Just picked this baby up to fill that empty hole in my type set. I bought it as a type coin, but as a bonus, it’s also a Philadelphia mint coin, which by mintage was 30 times scarcer than the “common” 1875-S. I’ll reveal the grade after there have been 20-25 votes in the poll. Remember, with the 20-cent pieces, the letters in LIBERTY on the shield were raised and not incuse, as they were on the other Seated Liberty denominations. Edit to add the (redacted) TrueView.
I voted 40. I don't see any evidence of luster which might have bumped it to 45 since it has a lot of detail left. Looks like original surfaces, or as close to it as makes no difference. A nice, healthy example of the type. I sold my MS-60 1875-S to Randy at the FUN show in January and have been looking for a replacement ever since in high grade - just haven't found what I wanted much less at a price I was willing to pay.
I remember your coin, and that sale. I remember it was white. There might be a picture of it back in my voluminous show report, now that I think of it. There is a pic of us together on the bourse floor.
I may just be wishing I had one like it, but I went XF45. It lacks luster, but the over-all effect is very nice.
I said top end of VF based on the wear on "LIBERTY" on the reverse. On the raw grades I use any wear on lettering or hair precludes it from being Extremely Fine. A really good looking coin though. I really don't get turned on by Sheldon scale points these days as I collect the history more than the coin. A lot of coins I buy these days are in slabs and will have details grades, usually cleaned or shipwreck effect. I used to crack coins out of slabs but now I buy the slabs for the provenance. My perfection days are a bit behind me now. Bob Dylan said, "Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now". I'm looking forward to seeing the grade @lordmarcovan .
I like it at mid-VF. I voted 30, but probably wouldn't be offended by 35. It just has too much wear (especially Liberty, as some have mentioned), and not enough luster (as some have also mentioned) to make it to XF.
VF35, judging by the coinfact images. I'm really not overly experienced in grading these fellas, so seeing the Photograde slide bar helped me choose.
I guessed XF-40. I think market grading, especially since it is the rarer Philly coin, just gets it over the line. A 45 would require more luster; as has been mentioned. The VF-35 crowd make a compelling argument but as the joke/song goes; that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Great coin, congrats; like you said, it is far rarer than the "S" coin. James
