What's wrong with this bust half?

Thanks Bill, thats what i was wanting to know.

 

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Me I collect pre barber silver coins basically and large size copper I've bought a couple walkers recent and do love st gaudens $20s but I'm a pre 1900 guy mostly my real love is the flowing hair and draped bust coins of any and all denominations and I love trade dollars too

 

Honestly it looked like like a super clean ms coin that was mishandled more recent (like the past 50 years) that got wear on the highest points which is why it's so appealing for the grade and the money

 

You are probably right. Which is one of the biggest reasons I like slabs to begin with. Seems to be the best way to protect a coin from mishandling. Of course air-tites and kointains have been around forever, but they were never sealed and thus not really keeping folks out.

With the slab, even people who have never owned coins before can handle and care for the rarest of coins with ease and likely preventing alot of mishandling.

 

I'm surprised they don't make a soft border to put around a slab to protect it like they do cell phones.
A bust half I owned years ago and sold before I got my Disability funds.

 

I think they do make slab protectors like what you mention. Feel like ive seen something like that a while back

 

GDJMSP wrote what I was thinking, but what I did not want to write, about this coin. The high points didn't tone like the rest of the coin since the flow lines were either obliterated or were never well formed. Also, this isn't the original color this coin took on and, in my opinion and experience, this is a color that can be achieved "to taste" with a certain chemical.

 

Which chemical are you talking about that makes it take on golden type toning? I was thinking a dip would get them blast white, but what would add the golden toning? I thought album toning would be different - darker sulfur type toning. And no I am not going to try it.

And I am not knocking the coin. I think it looks pretty nice.

 

I think it looks great.

 

I am writing about a compound that is a mixture of potassium sulfide, potassium thiosulfate and potassium bisulfide. It creates a light gold through deep purple color depending upon its strength and length of exposure. In my experience, CBHs are the most commonly worked on coins using this method. Lighter usage can result in getting a coin certified while stronger applications are generally kicked back as AT.

 

The color looks a little too unusual for me. It would stand out from my other coins more than I would like. I'm not into toner's either. I like the more traditional look of natural patina on my classic pieces. However, it's a great example as far as eye appeal, but not for me.

 

Yes, it is an area of softer strike. You're going to see this to a certain extent on most bust halves--even gems. This often results in a difference in the way the coin tones in that area--especially with dipped and re-toned coins such as this one.

It comes from those areas being located directly opposite the highest points on the obverse. There simply isn't enough metal to properly bring up all the detail. You will often notice the same thing on the top curl and eyebrow of the obverse.