Finally I got one!

I second KennyMac's question, I looked at the highlighted areas and I just don't see what I am supposed to be looking for? All that jumps out at me is the die crack on rev on top of America.

 

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I'm taking a stab in the dark here.. But I think he is making a funny regarding a member that joined here, looking to stir trouble.

NOT the OP.

 

Can you please explain?
Noob here, trying to learn, not sure if this is a joke or not. :rolling:

 

Joke.... In reference to a member (who suffers) with pareidolia has provided some interesting posts over the last couple of years.

pm sent, rosethe.

 

lol that was great Ikandiggit, I lmao!! thanks for the humor.

 

wow thats a really nice conditioned one. Great price too

 

I wouldn't put much thought into it if I were you

 

I would have bought it. Very cool.

 

I'm just trying to figure out by looks, if a coin has been cleaned or not.
You all seem to be able to spot it easily.
Me, not so much.

 

it looks like it's been cleaned to me

 

there referring to the light scratches going east to west in the open fields. when there is a surplus of them its highly likely somebody cleaned this coin at one point. It was prolly along time ago because the coin has begun to tone over

 

Thanks.

It would be cool if someone started a photo contest: Cleaned or not cleaned.

 

Not always easy even when you know what to look for. In this case the pictures and lighting highlight the cleaning. To me it looks like the hairlines cover the surface along with the halo effect around the devices. I would not be surprised if you looked at this coin in hand that you have to tilt it and twirl it while looking at it under a glass. To me the picture indicates a cleaning trying to show more details behind the wear. Plus go to heritage and look at some nice XF and AU coins. I think you will see the differences.
So I would personally net this one out at XF. There are several like this in my bust half collection - look at them through the dansco album they look fine. Pull them out, tilt them and look at the surface again - you will see the fine hairlines. Just my opinion, but a fair price for the coin.

 

The chopmark was applied in Asia. Remember that these were Trade dollars and at the time weren't even legal tender in the US. Chop marks do not increase the value to US collectors, as they view them as detractions. They are very interesting though.

In Asia, like in ancient times, merchants applied chop marks to show that they personally had inspected the coin and it was authentic. China making forgeries is nothing new, and any coin of value in China had to be viewed suspiciously by merchants By applying their own mark to the coin they could easily know it was valid if they ever got it back for payment. I have seen many of these with 20 or 30 chops on them. Of course, the forgers back then would also fake the chop marks lol.

Like I said, US collectors view it as a distraction. Personally, I view it as the coin functioned as it should have. Nice and interesting coin!