Which is better?

[Tradedollarnut]

I have an 1876-S double die obverse trade dollar. It is in the new NCS slab and is described as AU details, improperly cleaned. It's a slightly prooflike AU55+ that was poorly cleaned at one time. The finest known uncleaned coin is an XF in Gene Seton's collection. Keoj has an NGC VF coin. In all there are only 5-6 examples known of this rare variety.

 

So, my question is: Should I use the coin as a pocket piece for a while? Reasonably I would remove the effects of the cleaning by the time the coin hit AU50 or XF45. Is this better than an AU55+ with some light hairlines on the reverse and an impaired luster area?

[Klectorkid]

i would go with a worn less hairlined one

[RotatedRainbows]

I would leave it the way it is, in this case I think sharper details out weighs the hairlines which would probably not be all removed any way.

[coppercoins-migration]

I'm a proponent of preserving history as best possible. Keep the old things in the best shape we can. You know where I'd be going with this...

[gmarguli]

Maybe Laura could put you in touch with a coin doctor that could putty away the hairlines? (If she reads this, I'm only kidding. Don't hurt me).

 

Are you happy with it as is? If so, then leave it.

 

Would you be more happy with it if it were in an NGC slab as XF45? If so, wear it down.

[Tradedollarnut]

Ouch!!!!!

[dragon]

I would leave it as is if it were me. Unless it was very heavily cleaned, it should perhaps begin to retone a bit after time making it look more natural. Of course it probably wont do that in the slab though.

 

Dragon

[EVillageProwler]

I agree w/ Dragon. Let it tone. (Crack it out first.) Let it tone naturally by sitting on your window sill.

 

Also, give me your address.

 

EVP

 

[braddick]

If you kept it in your pocket for about a month or so without any other coins you'de be surprised how it would naturally tone and many of those hairlines would be gone.

 

I'd go for it, just keep an eye on it weekly until your satisfied.

[keithdagen]

Keep it as is -- why risk additional damage to the coin, since it sounds like it is the highest graded of the variety, even if not a problem-free piece.

[Hoot]

Definitely keep it as is. I like the idea of letting it tone and seeing if that "takes care" of the problem, but preserve the coin, its history, and its highest state, whether or not a grading service cares to grade it. Besides, what are you after, an excellent coin or a registry piece?

 

Hoot

[michael]

i would need to examine this coin personally and if i thouget it could be put in my pocket and could stay there until

the coin would wear down to an xf coin the lower end of xf and still have great eye appeal and lose the cleaning

and hairlines

totally and then get regraded as an xf 40 in a pcgs/ngc slab i would do it!

 

but i think personally that all the above combinations taking a chance it would be slim to nil to happen so

i would leave it as it is

 

but again it all depends on the overall look of the coin i would need to see in person

 

sincerely michael

[shirohniichan]

Leave it alone!!!!!!!!! There may be some better techniques for "curing" this problem in the future than wearning it down.