What do you grade this Indian Cent?

I find these 1859's sort of tough for me to grade. There are areas of weakness that always seem "off." For example, the leaves on the reverse are stronger at the bottom and weaker at the top. On the obverse, the feathers are strong, but the diamonds on the ribbon are weak. The rims look pretty good, however, and there's a touch of luster. I feel like PCGS will give this XF40, but I'm not sure. I grade it XF45. I paid $42.50. Your thoughts?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Not my series, but I'd say AU53.

 

That would be a nice surprise!

 

VF35 or EF40...

Some of it is Strike but it's uneven wear on the tips of the feathers and the leaves on the reverse.

 

I would be embarrassed to post a photo of my 1859 after seeing this. Of course I paid less than $20 for mine, which, comparatively wasn't a bad deal.

 

This looks to be how the Mint learned which areas fill last on an 1859 IHC.

Weakly-struck in that area, just like the shoulder and upper left reverse of a Lincoln, and EF45 all day with that factored in.

 

Au50

 

I would say AU something.

Might be XF45

 

I have no issues with seeing this as an XF-45. For it to get an EF-40 would be a net grade for the couple of hits on the chin. I think you did well on that pickup.

 

The answer is: EF-40

 

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, this coin is clearly an EF-45

 

Pretty cruel to get his hopes up.
Especially when it's clearly a 40.

 

Must be the nickel content.........the mints' very first experience at dealing with such an alloy (.880 copper, .120 nickel). XF-45........

 

Is it going to be graded?

 

Yes. Economy at PCGS.

 

Unusual mix.

 

Is it just me, or do the surfaces look odd?
Like environmental damage odd?

 

Yes, it's just you.

C-B-D's camera sometimes introduces slight oversharpening to an image, which can lead to the possible appearance of graininess on the surfaces. The hue is something we'd expect of this particular alloy, pretty unique in US mintage.

Have a look at the rim to see how much fun they were having, getting the rim gutter to fill. There must have been people pulling their hair out at the Mint.

 

Looks like a 45 to me.

 

I think XF40