Here is a coin that looks white to me. Don't understand why it is not in a details holder. http://s1262.photobucket.com/user/russ1709/media/lf_zps24c9kzhz.jpg.html?sort=4&o=0
As I've said many times, a white coin in a TPG holder is considered "market acceptable." That doesn't mean it isn't dipped or cleaned, it just means that a large percentage of collectors wouldn't have a problem buying it. The coin you posted is way too white and has clearly been messed with - and should be avoided. That's a really ugly look, but it is considered "market acceptable." That's one of many reasons why you can't just blindly accept the TPG grades, but must learn to grade and understand coins for yourself. It's a perfect example of buy the coin, not the holder (or in this case, don't buy the coin, even in the holder). I was speaking in hyperbole. I didn't mean he should buy this coin - I meant if he didn't mind white coins of this era, he can go have fun, but I'm definitely not interested.
A thousand coins was just last week. It's been a while ago, not gonna say how long or all the youngsters on here might try to take advantage of an old geezer and his failing faculties but... There were a couple of European crowns and a few bust dollars brought back from an old time cabinet to the US. They had been lacquered, as have many old time coins. The dealer handling them gently removed the lacquer revealing the blaze white and immaculate surfaces. As I remember, he had a terrible time selling the bust dollars, at least the one I remember, for the same reason as above. Everyone assumed it was dipped. To my eye, each coin stands on it's own. Is the luster impaired? Strike good? Wear and eye appeal? Then who cares if it was dipped. That was one bargain basement priced dollar , as it turned out.
While that will happen from time to time, David, it is seemingly very uncommon. The number of coins which have been mistreated vastly outweigh those that have been lacquered (which is, in itself, its own special form of mistreating).
So you're saying it's not been cleaned . I've never seen a Bust half this white . An almost 200 year old coin would have some degree of toning unless it was treated in some way .
I'll add my opinion too this ones been dipped to death . A lightly circulated coin that's 200 years old should be steel gray with possible remaining luster or some combination if toning. Not blast white. To me is not at all attractive
I'm not saying anything. I can't tell everything there is to know about a coin from a picture. As I said in the beginning. I'd love to hold it in my hand.
That means look for something else. I thought it was fake and I still don't know what it is, other than somebody took a coin and messed up the surfaces and denticles to smithereens! Terribly ugly coin.