T1: VF-35 HARSHLY cleaned T2: AU-58 This is just me taking a stab, I am by no means an expert, but I'm sure some will be able to further help you
First one definitely looks cleaned. I like the second one. Maybe an AU63? I'm not an expert on these either.
Hmm. My first reaction to the first shot was that the leg looked awfully flat, but it's hard to picture how that could be the case with a full head and shield. Viewing the enlarged pic, I think maybe it's just an effect of the lighting. How's the luster in-hand?
My thoughts too. Lighting may be a factor. That reverse shot in post #2 is fabulous. XF all the way.......
I would go XF45-AU50 Details on the first and AU58 on the second. The second is just barely circulated. With these striking is a heavy variable, but I think I see enough detail in the rivets to show it was a good strike and there fore is not an unc weak strike but rather a circ strong strike. I would take an AU strong strike over an MS weak strike any day.
I haven't anything useful to add to the grade conversation, but I did want to say that I really like these - they are beautiful and Standing Liberty Quarters are some of my favorites. These are beautiful. Thanks for sharing them. -L
In spite of the difference in lighting and contrast (which can confuse things) I agree that the T1 looks improperly cleaned. Such a pretty coin otherwise. Give it 15 or 20 years. The T2 looks like it might be sweet. A keeper! Lance.
Wow, nice quarters. I love the strong detail on the first one on the obverse. Very pronounced date, and detail on rim. It's a shame it has been cleaned. Still love that coin.
T1 VF30 details. Cleaned. Too much wear on the leg (gown line crossing rt thigh is more than half worn away) to quite make XF in my book. T2 AU58. Would be MS but for the slightest bit of wear on the high points. Very nice coin.
SLQ's and Buffalo nickels, are THE toughest coins for me to grade as well. Recently purchased, not here yet, but will take some more pictures when I receive. The T1 was disclosed as cleaned prior to purchase and is an odd one at that.
I almost commented on this thread yesterday but I couldn't quite make up my mind. I have now. I don't think the second coin is AU at all, though I certainly did at first glance. But a couple of things caught my attention and made me reconsider. I decided to let it go and look again today. I think the coin is MS, and a very nice MS at that. It's almost mark free, with just a couple of hits on the obv and 3 on the rev, that I can see anyway. I'd give it a 65. If it were not for the strike issues I might even be tempted to go higher. And that's what made me think AU at first glance, the strike issues. For as is normal, it's the high points that typically show light wear, and a weak strike. As they do on this coin. But there is more as well, and in places that would never show wear on a AU coin. What I am talking about is this. Yes, it looks like some flatness on the head, the date, the corner of the shield emblem and the knee. Normally these areas are where you first look to detect wear. But now look at the beading inside the rim. It is very flat and indistinct in some places. Look at the outside corners of the walls at how their relief falls away and thins. Neither of these places would ever show wear on an AU coin for they are protected by higher relief right next to them, namely the rim. And the rim in these areas shows no wear at all to my eye. So I can only conclude that this coin has strike issues rather than light wear. Granted, the strike issues are in the expected places. And normally one could look for the difference in color in these places to determine wear from weak strike. The toning however makes that somewhat difficult on this coin. But it is the presence of strike issues in the unexpected places that confirms it for me, that the flatness we see on the high points are indeed the result of an unusual kind of weak strike and not light wear. Interesting coin and unusual in it's own way.
G, I agree with the difficulty in getting a read on the 2nd coin. I also flirted with assigning a mint state grade. Not only is the luster hard to get a feel for but also the coin is lit from below -- which is not how people typically look at coins and makes judging them that much more difficult. As an aside, this is the first time in a long time you've assigned a grade higher than I have.
SLQ's are my favorite series. Have never collected them, because I KNOW what grade they would have to be in...and I like living in my house. When I receive the SLQ's, will take a couple pictures of them and post again. As you indicated, believe that T2 will be a stunning coin in hand. Truly has some serious detail.
Most folks probably wouldn't realize it Mike, based on our respective written comments, but you and I come closer to to seeing things eye to eye than we ever really disagree on Regardless of that, I always call 'em as I see 'em. Could the coin be AU ? Yeah, in hand I might change my mind. But based on what we have to go by and the evidence on the coin - I think not.
