Surfaces: Sharply struck, based on examination of the obverse, with reflective surfaces. A splash of golden orange is visible in the left obverse field. The reverse has very light toning as well.
Surfaces
The entire obverse and reverse of a coin, although often used to mean just the field areas.
Altered Surfaces
A designation given by PCGS and NGC to coins which cannot be certified due to the coin’s surfaces being altered from their original state.
Altered Surfaces - A designation given to coins which cannot be certified due to any number of alterations to its surfaces after it left the mint. Such alterations include cleaning, lacquering, tooling and artificial toning.
Altered surfaces
Cleaning or other impairment that renders a coin less desirable to collectors.
Surfaces - The ''skin'' or outer layer of a coin, including any of the fields, the raised portions of a coin, and the edge.
Isosurfaces are normally displayed using computer graphics, and are used as data visualisation methods in computational fluid dynamics (CFD), allowing engineers to study features of a fluid flow (gas or liquid) around objects, such as aircraft wings.
The surfaces of an MS-60 coin will often have what is typically described as a "baggy" look, with a numerous "bag marks" or "hits" of varying sizes depending on the softness of the coin's metal.
Frosty surfaces, good lustre, occasionally found with one side prooflike.
1891 P -
Frosty surfaces, poor lustre. Seldom seen P-L.
Natural surfaces resulting from long exposure to ordinary environmental conditions; uncleaned.
overdate
A coin struck from a die with at least one digit of the date repunched over a different digit, e.g.,1809/6 or 1942/1.
orange-peel surfaces
The dimple-textured fields seen on many Proof gold coins; their surfaces resemble those of an orange, hence the descriptive term. Some Mint State gold dollars and three-dollar gold coins exhibit this effect to some degree.
1. Original surfaces are extremely important and should look as natural as possible. Check factors which result in a nograde.
The slippery surfaces of cast coin result from microscopic "balls" of metal on the surface of metal, smaller than is visible even under a standard microscope but perceptible to the touch. Striking flattens these balls.
- As prooflike surfaces tend to accent and make more prominent any nicks or marks a coin has received, in general an MS-63 or MS-64 coin with prooflike surface is unappealing from an aesthetic viewpoint.
Although proof surfaces, whether brilliant, matte or whatever, almost always differ from those of regular issues, initially at least, surface appearance was a secondary consideration. Special preparation of planchets and dies was to come later.
Frosty silver gray surfaces show superb, thorough, and unbroken cartwheel lustre. The surfaces are smooth and appealing, and both obverse and reverse show a significant absence of post-striking marks of any magnitude.
field: the flat surfaces of a coin that surround the designs and legends.
Fine: a grade range from 11 to 19 on a grading scale of 1 to 70.
Bright silvery-blue surfaces with splashes of soft golden toning describes this gem quality Washington quarter. A particularly nice quarter free of any distracting marks and abrasions from contact with other coins.
Its surfaces exhibit significant wear, from use in ancient times, and severe corrosion, from how the coin has reacted to its environment in being buried for 25 centuries, which combined nearly obliterate the coin's detail.
satin finish Another of the experimental Proof surfaces used on U.S. gold coins after 1907. The dies were treated in some manner to create the silky surfaces imparted to the coins.
brilliant finish: A coin finish characterized by angled reflective surfaces producing a cartwheel effect
brown: A copper coin practically devoid of any original mint brilliance
bullion value: The base metal value of a coin ...
gold coins of 1908-1916, coins produced from dies entirely sandblasted with no mirror surfaces. See also frost and Proof. maverick An unidentifiable specimen, generally referring to a token.
Comments: This is a rather well struck example that has rough surfaces, probably due to sea exposure or from having been unearthed. On the obverse the single dot following MASATHVSETS, located near the top of the S, is clipped off from this example.
Many Greek Imperial cities smoothed the blanks for coins before striking by grinding the flat surfaces on a wheel. Poorly struck coins sometimes show circular marks that were not erased by striking.
It has an overall "soft" appearance that results from a combination of the casting not capturing the finer details, and the surfaces having been "worried" to remove casting signs and make the coin look worn from use.
Die Wear - After striking coins repeatedly, due to heat and friction, the surfaces of the dies show wear. Periodically, the striking process is halted and one or more of the dies are resurfaced to remove blemishes.
As part of a collection I once purchased a 1935 dollar with extremely clean surfaces and just about the ugliest toning you can imagine. I'm certain if sent to a grading service today the coin would be given a MS-65 or MS-66 grade.
When purchasing a Spanish silver dollar I think that originality of surfaces and genuine toning is paramount. Wear, while an important factor, is not critical.
The lack of luster and surfaces that are heavily abraded are the reasons that most specimens have below average eye appeal. On the few original, uncleaned examples that exist coloration ranges from green-gold to orange-gold and bring a premium.
" Other critics said that the coin's "rough" surfaces would encourage counterfeiters (I guess a nickel went a long way back then).
The scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a versatile equipment that can be used to study the topological features of surfaces.
burnishing A process by which the surfaces of a planchet or a coin are made to shine through rubbing or polishing. This term is used in two contexts - one positive, one negative.
Sharpness of VF-30 but rough surfaces and the obverse heavily tooled including a curved die crack from K3 to K9. Discovered in March 1928 by George H. Clapp in the collection of John P. Kennedy (described by Clapp in The Numismatist, Vol XLI, p.
A process by which the surfaces of a planchet or a coin are made to shine through rubbing or polishing. This term is used in two contexts - one positive, one negative.
These paste cleaners can be worked over the surface of a coin with an old toothbrush, so that both low and high surfaces are reached while avoiding excessive contact with raised coin details and devices.
A Charlotte coin graded Mint State-60 will often show heavily abraded surfaces. These marks will impair the luster somewhat, even though no true wear will appear on the high spots.
VF = Very Fine (Some wear on the raised surfaces, but still retaining much detail. )
F = Fine - (Considerable wear on the raised surfaces, all main features still sharp. I would guess that this fits a majority of ancient coins on Ebay/Yahoo!) ...
centered, toned, nice surfaces, near full legends, bold portrait and reverse, nice example, Very Fine+....SOLD Photo C. centered, nice bold portrait, full legends, small shallow pit reverse, otherwise nice attractive example, Very Fine....
With few exceptions, dies bear images which are incised into their surfaces (intaglio) prior to use; thus the effect produced is in relief, and the image is a mirror of that which appears on the die.
1909-P VDB LINCOLN CENT, ANACS MS-66 RED, premium gem, with frosty mint blazing fresh full red and satin surfaces. They rarely get much better. For example, as a few years ago PCGS/ANACS/NGC had graded very few higher, and only at MS-67.
When grading this design, look carefully at the surfaces of the fields to check for hairlines, evidence of cleaning, removal of solder or retooling of the design elements.
These coins can have mirror-like, satiny or matte surfaces. Before 1973, the Royal Canadian Mint specified that their equipment used to produce coins was not capable of producing PROOF coins, by their own definition, ...
You then offer me an 1870 No LCW half dollar that has quite clean surfaces and very attractive toning. You purchased the coin as an EF-40 but my eyes detect enough wear to call the coin no better than a VF-35. Your asking price is $2500.
So if the cleaning happened long ago and the surfaces have re-toned attractively, then the cleaning may be overlooked by most collectors.
Yes, but I strongly recommend you do not try to clean ancient silver coins that have toned dark, or copper coins that show many details under smooth dark or green surfaces.
Note: In ancient coin collecting, the word patina is often used in a semi-slang fashion to describe the surfaces of coins that actually lack a patina.
Great strike with a lovely golden tone,. The surfaces are nearly perfect with very few marks. I have seen coins graded MS66 that did not have the look and surfaces that this coin does.
$1,200.00 Sold Add to cart View
1860 Pointed Bust MS-64 PCGS ...
Proof (PR) - A specially made coin distinguished by sharpness of detail and usually with a brilliant mirrorlike surfaces. Proof refers to the method of manufacture and is not a condition.
Metallurgical Trial Piece Surfaces
by Ken Potter - NLG
All Photos by Ken Potter except where otherwise noted
Originally Published by Krause Publications
Updated and Revised July 31, 1998 to include new information
© Ken Potter 1998 ...
This coin was described by Heritage Numismatic Auctions as having a "deep scratch in the left obverse field," which you can't see in the photo, as well as other marks over its surfaces, ...
A rubbing or polishing process whereby the surfaces of a blank or coin are made shiny. Burnishing must always be noted on a coin's description.
Buried
The mistake of purchasing a coin for more than it can easily be sold for.
Proof
A special process for producing coins of exceptional quality and brilliance. Proof coins exhibit a full strike, mirrored surfaces, and surfaces.
Proof Set
The specially packaged set of Proof coins produced and sold by the U.S. Mint each year.
2. Uniform smooth black or brown surfaces. Most often the original patina has been removed and the surface of a tooled coin is darkened bare metal or some other artificial patina.
caused to both rise and rotate about an axis parallel to its flat surfaces.
love token: A coin that has been altered by smoothing one or both surfaces and engraving initials, scenes, messages, etc., thereon.
luster: Surface quality of a coin, result of light reflected from the microscopic flow lines.
Notes from consignor: Choice EF. Gorgeous coin, attractive style and beautiful patina and surfaces.
AE Tetrachalk, 21mm, c. 314-310 BC. No legend Head of old Pan right. PAN Legend around forepart of griffin left, sturgeon below. Anokhin Bosporus 111.
Matte Proof: Experimental proof coin that has sandblasted or acid-treated surfaces.
Mint: Coins are struck in facilities called "Mint". There are private and governmental Mint. Only Mint run by governments produce legal tender coins.
experimental proof coin that has sandblasted or acid-treated surfaces
Mercury Dime
nickname given to the winged liberty dime series from 1916 to 1945 due to the designs similarity to the Greek God Mercury ...
He handles each piece by its edges, peering under a lamplight above a black velvet mat, examining the surfaces like a crime-scene investigator for wear, nicks and chemical damage.
Flyspecks - Minute oxidation spots often seen on the surfaces of coins, particularly higher grade copper and nickel coins, caused by exposure to small drops of moisture.
 See also: Coin, Mint, Revers, Reverse, Struck
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