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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Tom B, post: 1494698, member: 11854&quot;]This color range you are writing about can be completely normal and can be a sign of a coin with thick, original skin. I do not know what grade range you are looking for, but VF-AU coins retain significant amounts of dirt, gunk, grease and oils that turn the coin dark over the years. Coins in lower grades are usually a bit more slick on their surfaces and might end up being slightly different in hue possibly due to this difference in surface texture, if you will.</p><p><br /></p><p>Seated and Capped Bust coinage is not only old, but quite a few examples remain in decent collector grades (VF-AU) whereas Barber coinage was often worn to nearly a nub, which can make the coins appear a bit less deep in color. Morgan dollars rarely circulated enough to generate this color range, but they are easy enough to find given their enormous production numbers.</p><p><br /></p><p>You write that you want an example that looks like it &quot;came from the mint&quot; and this has me confused and concerned. If you want a completely untoned example that is shiny white then you want a dipped coin that has had its surfaces stripped. Many collectors prefer this look and the major coin grading firms (PCGS and NGC) will readily certify these coins in problem-free holders, but be aware that a blazing white Seated half dollar will be identified immediately by most experienced folks as one that has been dipped. Again, this isn&#039;t a bad thing for some, but it is for others. If, however, you are looking for untoned, white VF-AU coins then you are definitely looking for coins with a very limited market for acceptance and that will almost always be rejected by PCGS and NGC as having been cleaned. The market simply does not as readily accept coins in this grade range with such brightly stripped surfaces. </p><p><br /></p><p>Here are a few images of dark, circulated coins. They are all half dollars and are all completely original with unstripped surfaces. They range in grade from VF25 through AU55 and feature an array of &quot;looks&quot;. Do any, or all, of these look like what you are writing about?</p><p><br /></p><p>1805 PCGS VF30-</p><p><img src="http://wsm.ezsitedesigner.com/share/scrapbook/23/239107/BTBI1805P30.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>1817/3 NGC EF45-</p><p><img src="http://wsm.ezsitedesigner.com/share/scrapbook/23/239107/BTBI1817N45.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>1837 PCGS AU55-</p><p><img src="http://wsm.ezsitedesigner.com/share/scrapbook/23/239107/BTBI1837P55.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>1838 PCGS AU55-</p><p><img src="http://wsm.ezsitedesigner.com/share/scrapbook/23/239107/BTBI1838P55.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>1883 PCGS EF40-</p><p><img src="http://wsm.ezsitedesigner.com/share/scrapbook/23/239107/BTBI1883P40.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>1893-S PCGS EF40-</p><p><img src="http://wsm.ezsitedesigner.com/share/scrapbook/23/239107/BTBI1893SP40.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>1921 PCGS VF25-</p><p><img src="http://wsm.ezsitedesigner.com/share/scrapbook/23/239107/BTBI1921P25.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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