What is the blemish on this shilling?

[Mongo]

Picked up this shilling, nice detail I thought, just wondering if someone could tell me what the dark patches are? It does not look like toning, has someone just spilled something on it?

Thanks!

[Peckris]

Picked up this shilling, nice detail I thought, just wondering if someone could tell me what the dark patches are? It does not look like toning, has someone just spilled something on it?

Thanks!

Staining of some sort - certainly not natural toning. This is where you could try a gentle wash in warm water using pure soap. That may help, though you should dry it by dabbing with a towel, not wiping of course. If that doesn't work, you COULD try dipping... for NO MORE THAN 10 SECONDS!!! If that doesn't work, give it up as a bad job and live with what doesn't actually look disastrously disfiguring.

[Mongo]

Thanks Peck! I am not going to attempt to clean it, as I love the coin as it is. I was more wanting to educate myself on what the patches were, if they were natural or not. For a tenner, it is no biggy.

In a related question... Am I right in thinking the grade of a coin does not alter, even with stains, EK's, dents etc.? so an EF coin with a horrible stain, is still EF? And would maybe just be priced differently.

[Peter]

Thanks Peck! I am not going to attempt to clean it, as I love the coin as it is. I was more wanting to educate myself on what the patches were, if they were natural or not. For a tenner, it is no biggy.

In a related question... Am I right in thinking the grade of a coin does not alter, even with stains, EK's, dents etc.? so an EF coin with a horrible stain, is still EF? And would maybe just be priced differently.

A dab of acetone...the pure stuff is good but no sniffing

[Peckris]

Thanks Peck! I am not going to attempt to clean it, as I love the coin as it is. I was more wanting to educate myself on what the patches were, if they were natural or not. For a tenner, it is no biggy.

In a related question... Am I right in thinking the grade of a coin does not alter, even with stains, EK's, dents etc.? so an EF coin with a horrible stain, is still EF? And would maybe just be priced differently.

It depends. If you grade purely by the amount of circulation wear (as many of us do) then that wouldn't alter by the presence of other damage or disfigurements. However, if you were selling such a coin, you would say "EF, minor stains obv/rev" (or "VF with EK" etc), then adjust the price accordingly. Similarly you could say "EF, sharp strike, superb toning" and adjust the price in the opposite direction.

Some people might deduct a grade for damage, and grade a coin as VF when in fact it's EF with a bloody great scratch. But if they advertised it as VF that would confuse the buyer, who might prefer a genuine VF to a scratched EF. A full and honest description is far better.

[Mongo]

Thanks Peck! I am not going to attempt to clean it, as I love the coin as it is. I was more wanting to educate myself on what the patches were, if they were natural or not. For a tenner, it is no biggy.

In a related question... Am I right in thinking the grade of a coin does not alter, even with stains, EK's, dents etc.? so an EF coin with a horrible stain, is still EF? And would maybe just be priced differently.

It depends. If you grade purely by the amount of circulation wear (as many of us do) then that wouldn't alter by the presence of other damage or disfigurements. However, if you were selling such a coin, you would say "EF, minor stains obv/rev" (or "VF with EK" etc), then adjust the price accordingly. Similarly you could say "EF, sharp strike, superb toning" and adjust the price in the opposite direction.

Some people might deduct a grade for damage, and grade a coin as VF when in fact it's EF with a bloody great scratch. But if they advertised it as VF that would confuse the buyer, who might prefer a genuine VF to a scratched EF. A full and honest description is far better.

Thanks Peck, that clears that up for me!

[1949threepence]

Coins are very subject to various marks and staining, and it's very difficult to know what they are. Although many are labelled as "carbon spots"

My 1860 F6 beaded border penny, is otherwise UNC with probably 60/80 lustre, but disappointingly has a small stain on the reverse and a larger one on the obverse.

[Accumulator]

Coins are very subject to various marks and staining, and it's very difficult to know what they are. Although many are labelled as "carbon spots"

My 1860 F6 beaded border penny, is otherwise UNC with probably 60/80 lustre, but disappointingly has a small stain on the reverse and a larger one on the obverse.

We need photos!

[Red Riley]

It depends. If you grade purely by the amount of circulation wear (as many of us do) then that wouldn't alter by the presence of other damage or disfigurements. However, if you were selling such a coin, you would say "EF, minor stains obv/rev" (or "VF with EK" etc), then adjust the price accordingly. Similarly you could say "EF, sharp strike, superb toning" and adjust the price in the opposite direction.

Some people might deduct a grade for damage, and grade a coin as VF when in fact it's EF with a bloody great scratch. But if they advertised it as VF that would confuse the buyer, who might prefer a genuine VF to a scratched EF. A full and honest description is far better.

In the days of internet selling with photos used in the description process, the real use of grades is to tie the coin down to a place in a price guide or to give some comparison with a similar coin for sale on another website. In the example you give above, I would expect to see a photograph of each surface with blurb something along the lines of; 'Scratch on obverse (nobody is going to say 'bloody great scratch...') otherwise EF'. This also points to what is the futility of price guides in that to get a value you would also have to grade the severity of the scratch. The moral I guess is 'buy the coin not the grade'.

[1949threepence]

Coins are very subject to various marks and staining, and it's very difficult to know what they are. Although many are labelled as "carbon spots"

My 1860 F6 beaded border penny, is otherwise UNC with probably 60/80 lustre, but disappointingly has a small stain on the reverse and a larger one on the obverse.

We need photos!

There you go.......

[Mongo]

The moral I guess is 'buy the coin not the grade'.

Thanks Red Riley! That sentence really hits home. I was recently looking at some 1758 Shillings, I saw a coin graded GVF and toned with a couple of marks on it. I then saw an EF example that did not look nearly as nice to my eye, even though I could clearly see more defined detail. Being new to coins, I first thought well it MUST be better, as it is a higher grade. I think I am learning now, that if I like a coin, then the grade becomes less important

[Mongo]

[quote name='1949threepence' timestamp='1341154433' post='69035'

There you go.......

[Peter]

The moral I guess is 'buy the coin not the grade'.

Thanks Red Riley! That sentence really hits home. I was recently looking at some 1758 Shillings, I saw a coin graded GVF and toned with a couple of marks on it. I then saw an EF example that did not look nearly as nice to my eye, even though I could clearly see more defined detail. Being new to coins, I first thought well it MUST be better, as it is a higher grade. I think I am learning now, that if I like a coin, then the grade becomes less important

The 1758 shilling is a very common coin.I must of bought and sold/swapped 20 of them.I go for eye appeal every time.

A really nice one can be picked up for around £20ish.Get a nice toned example.

[Peter]

I put together a nice little set of George 11 for my wife's friend whose husband collects George 11 furniture.Farthing 1754,half penny 1747,6d 1757,1/- 1758,2/6 1746.

£50 and all were GF+

The coins were put into 2x2 flips and are framed and displayed in their downstairs cloakroom.

At parties there is so much conversation.A few people have asked me to search their gardens with my detector.Good publicity I say.

I have about 20 hits on their back lawn....16C mansion I can't wait to dig .It has been promised.

[Mongo]

I put together a nice little set of George 11 for my wife's friend whose husband collects George 11 furniture.Farthing 1754,half penny 1747,6d 1757,1/- 1758,2/6 1746.

£50 and all were GF+

The coins were put into 2x2 flips and are framed and displayed in their downstairs cloakroom.

At parties there is so much conversation.A few people have asked me to search their gardens with my detector.Good publicity I say.

I have about 20 hits on their back lawn....16C mansion I can't wait to dig .It has been promised.

I am very jealous! only yesterday, I started looking in to metal detecting for beginners, I google earthed my local area to see what farms were close by. A 16C mansion detecting session sounds like a fun day out! Good luck, I hope you have some interesting finds