I like it but that doesn't mean anything. I have read over the years too many threads on these being a coin to buy slabbed. What is your opinion on this one it is real convincing. Sorry my editing program, well my computer is at the end.
Now that I am at my computer I have been looking for tales that it could still be a contemporary counterfeit. I am having a hard time finding anything.
You are absolutely right to be cautious of these, of course. So many fakes! However, I do not see any obvious signs of any red flags - everything I normally check on these looks good. If that is a fake it is an *exceptional* fake. It has been dipped, of course. The rusty orange bits on the right side of the obverse are classic indicators of a dip. The splotchiness on the reverse has me a little concerned that the previous toning was too thick and damaged the luster when it was dipped. Whether that's enough to prevent straight-grading or not... who knows? In picture 2 of the obverse there are hairlines in the left field, but I don't think they are parallel enough to indicate cleaning - those look like normal scratches from circulation.
I see those Unfortunately, I cannot look at the coin till Monday. I rolled it around under a light for a while. It doesn't have the look of being mishandled. Yet I rarely see these coins in AU or better.
Here are the hairlines, thats a pocket, could be a little to generous swipe across some greazy wood counter or maybe leather. Anyways The field to the right of the second and 3rd stars.
Is that transfer toning, below the beak and left wing. Looks like a clash. I need to take another look.
I agree with @physics-fan3.14's assesment. I'm not saying it is details, but rather it might. Of course I haven't had the privilege of seeing the coin in hand.
