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    • 2022 Article Archive >
      • The Rolling Stones Walk Into a Bar with Five Reeded Edge Half Dollars and Get...SHATTERED!
      • A Multiyear Quest to Find a Specific Coin Achieved Thanks to the Generosity of a Collector
    • 2020 Article Archive >
      • A Tribute to Rhode Island Numismatist, and My Dear Friend, George H. Champlin IV
      • A Raw Roosevelt Dime Silver Set as a Side Project
    • 2018 Article Archive >
      • The Beloved PCGS Old Green Holder (OGH) Passed Away Approximately 20-Years Ago This Month
      • Archive of Cool Coins, Medals & Exonumia Added
      • EEMcD & The Mystery of the 1838 Reeded Edge Half Dollar
      • Book Review "An Inside View of the Coin Hobby in the 1930s: The Walter P. Nichols File"
    • 2017 Article Archive >
      • You Never Know what Events will Transpire to get You Home...
      • April 2017 Baltimore Show Report
      • A Glimpse into a Coin Deal
      • Observations from the Bourse; Hairlines
      • Thomas Bush Wins David Lawrence Literary Award (Again)
      • The Colors of Autumn; A Toning Enthusiasts Friend
    • 2016 Article Archive >
      • Observations from the Bourse; But Coins
      • Will the Efficiency of the TPGs Naturally Lead to all Worthwhile Coins Becoming Overgraded?
      • April 2016 Baltimore Show Report
      • A British Historical Medal Featuring a Canadian Train Trip that also Included Stops in the United States
      • New Barber Half Dollar Article for Barber Coin Collectors' Society
      • Circulated Barber Half Dollars-A Look Back at Two Decades of Specialization
      • Mistaken Misogyny-Andrew Mellon, Laura Fraser & The George Washington Portraiture
      • Thomas Bush Wins David Lawrence Literary Award
      • Standing Lincoln Monument Dedication at Saint Gaudens National Historic Site
      • November 2016 Baltimore Show Report
    • 2015 Article Archive >
      • The Mighty, Toned Washington Quarter
      • Collecting Mid-Grade Barber Half Dollars
      • A Simple Study on the Frequency of the Center Mintmark Position for 1897-S Barber Quarters
      • Thoughts & Strategies for Building a US Type Set
      • Three Fortuitous Auction Victories Illustrate the Importance of Knowing the Quirks of the Venue
      • Canadian Gold Reserve Coinage 1912-1914
      • A Young Numismatist & A Lost Future
      • Observations from the Bourse; CAC
      • August 2015 Chicago ANA Show Report
      • Saturn, Saint Gaudens & the Tom Seaver Era New York Mets
      • Cpl. Michael Eyre Thompson & the Walking Liberty Half Dollar
      • That's a wrap! Canadian Gold Reserve Coinage Melted
      • November 2015 Baltimore Show Report
      • Wonderful Die Polish on Newfoundland Coinage
Thomas Bush Numismatics
Preliminary edited shots that have not been circle cropped-
Below please find three sets of images that show what a coin might look like cropped onto a solid black background, solid white background and placed onto a white background with a shadow.  Each set of three images uses the identical central image that has not been manipulated to look different from background-to-background.  It is my opinion that a black background makes most coins appear darker near the rims while a white background makes the edges far too sharp and makes coins look like they are cut-outs.  However, the shadow around a coin on a white background gives the piece a softer edge and makes it look more like it is floating in air or that it has depth.  I prefer the white background with shadow.
Following are my thoughts about the coins and possible upgrade potential.  Please keep the below in mind-

1) We are looking at NGC-graded coins using the NGC grading system, but my more recent expertise is with PCGS.  Therefore, I am interpreting how I believe NGC would grade these at this point in time.

2) My experience with NGC submissions from years ago is that NGC is approximately one-third point more generous than PCGS on toned, MS Roosevelt dimes and Washington quarters and that PCGS is approximately one-third point more generous on these coins than I am.

3) Some coins were shot through holders that retained scuff marks.  Most photographers will either ignore scuff marks completely and assign the responsibility to remove them to their clients, or they will apply an abrasive to the holder and buff the marks out.  However, I do not trust the long-term stability of the coin's surface if an abrasive is used, even if the abrasive supposedly contains no volatile organic compounds.  The reason for this is that the plastic shell that forms the holder is not gas tight and will, over time, allow gas exchange from outside the slab to inside the slab.  If one coats the slab with these compounds then the compounds are worked into the pores of the plastic and their outgas products will come into contact, eventually, with the coin.  I do not want to hasten the degradation of a wonderful coin, so I do not use abrasives on slabs.

1946; This coin is too muted and the cheek is a bit too busy in terms of tick marks.  Do not regrade (DNR).
1946-D; Obverse print, too dark and tick marks on lower torch.  DNR.
1946-S; Really clean, but I think it needs more luster to upgrade.  DNR.
1947; DNR.
1947-D; Great color, clean, very good luster.  Nicer than an MS67.  Regrade.
1947-S; Same as 1947-D.  Regrade.
1948; Accurate at MS67, especially with prominent tick on jawline, but has real possibilities for MS67+.  Regrade.
1948-D; Bit blotchy.  DNR.
1948-S; What do they require with all-white coins?  I simply don't know.
1949; Muted.  DNR.
1949-D; Great color and skin; too bad about the hit on the torch.  An MS67+ is a possibility.  Regrade.
1949-S; Negative eye appeal.  DNR.
1950; Too muted with soft luster.  DNR.
1950-D; Same as 1948-S.
1951; Same as 1948-S.
1951-D; Great coin that I think falls just short of the 1949-D group, but I would still include it in a group.  Regrade.
1951-S; Muddy reverse.  DNR.
1952-D; DNR.
1952-S; Not enough pop.  DNR.
1953-D; Reverse has negative eye appeal.  DNR.
1953-S; Same as 1953-D.  DNR.
1955-D; Not enough pop.  DNR.
1958-D; Typical look for issue with great color and muted luster, the key is the muted luster.  Still possible MS67+.  Regrade.
1960-D; Reverse is lacking.  DNR.
1961-D; Obverse print with reduced luster.  DNR.
1962; Great color and luster.  Regrade.

I would group the potential regrade coins into three categories-

Regrade; 1947-D, 1947-S.
Regrade (less confident, but still do it); 1948, 1949-D, 1950-S, 1962.
Regrade (add to larger submission); 1951-D, 1958-D.
Cropped and stitched shots-
Below are the coins sent to me at the end of October or early November.  I shot the proof Roosevelt dimes on four occasions and thought three sets of the images were different enough to use them.  Therefore, I have produced three sets of images for each proof Roosevelt.  They were difficult coins to shoot given their small size, brilliant proof surfaces, cameo devices, unique toning and the fact that they were nestled into thick NGC slabs.  I will post the non-proof coins first along with the merged images and then will break up the proof Roosevelt dimes according to the type of lighting I used for each group.

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Thomas Bush Numismatics

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