Hey guys, This is not my series. I have an 1899 Indian Cent that I was getting ready to send to NGC. I can see some obvious doubling around the SE side of the 8 and a little bit on the NE of the inside of the upper loop of the first 9. I thought possible it was the S-1 or FS-301 but it just does not match up. The doubling of the 8 is not the same. Can any of you experts out there help me identify this? My other hunch is Longacre doubling around the 8, but the doubling seems offset as opposed to a halo effect. One more thing, it has some pretty decent clashing as well, that may help attributing. Thanks in advance. These next images were shot using axial lighting which heavily accentuated the green and magenta iridescent patina. Some of you may recognize the images, I posted them quite a while back in a separate thread and the coin is down in my signature. But the axial lighting shows off the clashing pretty well. The clashing on the reverse your able to make out the profile of Liberty's face.
Also, if anyone would like to help me determine a possible grade before I send her in. I have a difficult time grading copper. Here are a couple images taken with traditional lighting techniques to show off the luster. Sorry to try to squeeze two topics into one thread. I'm more concerned with the attribution.
Attribute for the 1899 IHP is S33 Grade MS64-65 based if this coin's color has not been tampered with. Something about this coin's patina does not look right.
One thing to factor here is jtlee's photography skill - he deliberately chose lighting for the last set which would depict luster well, at the cost of perfect surface accuracy. I also see what concerns you, but am factoring the photography to a bit greater extent and feeling the surfaces are OK. What *isn't* OK are the rim dings at 1:30, 3:00 and 4:30 (reference reverse). The latter is visible on both faces. I think this would cause a TPG to offer it no better than AU58, and for my own part even though it looks Uncirculated I don't feel that to be true. Terrific clashing, and I love the coin, but to me it's a slider.
Ok. I realized that I the images I had of this Indian were some of the first images I started shooting. I thought it was time for a reshoot now that I have come closer to perfecting my technique and am shooting with better equipment. Hopefully this will give a much better rendition of the true surfaces of her. The iridescent patina is still very strong in hand.
This is a very nice looking coin but I think based upon my first grade I would stay with MS64-65 based upon my original thought assuming natural patina. I see the Rim Bruise on the Rev @ 3:00 and I think the rest are Bag Marks and I do not see any Rubs or Color changes as expected with wear. Having said this I think the only way to get any different opinion would be to see this coin in hand. Please let us know when you get this graded it will be very interesting.
Thanks guys for the optimistic hopes. It's going to be going in very soon. I have a submission of about 15 coins getting ready to go out. This is among them. I will do a thread on it as it will be my first self submission to a TPG'er. They will be going to NGC. So far I'm batting a 1.000 on my grading guesses with the two I've sent in. This will really put me to the test.
