on Obverse". Anyone venture a guess on how PCGS would grade it (I hope not Genuine). I do have a 14 day no questions return option. I paid $199.

 

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I got a laugh at AU.

I would guess XF details, cleaned, AT.

Not an expert by any means, though.

 

thank god for the return policy then! will like to see it in hand tho.

 

The toning is not necessarily At. Ive seen coins like this in a pcgs holder. However as LTrain said this coin is not AU and it looks cleaned.

 

Yeah, I would say XF, maybe cleaned. Is it that dull in hand or is that just the photos?

 

It looks naturally toned and XF45 to me. Part of the lack of detail is due to strike.

 

I have a NT coin with toning like that. I just don't like the look of that toning, it just looks ever so slightly off. Plus, it could have been done to cover up evidence of a harsh cleaning.

 

These were the sellers photos ... so the cleaning tip off was because it's dull on the reverse? So this coin as a Genuine is only worth maybe $50 ? The return policy on ebay is great as I never sweat these purchases. My only loss is a few dollars in shipping. Live and learn ... right? I think i should stick with my PCGS graded coins only! I dont have the knowledge to buy raw.

 

The coin might have been lightly cleaned long ago (hence the light reverse center), but if so, no more severely than many coins which are in PCGS and NGC holders. If you are swayed as easily as you appear to be, based on this thread, you might consider learning more about coins and grading, before spending additional money.

 

The areas that make me feel it's cleaned are mostly on the reverse... what looks like the remnants of dirt and whatnot in the recessed areas. The obverse has some very fine scratch marks, and it looks like it has a dull luster overall. Wait til you get it in hand and take more pics of it.

 

Lower XF, cleaned, the whole coin not just the rev. it's just that the obv. toned more so than the rev. but the toning sure looks natural natural, but its just album toning, still NT though

 

Hey ... I just wanted to say THANKS for all the feedback ... I really appreciate it. I learn so much on this board.

 

Hey since there are so many experts here ... is this 1872 half dime also artifically toned?
Do you think this would also come back from PCGS (most likely) as Genuine Cleaned?
Just curious what you all think? Thanks again for your feedback!

 

Both those coins look secondary toned, and MA to me (XF 40 on first and 55 on second). The first coin causes me more concern than the second due to an apparent lack of luster.

 

p.s. I like both coins, BTW. Not bad for raw e-bay purchases (provided you didn't overspend)!

 

Be careful (and I think you are) -- some of my biggest mistakes weren't realized until long after the return policy expired.

That's all the more reason, IMO, to buy from experienced dealers who stand behind their coins (i.e. not-ebay). Particularly if you don't consider yourself an expert and/or have the requisite buying and selling experience to go it alone.

 

wingedliberty:
THAT one is NT to my eye, I would take it any time.
[just wait for Doug to correct me.]

Very pretty.

 

AT or NT, cleaned or not cleaned, still a nice coin!

 

Both are nice coins! Based on the photos, the first is EF due to the lack of luster, the second is AU due to the luster, maybe a mishandled proof (sharp detail and wire rim). I'd say the first was toned in a folder due to the lack of toning on the reverse. Of course they've been cleaned at some point, as 99.9% of coins that age have been. If they hadn't been cleaned, they be black corroded blobs due to the prior unavailability of proper storage. The fact that the TPG'ers could possibly body bag either of these coins shows how out of touch they are with the market and is the reason I put little weight on their opinions. Anyone with a microscope could pick any coin apart, even these with great eye appeal. A case of not seeing the forest for the trees.

 

[FONT=&quot]The seller cancelled my transaction and refunded my money. This is what he said about the cleaning and toning on the coin listed in the OP. His point is interesting ... Still I am glad to be out based on the controversy. That's the thing about coins ... there are lots of examples ... I will just be patient and wait for a PCGS graded half dime that appeals to me. By the way, I dont have a coin shop nearby ... In terms of online purchases, it sounds like most of you hate ebay ... where do you suggest is a better place to buy online? Heritage? I have to admit that I hate their interface.

This is the response from the seller of coin #1 at the top of this post ...

"Hello ... I have canceled the transaction on this sale and I have refunded your payment back into your paypal account on your request. The refund should be available to you now. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]I do not think this coin has been cleaned, as it is not all hair-lined. It looks like a coin that was dipped many decades ago then placed in an album and it has since re-toned to how it looks now. The vast majority of all silver coins of this age have been dipped at some point or another, as it was a common practice years ago. Truly original silver coins of this age will be an almost black or dark gray toned. Cleaned and dipped are two different things. Cleaning is a negative as when done with something abrasive as it will leave hairlines. Dipping is an accepted practice, even to this day. Again, I would not consider this to be a cleaned coin. [/FONT][FONT=&quot] I also have to strongly disagree with whoever said this is an artificially toned coin. It is a natural album toning that took decades to form. It is hard to tell AT vs NT from images many times, so that might have been the problem with your experts and their opinion. Here is one way to tell... see the stars and note the tops of the stars are un-toned while the fields all around them are vividly toned. This is a sign of decades long natural toning, and cannot be duplicated by gassing or chemically treating a coin to artificially tone it. AT coins will have the devices and fields in small spaces all toned the same most of the time. You don't see the micro differences in toning from the fields to the devices like on this coin. So again, I'll have to disagree with who ever you talked to. [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot]But again, I have ended the transaction on your request as I want folks to be happy with their purchases."[/FONT]