Pulled the trigger on this for my 7070 set. It’s unslabbed but looks like it could have straight graded. I’m a big fan of coins with this kind of ‘cameo wear’. What would you guess the grade? I’m thinking 40ish. And I’m still learning…any signs of cleaning? Any other observations?
I think these photos are cleverly taken to hide any signs of cleaning. I interpret the obverse to be too shiny. Details... I fall into the high VF... not sure I'd stretch to EF based on wear I see in the hair. Overall, I think you're optimistic on this coin. I think the pictures show a really nice coin, but I think the coin in hand won't match the pictures.
Thanks for the honest assessment. I will post a picture when I get it in hand. The seller is well respected and has a good return policy, so hopefully it’ll work out either way.
As I suspect you know but mistyped, that is a Reeded Edge Capped Bust half. The Draped Bust half ended in 1807. I think you have a handsome coin there. For the details assessment, I personally would put it around VF35 details- right on the cusp of XF40. What @physics-fan3.14 said about the photos might warrant some caution, but I'm reasonably optimistic here. Yes, it is possible that this coin was cleaned, but how it looks in hand and whether or not any old cleaning is "market acceptable" is the main question. These are a nice type, and I think you potentially have a nice coin there, although I don't know what you paid. And if it did turn out to have an old cleaning, hopefully that was relatively light and gentle. You're getting it for a 7070 set and not trying to get a straight grade from a TPG here, so I think you could have a keeper. Looks like a good coin for a 7070, if you ask me. That's one of the tougher holes to fill in a 7070, too. COINgratulations.
Sure looks like it’s been cleaned to me. Given it’s age it more than likely was. Starting to tone back over. If graded by a TPG it would receive a details grade.
Gah! Can’t believe I put draped bust! Thanks for the correction and the comments. Even with an older cleaning, I think as long as the pics are totally off, I’ll like it. I’ll post pics when I get it in hand.
I suspect you’re right. What are you seeing that’s leading you to think so? Is it just the luster/patina? Genuinely curious.
The coin is nice and clean of marks. That’s good but almost all coins of this age have been cleaned. Yours shows the coin to be light in color in the fields but close to and around the letters and details of the design there are black areas. Look at the shield. See the dark areas along the lines in the design of the shield. The design is up and down on the lower part of the shield and side to side on the upper part of the shield. The raised portion of those lines is lighter than the lower part of the lines. You can see the same thing in the letters. Hope that’s help. Just let it tone naturally and it will recover to a point that most will consider it acceptable. It’s a nice looking coin but also too light in color for the wear. The wear shows on the high spots such as the eagles wing feathers.
