This is a 1909 VDB Lincoln I broke out of an MS-65 holder a long time ago. I've shown it to Angel Dee's and Andy said [paraphrased] yes, it's authentic and unaltered but MS-64. Here are the best images I can do (and they are large): Note the parallel lines across the coin (easier to see on the reverse). They are the result of die polishing. Best Evidence: The lines run right up to then over the devices. Abrasive cleaning would leave an untouched "halo" around the devices. And I'm not dumb enough to say "Andy sez" without him actually having said that. What's the chance that I will get buyers that will believe what I say (I won't use the statement by Andy) is the truth? And at MS-64 it doesn't have enough value to get slabbed.
Are you asking based on photos if a reasonable person would consider that a ms64? If so, i would say yes.
Not really. If they believe what I say about die polishing the MS-64 would follow. But if they DON'T believe me then the grade is moot; it would be a DETAILS coin. Nope. Long enough ago that I wasn't concerned with slabs, ergo no image.
Nice coin, the only problem is it would have been better if it was minted in San Francisco instead of Philadelphia.
I would believe Andy. Uhm, no! They are the result of improper alloy mix. i.e. you have a woody. See https://www.cointalk.com/threads/got-wood.65353/ That is the truth!
Yes, no question about believing Andy. Nope, not a woody. In hand you can see that they are raised ridges.
That might not be the case. PCGS is currently running a 5 for the price of 4 Lincoln cent submission. If you have 4 others, it might be worth it. If you don't, someone else might. If you were to sell it raw, you don't need to get people to believe "MS64" as much as you need them to believe "$65" (or whatever the price). Put a grade on a raw coin and you're (a) asking for an argument, and (b) leading the buyer to infer that the coin would grade no higher than MS64. If you sell raw over the internet, try and get better pictures with more light on the coin showing the luster. I wouldn't bite at it with the picture of the reverse as it is. The lighter halos around ONE CENT are what I'll see on a coin that's had the open-field luster disrupted by cleaning.
The "believe" part refers to the apparent scratches (abrasive cleaning vs. die polish). My images were taken with the light source at a low angle in order to enhance the lines. I would re-image the coin with different lighting for an eBay listing.
Die polish (AKA die scratches) are necessarily raised lines on the coin. And they would rarely go off the fields. If they were whizzing lines or other scratches on the coin, they would be incuse and would preferentially be on the high points of the coin. I am not seeing either raised or incuse lines on your coin. What I am seeing are color variations. These are neither die scratches nor scratches on the coin. They are inherent to the planchet. Here are a couple examples.
That was my thinking but this coin appears to be an exception. Some sort of different die polishing? Beats me. Difficult to tell with a 9x loupe. This is probably the first time I wish I had a microscope.
Andy know his stuff. He has seen it in hand. He says 64. That means NOT CLEANED. Why are you trying to make it otherwise? Oh, and if that isn't enough, your pictures are at least 20X and I see no indication of either scratch on them.
I totally trust Andy. You ought to see the FE/IHC set he's put together for me. My problem is how am I going to convince an eBay bidder that it's a 64 with original surfaces. If I can't it's not going to sell for the $60-70 that it deserves.
Die polish lines stay in the FIELDS, not the devices. They polish only the surface of the die. You have a "woody" due to an improper alloy mix which toned differently in areas due to variances the planchet metallic composition. Nice coin BTW! I love it!
1. Tell them what it is. Not everyone out there is an idiot. 2. Start it out at $60 if that is the minimum you will take. 3. Do not expect to sell it because a raw coin like that will only garner ~$25. I bought a whole bunch of NGC graded 09- VDB's for $32 each and had trouble getting $40 selling them. Here is one example. It was eyeeatwheats favorite VDB and that is what he collected. (his picture, BTW)
I think it will be difficult to sell in its current state at anything more than MS60 prices. Such is the "crack out" game where folks crack coins out to put into a Dansco or Type Set Album. You would not be the first person that has encountered this scenario and I'm sure you won't be the last.
Another point that says woody (not definitive, but worth noting) is that the lines have the same orientation on both sides of the coin.
