Silver dipping

[Jules]

Hi

I've been offered a UNC 1915 half crown that the seller says has been dipped, it does appear to be very bright. What would be a fair price for such a coin, as compared to a UNC example with no problems? Thanks.

[£400 for a Penny ?]

Well, last years CCGB lists that coin as £70 in UNC.

Take say £15 off as catologues are always a bit ambitious, say £55 with no problems.

Dipped ? Well that's a judgment call really isn't it. It probably will retone over the years, depends how much you like it/want it.

I dunno, maybe offer £20, see what he says and go from there ?

I sold one recently on ebay in pretty good nick - 1916 from memory, went for £30 odd if memory serves.

[Peckris]

Hi

I've been offered a UNC 1915 half crown that the seller says has been dipped, it does appear to be very bright. What would be a fair price for such a coin, as compared to a UNC example with no problems? Thanks.

I believe the seller may be wrong. "Very bright" usually means polished (is it highly reflective?)

A coin that is briefly dipped, simply loses its toning which may be anything from desirable blue or coloured to undesirable tarnish. A coin that is OVER-dipped loses its sparkle completely and acquires a kind of flat dull clean uniformity that to my eyes is not handsome at all.

Of these, you can rate in order of UNdesirability (and lowered values) :

1. polished

2. heavily dipped

3. lightly dipped

[Jules]

Hi

I've been offered a UNC 1915 half crown that the seller says has been dipped, it does appear to be very bright. What would be a fair price for such a coin, as compared to a UNC example with no problems? Thanks.

I believe the seller may be wrong. "Very bright" usually means polished (is it highly reflective?)

A coin that is briefly dipped, simply loses its toning which may be anything from desirable blue or coloured to undesirable tarnish. A coin that is OVER-dipped loses its sparkle completely and acquires a kind of flat dull clean uniformity that to my eyes is not handsome at all.

Of these, you can rate in order of UNdesirability (and lowered values) :

1. polished

2. heavily dipped

3. lightly dipped

"Very bright" was my phrase and probably misleading. The coin has no toning, appears very clean but isn't particularly reflective.

[Red Riley]

"Very bright" was my phrase and probably misleading. The coin has no toning, appears very clean but isn't particularly reflective.

The vendor has obviously been very honest in telling you this, but in my experience this series often exhibits a virtually naked silver appearance. Strangely enough I bought a 1916 half crown last night amongst a job lot of other things, it was very dirty and sticky and so I decided to give it a wash. With nothing more than a J-cloth and some washing up liquid I spent no more than 10 seconds gently wiping the surfaces and what emerged was a GVF halfcrown with a shiny silver appearance almost as if it had been dipped. I have often suspected other halfcrowns from this era of having had the dreaded chemical treatment but I now wonder if I have misjudged them.

[Peckris]

"Very bright" was my phrase and probably misleading. The coin has no toning, appears very clean but isn't particularly reflective.

Ok. If it's lustrous, then it could be perfectly normal. If dull in appearance but clean, then it sounds like classic dipping.