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1891 (Small Filled Block S) Seated Liberty Dime

T

timwied

Member
I found this 1891 Seated Liberty Dime last week, with my Fisher F4. I didn't think too much about it, except I thought it was really cool! Then as I was scanning it on my computer, I noticed the mint mark looked different. So I ended up looking at it through an electron microscope, and the last two pictures are from it. After some research on the Internet, it may be a "Small Filled Block S" mint mark. I talked to my coin dealer, and he told me to try to clean it up a little better with olive oil, may take a couple months. He verified what I thought and told me he would wager over 50% chance I am right about the "Small Filled Block S", if this is indeed what it is, according to the Internet, this may be the second known 1891 with this mint mark!!! Any experts out there have an opinion, I'd love to hear what you think. I'll keep you updated as I gradually get it cleaned, he told me to be very patient. May take a while. I'm very excited now! Any ideas what it might be worth?
 
That could be a great find. I want to show you a cleaning method for silver coins that is incredibly fast and effective and non abrasive. It's just one recommendation from a guy that I fully trust and have learned a lot from as far as cleaning coins and buttons and preservation as well. Good luck
 
Thanks, I have heard of that before, my boss had a sterling necklace he did that to, came out looking great!!!
 
I think you'll find that a little wet baking soda will shine those silvers up nicely without the extra steps you mentioned.
 
Thats a heck of a find...if its that rare, a guy probably shouldnt touch it...get some other opinions or have it graded maybe just the way it is...if its THE find, you can have it professionally restored...:thumbup: Let us know.
Mud
 
mudpuppy said:
Thats a heck of a find...if its that rare, a guy probably shouldnt touch it...get some other opinions or have it graded maybe just the way it is...if its THE find, you can have it professionally restored...:thumbup: Let us know.
Mud
Click to expand...
I agree 100% that if this may be rare it should be professionally handled. I have used lemon juice on silver coins with great success. But you have to do short sessions in order to get that nice toning you desire and not have a super shiny old silver
 
Could this foreign material be road tar? Is there an easy way to remove tar from silver safely? If it is it shouldn't have messed up the silver under it? Would acetone do it?
 
This is the text from the owner of the ONE! He did verify it is a filled S, but no one cares? Does any one find a problem with that statement?
Hi Tim.
Your piece is http://www.seateddimevarieties.com/date_mintmark/1891s_114page.htm.  In the web-book, I say "This reverse die is the only known filled S mintmark example for 1891 San Francisco dimes."
It is one of many 1891-S small S dies and not worth a premium; the mintmark is indeed filled but no one cares.
Your coin also has a terrible foreign material issue....good luck getting that off to even make the coin attractive to sell at wholesale.
 
timwied said:
This is the text from the owner of the ONE! He did verify it is a filled S, but no one cares? Does any one find a problem with that statement?
Hi Tim.
Your piece is http://www.seateddimevarieties.com/date_mintmark/1891s_114page.htm.  In the web-book, I say "This reverse die is the only known filled S mintmark example for 1891 San Francisco dimes."
It is one of many 1891-S small S dies and not worth a premium; the mintmark is indeed filled but no one cares.
Your coin also has a terrible foreign material issue....good luck getting that off to even make the coin attractive to sell at wholesale.
Click to expand...
Well let me say this. First off, I care and think it's very cool. The second thing is that he might not be very happy that another popped up. The difference between unique and ultra rare may not seem like much but it sets a precedent for people believing there might be more out there than everyone believed. That coin will clean up fine and will look great so I wouldn't worry much about that. If you're not seeing the results you want I would rinse with soap and water to remove all of the oil then try the lemon juice.... If it's not a valuable coin. I actually cleaned my own tree coin just because I'm comfortable with the process and well, somebody has to do it. Luckily it was in great shape and I got the desired toning. If not I would have kicked my own ass lol
 
Thanks Ahab8! I think it's cool too! I did a little gentle cleaning on it over my lunch, and some of it come off easy! Very excited!
 
Great find! Wether its a block S or RPMM there is some detective work ahead of you. You could go the regular electrolysis route and that should lift the crud if you hit it lightly with a chamois or microfiber cloth after a zap-bath. Ahab8 posted up a poor mans version that works on the same general principal. I like forcing an eddy current that acts live an invisible chisel to loosen silver oxide and crud.
Congrats!
HH - Bruce
 
Cool Find. It is not always the conditon of the find but the find itself. It was the condition of coins I would not be out there looking for crusty Large cents. Ha HA
 
Do not rub the coin with anything, a cotton swab will scratch silver so will baking soda. I have seen people that the first thing they do with a dug coin it rub it with there fingers. Just took the value down by 50%.
 
Well, its seems the small block s mint error is not collectable, or rare? Seems like if there are only two, it would be rare? I contacted Heritage Auctions, told him what I had. He looked it up and said it is listed at $75 in VF condition! Oh, well, it was a nice dream, and it's still a very cool find! At least now I don't have to worry about scratching $100,000 off the value! It is worth about 4 times what I originally thought when I found it! I'm Happy!
 
Congrarts on the find. To the nay-sayers I say sour grapes. I believe you have made an excellent find and I would be proud as punch if

I did this good. If I appear a little green, it is because I am green with envy. Good going and I hope you find another this time in MS-65.

HH

Guardez
 
That is truly a once in a lifetime find. I am happy for you!
 
Well here is an update. I did the aluminum foil and baking soda technique three times and gently rubbed it with a dull toothpick, this is how it came out. Then I put it under the microscope and discovered it is also doubled die! Still not worth a fortune, but what are the chances!!!
 
timwied said:
...according to the Internet, this may be the second known 1891 with this mint mark!!!
Click to expand...

I'm not going to duplicate your research, and you may be correct. BUT are you sure there is only one known specimen of this particular coin, or could you be misinterpreting the statement that this is the only REVERSE DIE known to have a filled S mintmark?
This reverse die was used to produce how many coins?

And besides, you've found a GREAT coin regardless of its rarity!! Congratulations!!
 
I probably am misinterpreting it, help me? If it's the only REVERSE DIE known to have a filled S mintmark? What does that mean, do I have a different Reverse Die? I'm definitely not an expert! Thanks
 
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