What's wrong with this gold coin?

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by fretboard, Jun 16, 2015.

  1. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    Surface doesn't look right on this gold liberty coin. Looks a bit grainy, can't think of a better word to describe but it's not a normal well stuck surface. Do you see what I'm talking about and do you know what caused it? Shows better on her neck. $_1851 57.JPG $_1581 57.JPG
     
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  3. jwitten

    jwitten Well-Known Member

    I saw this one tonight too, and was a bidder. Looks normal to me. The rim is a little dinged up though. Sometimes luster can look grainy under close magnification. You have to remember, this is the size of a dime.
     
  4. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    I don't know very much about gold and I'm curious, any idea why this coins shows discoloration above the left wing, under the eagle's head and between the right wing, under and around "AMERICA" and around the tips of the arrows? The stuff around the arrows looks like it's maybe foreign material. The other spots what would cause that? Lighting? Appreciate any input.
     
  5. jwitten

    jwitten Well-Known Member

    Yes, lighting. They appear to be scuffs or scratches.
     
  6. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    Thanks
     
    jwitten likes this.
  7. rzage

    rzage What Goes Around Comes Around .

    Maybe the dies were rusty .
     
    Travlntiques likes this.
  8. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    That's what I was thinking as well, dirty worn out die. thumb.gif
     
  9. Rheingold

    Rheingold Well-Known Member

    Coin is genuine imo...the color is ok:hungry:
     
    Rick Stachowski likes this.
  10. Westtexasbound

    Westtexasbound Active Member

  11. Galen59

    Galen59 Gott helfe mir

    Just been around the block a couple of times.
     
  12. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    No...I'm not familiar with gold. I noticed it and thought I would ask, just want to learn about things I don't know.
     
  13. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    No, I know it's real, I never had a question about authenticity, I was talking about the grainy surface. Most coins have a shiny un-grainy surface.
     
  14. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    In these areas it's a combination of things - contact with foreign material, somebody trying to wipe that material off, and subsequent toning from the traces left behind.

    It definitely is foreign material. What ? I don't know exactly, it could be almost anything.
     
    Jwt708 likes this.
  15. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    I'd go at the goo around the arrows with a green rose thorn under a stereo microscope. The biggest problem for me is the rims.
     
  16. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    miedbe7 likes this.
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