I'll bet most of you cannot tell me what you see in this image?

Numismatics 101

Not a trick question. This is the edge of a coin. Tell me EXACTLY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE for my auction catalog so bidders will know what the edge looks lie. I'll be shocked if more than two members can do it. Give it a try. There are no wrong answers just one better than the rest.

 

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1883 Racketeer nickel with faux reeding filed into the edge.

 

The edge appears to show signs of being in an encasement for many years. Flattening of reeding and indentations around the edge due to pressure of holder.

 

Someone left a particle of cloth on the coin after cleaning it. Sorry, it does not interest me. Good luck!

 

These answers are close but not complete.

Flat reeding. yes.
File marks. yes but...What else? I'm trying to pull out detailed observations to train your eyes.

 

Good eye! This is EXACTLY what I want.

Although it has no bearing to the original question you have spotted a fiber. I never noticed it in the image before. That's the way folks should learn to look at coins. I wish you had been interested and described some of the other things in the image.

 

Well, I see the edge of a gold (or at least gold colored) coin with a reeded edge that appears to have been filed down. The abrasion marks all seem to be scratched in the the same (horizontal) direction. And is that a number 2 I see?

 

Center looks like the core of clad coin.

 

Looks like a clad coin that has suffered some environmental damage (where it looks like a poor casting, but I doubt someone would bother casting a clad coin) and had the reeds somewhat 'sanded down' by rubbing/rotating on a rough surface like concrete.

 

That is not a description. What do you see. Describe it.

This is a description of the image.

This is a coin's edge. There is a silver-gray color to the edge and some of the tops of the reeds have a pinkish color. The reeds look partial and weak or flattened with horizontal file marks on the high parts. On part of the upper rim and between some of the reeds is a dark black color. And thanks to Mr.Q there is a fiber stuck to the coin.

This is the type of detailed conversation that two authenticators might have when discussing the things they see on a questionable coin. If you learn to think like this and take the time to write it down a few times for someone to read, you will be surprised at how better your coin examination skills become.

 

Why wouldn't you just post the picture? 1000 words and all?

 

? I guess because I'm trying to get folks to look closely at things. The ONLY way I can tell if they get anything out of my post and what I'm trying to do is working is if they can write exactly what they see.

 

The edges are rounded at the rims. Looks like a file or something was used to remove corrosion.

 

I agree with @expat, it looks like it was holdered. I'm deriving that in part from the top of the edge which looks offset as though it's pushed into the coin. Abrasiveness may be due to the way it was seated or filing marks to insure it was.

That said, @jb10000lakes has a good point. Putting some part of a coin smack up against our noses and then asking us to describe it without letting us see the other parts we're telling you we need to see is an exercise in clairvoyance more than in thinking. You want our thinking, that's fine. When we think to answer you we need more coin, let us be the judge of that, otherwise, it's a game.

 

eddiespin, posted: I agree with @expat, it looks like it was holdered. I'm deriving that in part from the top of the edge which looks offset as though it's pushed into the coin. Abrasiveness may be due to the way it was seated or filing marks to insure it was.

That said, @jb10000lakes has a good point. Putting some part of a coin smack up against our noses and then asking us to describe it without letting us see the other parts we're telling you we need to see is an exercise in clairvoyance more than in thinking. You want our thinking, that's fine. When we think to answer you we need more coin, let us be the judge of that, otherwise, it's a game."

Yes Eddie, it's a game. GAMES HAVE RULES AND DIRECTIONS to follow.

Unfortunately, in my limited teaching experience, most people cannot follow instructions. They also like to make the rules. I took great delight in handing out F's to anyone who was too smart for their own good. BTW, I was one of those wise guys as a student, so I get it. Nevertheless, I'm thinking of putting a few more people on permanent vacation so I don't need to deal with their comments.

BTW, what is the mint mark on this Morgan dollar?



Anyone who needs to see the rest of the coin is...[self edit] , and in need of a permanent vacation.

PS I also learned that the first thing to do after giving the directions for the quiz was to tell everyone TO PUTHRIR NAME ON THE TOP OF THE QUIZ! I hope you continue to "play."

 

What an inapt example to make your point we needn't ever have to see more coin, a question on what mint mark and closeup of the mint mark. Look, forget I mentioned it. You got what I think.

 

Nevertheless, I GUARANTEE that I will continue to get requests to see the entire coin, its other side, the edge, or what I have in my pocket each time I post an image. It is part of the try to "stir-up" the OP "game."

 

This shows the edge of a coin with reeding which has seen wear and has also been filed.

 

Does anyone besides me see the number 2 on the edge of this coin?