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Message:: [QUOTE="Tom B, post: 859393, member: 11854"]It is quite tough to find Barber coinage that has any significant amount of meat left on the surfaces.  When I put together my own VF set of Barber half dollars, the 1897 was oddly the last of the P-mint coins for me to obtain.  It was simply a beast. Regarding the issue of the coin's surfaces, well, I also agree that it has been dipped.  However, I do not think that physics-fan3.14 or Lehigh96 were being negative about the coin.  Rather, I think they were both being honest in their evaluation of the surfaces and were sharing their knowledge in the event that the owner might not have realized that this coin was likely dipped in the past.  The secondary toning looks original so I can imagine that this coin was dipped long ago and then put into an envelope or album without any ill intent. Lastly, proof coinage generally tones in a manner that is not the same as business strike coinage.  Part of the reason for this is no doubt the storage conditions for proof coinage and the proof pieces of this era were many times stored in velvelt lined trays that imparted deep blues, violets and reds on the coins.  These trays were also made of glue and wood or acidic papers and these contents tended to influence the toning over the years, too. By the way, good work in finding a Barber half with that much meat.[/QUOTE]