Maybe I am trying to see too much on this coin, but does anyone else see something funny about this coin - and i am not talking about the toning. http://cgi.ebay.com/EMANCIPATION-PROCLAMATION-FREE-this-1923-S-LINCOLN_W0QQitemZ280228284583QQihZ018QQcategoryZ139803QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
If I didn't know better, I'd think this was a proof but they didn't mint proofs in 1923. However, if this is authentic and it was sent in to PCGS, I wouldn't be surprised if it wouldn't take over the lead on highest grade but there are things that also bother me. 1 - The "ME" in AMERICA doesn't look right but that could be damage 2 - The tie is too detailed and I've never seen a tie that detailed on one from this era. 3 - Abe's cheek is MEGA pronounced. It may be authentic and probably is but it's too "perfect" and that gives me concerns. Ribbit
They forgot to put the purple and green cat watching the television in the listing. Actually, that would be the sharpest 23-S I have ever seen, too bad they included it in the coins they play Easter egg die coloring with. And yes, the bowtie is all wrong, and the hair, and the ear. And the jacket. And the wheats and the font . Check the other listings and history of items. I wish they were not in AZ.
Just to add to your list; the whiskers on his chin look like nothing I have. the whiskers on his jaw are coarser than anything I have except the modern memorials The jacket collar is narrower than what I have and/or the difference in width between the collar and lapel is too large The cut between the collar and lapel is a frown. My coins smile. His line from the cheek to the jaw is curved a lot. Mine look nearly straight PLus several other minor nuances that do not look right.
Looking closely at the coin, the mintmark looks added to me.If not,there seems to be a diamond or rectangle shaped indent around the MM that would really make me look at it closer. John
As an aside, this seller is obviously artificially toning his coins. There's no way one person could accidentially aquire so many coins with the same destinctive toning pattern(s).
I'm willing to bet the toning is fake , IMO . Natural toning is like a rainbow , this one is more like a chemical wash . Any experts on toning out there . rzage
What??? You all don't believe a seller who has a "prarie sunset" or "night sky" in the titles of his coins? I am shocked to say the least. The next thing you know you will be knocking the two nice gentlemen who sell painted quarters.
I know that heat can produce those colors on copper coins, but will it do the same to silver and nickle as well?
Everything about this coin is wrong!!!. It looks Honest Abe had cheek implants. The really detailed tie really stood out for me. I agree nobody has this many radically colored coins.BUT he got a nice price for what I believe is a altered coin and or a counterfeit.
Aslanmia: From my experiences, nickels turn reddish, silver can be anything from light green or blue to black, and CuNi clad coins turn out rainbow toned. It all depends on time and temp. I once tried it on circulated coins to see the difference between NT and AT.
As for the coin itself ,not much has been said as of if this coin is real ,I've seen other early lincolns that look like this . IMO it is an original well struck cent ,with artificial toning . Any opinions from the experts .
On another coin, he states " I know what you have heard elsewhere, this is NOT artificial, this color will NOT be removed with acetone" I wonder if he lurks here
I have a lot less problem accepting an artificially toned coin than I do getting a counterfeit coin - and I am not even a toning fan.