Some people say they don’t like toning on “CC” silver coins. The exquisite piece offered here might change some of these people’s minds. If you could design a coin in Photoshop this 1876-CC dime would qualify as a leading candidate for what the finished product might look like. Nature had done all of the work in creating the artistic beauty seen here.

The obverse displays layers of pulsing patina, the richest of which is the electrifying turquoise that encircles most of the periphery and spills out across the date and the legends. Crimson-orange takes over from there as the fiery pattern of it flows onto the outermost field areas and up onto Ms. Liberty’s seated body. Gentle shades of these autumn colors lightly silhouette the central portions on this side. Abrasions are minimal, if not downright invisible, and the strike is bold.

The reverse offers a glorious synchronized study in blended colors. The center is mostly all silvery white and is very lustrous. Then a complete circle of orange, purple, yellow, and turquoise hues begins subtly at first immediately outside the central perimeter, turning increasingly more saturated and vibrant as it flows to the periphery. A few small clash marks are visible in the central fields, but the only contact marks are so minute they are not worth mentioning. The details on all of the raised devices show pinpoint precision.

Words really can’t capture the enchanting allure of this special specimen. It is amazing.