1831 Large Cent Attribution Help?

Is it? I didn't think so but maybe you are right. I was trying for a non-proof example.

OK - I have three Large coppers - lets look at the surface of these

 

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Compared to these two the one on top looks varnished and the devices are darker than the fields.

Ruben

 

And this is bothering me. The hair is worn out above the eyes but the eye is perfect. Meanwhile, there is some kind of rubbing and porous activity all over this area. It almost looks to me like model or car touch up paint over a rusted or affected area.

Ruben

 

I am sorry to have to tell you this, but both your coins have been recolored, IMO.

 

The hair is weakly struck, like many/most of this issue.

The "rubbing" you are seeing is the darkening that naturally happens to a copper piece that saw circulation. The worn areas, particularly if the coin spent a long time in circuation, become dark. By way of example, look at circulated original all-copper Lincolns and you will see this same effect.

I'm at a bit of a loss to explain the "porous" look of the area -- could have been on the original planchet (remember these were made in the 1830's!), it could also be artifacts from sharpening a photo then enlarging it.

Respectfully...Mike

 

p.s. after looking at the photos again, the "porous" look on the coin appears to me to be sharpening artifacts. I would ask the OP if he either applied any in post-processing or his camera's "sharpening" setting was set to high. Alternatively, a quick in-hand look by the OP under some magnification and the pitting common on corroded coins would be instantly recognizable.

 

I'm no expert but the darkening on the face/hair looks to me to be natural dirtying that would occur from contact after possibly being oiled or something..

That last image has been blown way up so most of the grainyness is from the image.

I dont see how mrbrklyn can compare the coloring and surfaces of those two coins to this AU coin... his examples are f-vf and vg-f... I would think an AU-unc coin would be a whole different ballgame. and I agree I would be worried if the devices were lighter than the fields... to me that shows some dirt but i'll take that over heavy wear any day. Thanks again for your opinions

 

You think the coin was oiled?

Ruben

 

As one opinion, I've seen a lot of 19C. copper/bronze coins discolor this way. Sometimes when large areas are discolored, it suggests there was surface dirt which worked on the underlying metal, either by chemical interaction or by absorbing moisture. It may be that dirt was removed from some areas such as the date/curls area, exposing affected bronze. But it's not too unusual for a coin of this period to be cleaned at some point.

 

After inspecting the latest photos, I agree. Some dirt/verdegris has clearly been removed from around the devices and other protected areas of the design. My sense is it was done right as the underlying color of the coin looks good to my eye.

 

Ah HAAAAAAAAAAAAA

I am not bind yet!