Would you all be so kind as to lay down your opinion & grade these 3 1821 Large Cents - 2 are slabbed & 1 is not- Just trying to get a feel for one- Reverse's will follow in the same order- Thanks-
Coin 1 I would say is VF details(cleaned and porous looking). Coin 2 I would say is VF20(probably graded VF30) - I don't like the ding in front of the face. Coin 3 is VF30 to XF40 - that is the coin I like the best. But coin 2 and 3 would fit nicely in my collection.
VF details, cleaned, net F VF 30 XF 40 (probably cleaned too, but acceptable). Tough date too, known for being weakly struck.
Here's my grades v2: #1: XF 45 details, corroded and cleaned, net VF 30. #2: VF 35 details, planchet defect and dark, net VF 25. #3: XF 45 details, cleaned, net XF 40.
Okay - I have to ask - why do you think the last one was cleaned? I see the different colors around the stars, but I can not see for sure that it was cleaned. I would like to have the last one in hand to see if it was cleaned before saying it was cleaned. I certainly prefer the 3rd over the other 2.
Okay - I have to ask - why do you think the last one was cleaned? Two things: It is too light, and the high points aren't a different color. I am anything but sure though....and it could be the pics... In fact, after looking at the first coin's picture on Heritage (the one in the slab) I'm not so sure that coin has been cleaned, as it has the high-point wear discoloration I'd expect to see in a copper coin (think worn copper Lincoln). Pics can be very deceiving as overexposure and lighting technique can wreak havoc on assessing if a coin has been cleaned on these early cents, so it is really tough to be sure particularly when judging photos and not having experience in seeing the photographer's coins in-hand...Mike
Okay I see what you are saying - I looked at some more 1821's on heritage and they do seem to be darker.
Well I have basically given it away but here it is -in my hand scanned. Maybe the scan will show the true color better while possibly showing more wear or flat areas than the pics-a trade off but I still think the coin is a solid XF- I really dont think it was cleaned - But the owners opinion is usually slanted.
Looks like a completely different coin doesn't it. FWIW, here's my example of the same date, with a remarkably similar look, graded (gasp) NGC XF 45. Like your first photo, this one is also overexposed and the coin itself is darker...Mike
Well I certainly do not agree with those grades, but oh well! I can certainly see corrosion on that first coin. Even the auction I pointed to says corrosion - so why did NGC grade it or was it NCS?
