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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;ksparrow, post: 778903, member: 7638&quot;]When I first started collecting, about 3 years ago, I naturally wanted to buy the least-circulated, least expensive (bad combination, that!) examples I could find for my type set. eBay was only to happy to satisfy my misguided desires. In any case, before a grain of sanity began to creep into my mind (a mind which was living proof that &quot;a little knowledge is a dangerous thing&quot;), I had purchased these 2 coins. The first one is a Trade Dollar, an 1877-S of a somewhat scarce variety where the toe of the R in DOLLAR is missing (see, I was already into varieties before I cared much about surface condition), in an ANACS cleaned/au details holder. The coin was nearly black, but shiny, and the reverse in particular had a nauseating violet tone to it; the obverse was very reflective, almost PL, but still black. It was cheap, and I wanted it for the variety.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t277/cks2007/Trade%20Dollars/Tradedollar1877sPLobvclnd.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t277/cks2007/Trade%20Dollars/Tradedollar1877sPLrevclnd.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t277/cks2007/Trade%20Dollars/Tradedollar1877sPLrevdetailclnd.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>The second coin was an 1836 bust half, in an ANACS AU55 details, cleaned, holder. Again, almost black, glossy, but I thought it had a mysterious look to it. Lady Liberty in a coal mine. </p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t277/cks2007/early%20halves/busthalf1836prediprev.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t277/cks2007/early%20halves/busthalf1836predipobv.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>both sat in the SDB until fairly recently. Looking at them again, I realized what a doofus I had been for buying these ugly things in the first place. They had obviously been AT&#039;d in an effort to conceal signs of an old cleaning. I had read somewhere that people will soak coins in bleach to produce this kind of black &quot;color.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp; Acetone, alcohol, and hot water had no effect. Nor did a detergent type jewelry cleaner. In an effort to get rid of the AT, and reveal whatever lay beneath, I purchased a concentrated form of EZest from Wizard coin supply. Using a qtip, I quickly discovered that the stuff worked like acid (which it is) on the edge of the TD. I diluted it 1:1 with distilled water, which slowed the reaction a lot, and rolled (not rubbed!) the qtip moist with solution across the surface. this allowed more control over the process. When it looked like most of the disgusting black-violet color was off, I soaked it in baking soda solution, and then rinsed and soaked in distilled water. here is the result: </p><p><img src="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t277/cks2007/Trade%20Dollars/Tradedollar1877sPLrevclndpostdip.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t277/cks2007/Trade%20Dollars/Tradedollar1877sPLobvclndpostdip.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Of course, now you can see the hairlines from the cleaning, but I no longer gag when I look at it. the obverse actually is PL, the reverse has cartwheel. At least it&#039;s honest, and an interesting variety (to TD dweebs).</p><p><br /></p><p>The bustie resisted the dilute solution, and I wound up using full strength on it, I guess whoever ATd it wanted it to really &#039;stick!&#039;&nbsp; Again, cleaning marks are obvious, but there is a lot of luster and some neat reverse die cracks (and some clashing too). At least I&#039;m not ashamed to have it in my collection now, and it&#039;s a reminder of my foolish newbie buying habits. </p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t277/cks2007/early%20halves/busthalf1836postdiprev.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t277/cks2007/early%20halves/busthalf1836postdipobv.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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