PCGS experts identify this as tooled, re-tooled, hole filled and artificial patina applied. Read about it here.
Wow. I don't know who to praise. Granted, the graders did an awesome job in identifying that it is a doctored coin. I could not tell. At the same time, while I DO NOT endorse the work of such doctors - it's somewhat impressive to make it look natural...
Agreed. However good a job the doctoring was, I still think the end result looks weird. Looked nice before even with the reverse tooling.
Most people would miss that without it being pointed out. Just think of this though, a 5 figure rarity wasn't their practice piece. They certainly had been practicing on low value holed copper ect
For sure- I'm in that group and wouldn't have seen that look as a red flag either. Just prefer the brown before it was messed with further... I suppose after repairing the hole, covering it with the artificial patina was necessary. Interesting how you can still faintly see the repair in those photos... I wonder if that was the first clue that tipped them off.
They did a good job,especially on the obverse. I wonder why they didn't do a better job on the reverse. The area where the hole was plugged is still visible.
