would you consider this to be au58 or below?

AU-53 N-4 mid die state. The weaknesses of the top obverse stars are a good indicator of a die misalignment. This is common amongst large cents, but needs to be accounted for when looking at images to judge the grade. Some details may look worn, but are just weakly struck.

Here is my N-4, you will notice that it has the same die misalignment.

 

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XF-45

 

Below.

 

I do not own the coin, I was planning on purchasing it. It was graded au58 by ngc so I got skeptical.

 

I was probably resubmitted a dozen times until it got to the right person to grade it. It''s no way an AU anything with the wear on the hair on the obverse and the wear on the ribbon on the reverse. It is a nice looking coin otherwise with no contact marks to detract from its appearance. Maybe that's why it graded high.

 

I have an 1852 that I just sent in to get graded. It looks just about like that and I'm hoping for an XF. I don't think it would come out close to an AU. Smart man for questioning the grade on the slab.

 

This is my first over a hundred dollar purchase so I'm being very careful.

 

AU55 nice example for a late date Large cent. Great coin.

 

So we have a range of 45-58 (excluding Doug's 40) ... and NGC gave it a 58 ... maybe we're nitpicking due to the image sizes? Kirk was at 53, so is half a grade that big a difference on any given day especially when we're not talking ultra rare or MS coins?

 

It's priced at $145

 

Just hope you don't get an EAC grade on it, from the first set of pictures i would of said xf40 as it looks to have no luster and to much wear

 

Large cents seldom show any luster in grades less than MS-64 or so.
$145 isn't really bad, but I'd call that full retail for the coin.

 

Would you recommend that I make the purchase or should I keep searching?

 

I'd say you could find a better price for a raw coin, but if you want it slabbed, this isn't a bad price.

 

below

 

I need to clarify what I meant. I was in at mid AU, so 53/55, even before the 2nd pic was posted. That was wrong to begin with because I shouldn't be grading coins with one image. However, people obviously with WAY more knowledge chimed in and went lower than that. I do see the wear. In all honestly though, I took your 40 grade as jocular, as you hinting at your tendency to be conservative in grading and adhering to the ANA technical grades. Am I wrong in that assumption? If so, I apologize.

I did compare both photos however and it does show a DRASTIC difference. I was speaking more in general about how one person can see a 40, or a 50, or a 55, in other words Extra Fine, About Uncirculated, Better About Uncirculated. And then, lo and behold, NGC comes in over the top with a 58! I was trying to reconcile this and more than likely chose the wrong word: nitpicking. Sorry for the confusion Doug!

edit: Also I don't think Kirk was posting his coin to show a similarly graded coin. Just the same die pair. His coin is obviously higher grade. That goes without saying.

edit2: If I had to guess I'd put Kirk's N-4 at MS-64RB

 

If Doug ever worked for a TPG, that TPG would go out of business.