Preserving the Mysterious Susan B. Anthony Impostor: Essential Conservation Strategies for Numismatic Oddities

How to Protect the Susan B. Anthony Dollar Mystery

Few things pain a collector more than seeing history erased by well-intentioned mistakes. Take that peculiar Susan B. Anthony dollar circulating through collector forums—the one with missing denomination, medal turn orientation, and mysterious 8.67g weight. Whether it’s a clandestine strike, arcade token, or skilled counterfeit, this numismatic puzzle demands our protection. Here’s how to shield such treasures for future detectives of metal.

Anatomy of a Numismatic Ghost

Before we discuss preservation, let’s marvel at what makes this 2014-surfacing oddity special. This isn’t just another damaged coin—it’s a symphony of deliberate anomalies:

• Medal turn orientation (flips top-to-bottom like a medal)
• Complete absence of “ONE DOLLAR” text—almost phantom-like
• Clad composition mirroring genuine issues, yet…
• A telling 0.57g overweight profile (8.67g vs. 8.1g standard)
• Ghostly design shifts: feather tip kissing the “R” in AMERICA
• Stars dancing away from their expected positions near “ES” in STATES

“Whoever made this invested serious craft,” noted the original forum poster—exactly why we must preserve its story, regardless of its contested origin.

Three Preservation Pitfalls Every Collector Must Avoid

1. Toning: Beauty or Beast?

That copper-nickel clad composition? It’s a ticking time bomb for ugly toning. While we collectors adore rainbow patinas on silver, clad coins develop splotchy blemishes faster than a dropped ice cream cone. With this SBA’s unknown alloy mix? Pure danger. Keep humidity below 50%, avoid sunlight like a vampire, and never let moisture kiss its surface.

2. Oxidation’s Sneaky Attack

Clad layers corrode differently than pure metals—like neighbors feuding through a fence. Your ordinary silver dollar develops character; this SBA anomaly might develop cancer. That extra 0.57g weight suggests mystery metals hungry for oxygen. Solution? Lock it in an air-tight vault with fresh silica gel soldiers standing guard.

3. PVC: The Collection Killer

Beware the green death! Those flexible vinyl flips? They’re Trojan horses leaking acid onto your coins. I’ve seen PVC damage etch fine details into oblivion—imagine losing those shifted feather tips forever. If your holder feels sticky or smells like a shower curtain, sound the alarms! Never attempt DIY rescue missions; call a conservator before the patina turns poisonous.

Fort Knox for Your Coin Cabinet

With controversial pieces like our SBA enigma, storage isn’t just protection—it’s preserving forensic evidence. Think like a museum curator:

Battle-Tested Storage Solutions

• Mylar Flips: The 2.5 mil polyester bodyguards
• Air-Tite Capsules: Foam-gasketed thrones fit for numismatic royalty
• Inert Slabs: NGC-style non-PVC fortresses

Banish felt-lined albums to the dungeon! Their sulfurous breath accelerates toning. For our chunky 8.67g SBA? Standard holders won’t cut it—custom cradles prevent rattling that could mar its delicate surfaces.

The Unforgivable Sin: Cleaning Coins

Never clean coins—period. Those forum photos already show worrisome texture on the reverse. Wiping this SBA would be numismatic murder, destroying:

• Critical provenance clues in every microscopic fingerprint
• Any surviving mint luster—the holy grail of eye appeal
• Diagnostic features that could reveal its true origin story

“Why create such an elaborate mystery?” asked one baffled collector. Exactly why we must preserve every detail—future technology might decode what our eyes can’t see today.

Document Like Your Collection Depends On It (Because It Does)

For controversial coins, documentation is your time machine:

1. Shoot high-res photos under morning light every six months
2. Track weight fluctuations with 0.01g precision—that extra 0.57g could signal a rare variety
3. Map color shifts using the Sheldon Toning Scale
4. Log storage conditions like a ship’s captain charting stormy seas

That weight discrepancy? Could be copper core instead of copper-nickel—a smoking gun for authentication. Only meticulous preservation allows future XRF scans without damaging its integrity.

Conclusion: Guardians of Numismatic Lore

This Susan B. Anthony phantom isn’t currency—it’s a metal-bound mystery novel. Counterfeit? Experimental strike? Token from a forgotten arcade? Its numismatic value lies in the questions it asks. Store it like the treasure it is, document like a forensic scientist, and remember: today’s curiosity could be tomorrow’s legendary find. Future collectors will thank you for keeping history’s secrets safe.

Related Resources

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