Crossing the Block: Colorful Coins!

By Jeff Lubinski, Numismatist

I see box upon box of beautiful coins every day, but here are a few colorful Gems that you should keep your eye on!  The first coin today is an 1878 7TF (Reverse of 1878) Morgan $1, graded MS-66 by PCGS, and featuring some prominent and attractive rim toning.  On the obverse from about 10:00-4:00 is a lovely crescent of electric blue which blends into a pleasing goldenrod with hints of violet; the remainder of the obverse rim is primarily blended hues of red and orange.  The reverse is whiter than the obverse, though the edges display a nice golden hue.  Today’s second coin is another Morgan dollar, an 1890-O graded MS-64+ by PCGS and bearing a green CAC sticker.  This coin’s obverse is mostly white though 12:00 features a very pleasing patch of pastel blue blended into sunny yellow and magenta.  The reverse is something else, graced by a metallic black sheen featuring a patch of a surprisingly pleasing oil slick-like pattern of emerald green and fuchsia blended with pastel pink and blue.  In most cases I’m not a fan of oil-slick or black toning, but this coin blew me away when I flipped it over and saw the rich luster hiding behind the nice coloration. 

The third coin is an 1807 Draped Bust half dollar graded AU-58 by PCGS with a green CAC sticker.  The obverse is encircled by an aurora of royal blue and violet mixed with rose and sky blue.  The reverse is predominantly white with hints of the same lovely hues though less vibrant.  The fourth coin is a 1946-D Booker T. Washington commemorative half dollar graded MS-66 by PCGS in a secure holder.  This coin’s obverse is filled with color. Two large areas feature rich solid color: the first a nice rainbow between 11:00 and noon, the other displays dragonfly-like colors—rich violet with metallic green and ocean blue.  The rest of the obverse is speckled pleasantly with splashes of forest green and blue.  The reverse is a bit darker, a side effect of storage in its original packaging for an extended period, though not at all unattractive and still very lustrous.  Finally, we have a 1952 Washington-Carver commemorative half dollar graded MS-67 by PCGS in a secure holder.  The coin is speckled on both sides with bright rich rainbow toning, as if painted by Jackson Pollock.