1918 Illinois Commemorative Half - Guess the grade

Just picked up this beauty from a local B&M - one that I rarely go into for certain very good reasons. However, I was bored today so I thought I'd give it a shot. Picked this commem for my collection - anyone want to give it a grade (and guess what the shop had it graded?) My apologies for the harsh lighting on the highlights. I'll work on a better lighting setup.

 

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Same coin, no flash.

Here is the same coin, no flash. Perhaps this will help with your grading.

 

A bit better lighting this time...

 

Great coin. What is a "B&M"

 

Brick & Mortar...otherwise known as a local coin shop.

 

I don't know the grade standards on this one, but it sure is an attractive coin, by pics anyway.
I'll let someone else grade it, but I will guess very high XF to mid-AU.

 

Nice snag. Illinois Centennial is a beautiful coin. I especially enjoy the eagle reverse.

If I were to hazard a grade guess I'd go with ms-63.

 

I'll have to agree with the 63.

 

That is a very nice commem... Conrgats on the buy....

 

Beautiful! I will venture to say AU-50 and the shop graded it xf-40. Disclaimer: I do not know anything about commems.

 

I'll bet the B&M had it at MS65.

Chris

 

I think it is a 63, I guess the shop had it as a 65.

 

BTW thanks for everyone who's ventured a guess on the grade of this coin. My opinion:

I love this coin. I've wanted one for quite some time now, and I have what I consider to be an attractive AU coin. I'd probably go towards the higher end...either 55 or 58...because I can CLEARLY see in hand what looks to be slight wear on the high points of the coin. It's not much...but it's there. The coin shop's opinion was that it was probably a mushy strike...

...but they had it graded as MS63. Now, this coin shop is notorious (IMO) for over-grading and over-pricing their coins. (It's not just me, though...other coin shops get that "Oh, you didn't go THERE?" look on their faces when you mention it.) They've also been quite rude to me in the past - which is why I seldom go in there. Sadly, it's owned by a former ANA president...

I voiced my concern over the wear on the high points...and was able to talk the price down to AU50 money. (I also got a 1927D SLQ in VG/F out of their junk silver bin and a 1939 Jefferson DDR in F for another $25.) So I think I'll count today as a win for me!

 

If you got it for AU50 money I think you did well. Even if it's technically an AU coin, I see examples like that in MS62 and MS63 holders often. Not a huge price difference between AU and MS63 for this issue anyways so it's more about the overall look of the coin vs. the technical grade. And your coin seems to have a pretty cool look to it. Congrats!

 

That's a very striking coin. I really do like the designs.

 

My next goal is to find a Connecticut and Vermont that look like this...

 

My goal is to find a Connecticut that I can afford.........

[already got the Vermont ]