my first impression was XF details, cleaned. If I am reading the images correctly, I am also seeing quite a few hairlines in the obv fields that look more extensive than typical circulation marks.
The fields look way too bright for a circulated coin. The black stuff in the recesses is what could not be removed by whatever cleaning process was used.
I’ve heard this explanation (about the remaining black stuff) a number of times for why someone thinks a coin (not this one in particular, just in general) is cleaned. I’m not arguing, just fairly new to the hobby and trying to learn. Is it not possible that these parts of the coin were the only parts that accumulated the debris?
Maybe a 35 but this coin does appear to have been lightly cleaned. Therefore it may get a details grade from a TPG.
It's just part of the overall picture. A circulated coin like this one should have an accumulation of medium to dark gray patina overall, perhaps with more dark stuff in the crannies, and not have such reflective surfaces. It's probably been worked on with something mildly abrasive, and also dipped in chemicals in an effort to make it "look better," and now has picked up a little tan/golden tone secondarily. The bottom line is that the original circulated "skin" has been stripped off. When I was first collecting I bought a number of coins like this, some of them pretty expensive, because I thought that's how circulated silver "should" look, and now I regret those expenses. It's worth spending some time to learn what original, un-messed with 19th century circulated silver should look like. Not plugging a specific dealer, but Gerry Fortin handles a lot of consignments of choice original circulated coins, I suggest going to the GFRC website https://www.seateddimevarieties.com/ForSaleList.html and look at the set registry and sales archive there. Also read descriptions of coins on the current sales list, because the ones that have been cleaned (some of them in certified holders) are described as such. After floundering around for a couple of years, buying coins like this: To buying coins like this:
