From Germany 1905 S Barber Half
Hello there, this is NOT part of any collections that I represent.
I don't think that even I could reproduce the mangled look of this especially the rims and denticles that have been pushed into the obv and rev. This is actually a beautiful Specimen, luster, toning, but what happened????!!!!
I do realize that this is probably PMD but is it possible that this was a multi flipper, or blown up in an officers pocket? I could certainly TRY to reproduce this but I wouldn't waste an EF specimen to do it and I wouldn't do it anyway!
Any opinions are welcome and greatly appreciated, they will be used in the write up. Thanks!!!
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Hello,sir! (I don't know your name,you haven't told it...)
Sorry,but I haven't understood very well what you are asking for...
At the origins,your coin WAS a nice US half dollar of 1905S. NOW it is the same denomination but... of a (very) worn specimen. Less used in normal monetary circulation than abused on purpose by someone.
If used in circulation,such coin in a well worn grade(Good) would have been priced at about 15$,in our days. Your (hardly) DAMAGED coin could be priced about the same(10-15usd.) if a collector accepts its condition. ME,NOT! Sorry!
Cheers!
Andi
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Andi Pasculescu Thank you! I appreciate your response however I am not seeking a value. I am trying to image how this damage was done. It appears to have been beaten with a hard object. It is the way that the rims and denticles are actually folded over retaining their sharpness.
I was wondering if this could have happened during striking, I know it is severe but I have seen some severe pieces struck on edge and folded. Not saying that this is what happened but it is fun to examine!
I find it to be fascinating and is now part of my own personal "questionable" collection section.
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Andi Pasculescu My name is William, I was asking for opinions on what could have caused this, all theoretical of course as the studies on Barber coinage remains incomplete.
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William Cross Hi,William! I didn't know it was you who has posted this topic,it was not said next to your msg.
Ok,now I clearly understood what you wanted to know. To this,my personal opinion is that these are post minting damages made by a naughty guy,on some kind of fun purpose... I don't think these are minting process damages,on your coin.
Cheers!
Andi
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Andi Pasculescu My thoughts also. Thanks!!
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Hi William -- Whew, What a mess. It looks like a "dryer coin" on steroids. To me it appears to have gotten inside some kind of major machine (washer, lawn mower, printing press or other industrial system) for a brief time before the machine spit it out. The imperfections look too random to be produced intentionally by a person.
About 20 years ago I was a "pocket dealer" in addition to my regular job. One memorable coin was a completely smashed New Jersey copper. The poor thing had been bent, slashed, and mutilated, but it was still 100% identifiable. I bought it from the wholesale guy thinking "Who in the world would want this coin?" But, to my surprise, a buyer soon emerged. He said he collected mangled coins. He liked them and they were really CHEAP. Haha!
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Paul Richards Thanks Andi! I study pieces that are chewed up and spit out, along with mint state coins of course. I will say that the Barber quarter, then half,, type is the most understudied coin of the day of US. After that Standing Liberty. I have SLQ's that are so clashed it is really unbelievable and these are not listed! The Barbers are not listed either only with the explanation which they call "MUMPS" and that is supposed to explain the weirdness. It does not explain anything. I am very familiar with the minting process past and present and THAT IS THE KEY!!
Thanks again!!
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Paul Richards I sent your message to Andi by accident, please read it if you would. Thanks!!
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William Cross yours is the second message.
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Hi,Paul & William!
My friends,I also think that Paul is most likely very right with his correct analysis. But,in my opinion,that the damages are machine made or man made,is less important as they are of a same category of damages! The most important is that they are not minting process errors. In this case the damages would have been of another category...
Andi
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Andi Pasculescu Thanks Paul! These mangled pieces intrigue me as there is no telling how SOME of them happened. I have actually performed many chemical experiments, mechanical experiments, exposure experiments, you name it I've done it and the reason- so I can recognize an altered specimen and get fairly close as to the cause.
This one looks like it was blown up in a war or something, caught in a chipper, shot several times???
I like the blown up in a pocket during a war theory the best of course I don't know that for a fact. It is interesting to me to ponder these things.
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