I suppose it's possible that Mr. Foster had suffered from severe acne as a child and was accurately depicted on the coin.
Preach it, brother. :)
Well, that makes sense then. :)
Not a poor set of observations, although "pitting" and "originality" tend to be mutually exclusive. With both images onscreen at 200% size in the...
Ain't nothing wrong with that. :) Based on images this small, I'm unwilling to decide whether it's circulated (slightly) or not.
Ah. You'd described it as "thicker," but in the image it's the thinner of the two coins so my signals got mixed.
I don't think the VAMs involved are worth the cost of attributing, no. Beyond that, especially as GSA's, slabbing is optional anyway.
Only took a few minutes - not many to choose from for each - but that VAM-3 progression in 1882 is iffy.
Challenge accepted and met. :)
1880: VAM-6 (no gouge between branch and fletches). 1881: VAM-2. 1882(1): VAM-3 (somewhere in the progression, OG VAM-3 I think, can't tell if...
The die crack at ED -> wing is diagnostic for VAM-5. The Micro O 1899's enjoy significant popularity among VAMmers, and although yours isn't a...
This is the coin Ron is referring to: [ATTACH] [ATTACH] I believe his is showing similar woodgrain/lamination features, more of the former...
Agreed, but the last detail image has me wondering if it was a partial-collar strike to begin with. It'd be difficult to imitate that look so...
Your "downgrade" is clearly the superior coin, and not deserving of the lower grade from any technical standpoint. The 65 has questionable spots,...
Never honestly tried one of these before. Reminds me of the 1937-1938 Australian Crowns - the King seems a magnet for micrometeor impacts. With...
I've always thought 53 to be a "copout grade" similar to 58 - in many cases, the TPG's just don't want to exert the time and effort to factor...
Sort of, but the resulting mess would show features which identified it as what it was. Some details would transfer, diameters would be weird...
Truth, and proof of my favorite truism that all I (and others like me) are doing with our complex imaging rigs is squeezing the last 10% of...
That is a refreshingly honest and ground-engaged statement. Good on ya. :) Either way, the infant state of digital imaging in 1998 would mean the...
It shouldn't affect White Balance - still a monochromatic background either way - but the black background should afford more contrast in the...
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