Gold coated halves?

[Blkcloud]

Out of $500 I found 9 that were 1966-1969 range.. all but one has some sort of gold color to it.. almost like old lacquer.. what is it?

 

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[bertmaster2000]

Normal tarnish

 

[Blkcloud]

Normal tarnish

No, this stuff peels off..??

 

[port ewen ace]

peel away----ya' still got silver

 

[Spizzerinctum]

Someone thought the bottom of an unflushed toilet would be a safe place to hide them?

 

[Quin]

They're gold plated.

 

[Diver_Down]

It is exactly what you think it is. It isn't gold plating, tarnish, or any of the other suggestions. It is lacquer. It was a common practice that old time collectors believed that applying a coat of lacquer would preserve the coin. I know the coins pictured are 40%'ers, but if they belonged to an older collector, they were just doing what they thought was right. As you have found out, the coating will flake off. To remove the rest, you can soak in acetone. Or don't bother and toss them on the pile.

 

[Quin]

It is exactly what you think it is. It isn't gold plating, tarnish, or any of the other suggestions. It is lacquer. It was a common practice that old time collectors believed that applying a coat of lacquer would preserve the coin. I know the coins pictured are 40%'ers, but if they belonged to an older collector, they were just doing what they thought was right. As you have found out, the coating will flake off. To remove the rest, you can soak in acetone. Or don't bother and toss them on the pile.

That's what I meant to say

 

[enamel7]

That's what I meant to say

ROTFLMAO!!!!!

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

It's normal varnish not tarnish LOL

 

[Diver_Down]

I'll be honest. When I saw the subject line and the status of the member posting, I summarily assumed YAGPH (Yet Another Gold Plated Half). The same questions have been asked over the years with consistent frequency. (We are due for the double date stamped half). But then I saw your photo (still not reading your post), and thought they don't look like the usual GPH. Then when I read the fact that you can peel/flake it off, it was clear as clear-coat.

By the way, applying lacquer to a coin was common back in the day especially with copper coins. If you were fortunate to have a Red, high grade specimen, there was no way to keep the red from reacting with air contaminants and turning brown. This was before coin encapsulation and TPG.

 

[Quin]

ROTFLMAO!!!!!

I know, what a mix up am I right?