Should I send this Lincoln Rainbow-toned coin in for grading?

Hi all,

This is my first post on this awesome website. After looking at a few (very) educational threads on various topics about coins, I decided to create my own account and start posting some of my own questions (By the way, if a moderator reads this, do you mind private messaging me, because I do not know how to message others and there were a couple issues when I created my account)

Anyways...on topic. Recently I bought a single raw coin at a fairly decent price because it looked simply amazing. I was wondering if this coin (pics below) has artificial toning or natural toning. In addition, I would like to get a guesstimate at how much this coin might be worth as well as the approximate grade. Since I'm fairly bad and a newb at grading, I would like to get some experienced opinions (I'm thinking it's around AU-58 to maybe to the low MS-60's). Most importantly, I was wondering if I should send it to PCGS, ANACS, or NGC to get it slabbed IF it is truly "NT". I'm going to refrain from posting the price I bought this coin at to maintain the objectiveness of the comments. On a side note, I read a bunch of articles on AT vs. NT, as well as how to supposedly "spot" AT. Oh and please, feel free to be blunt and direct, I honestly do not care. Here's some pics of the coin:






In my opinion, here's what I first noticed about this coin:

-The coin appears to maintain it's cartwheel luster (at least on the reverse), which is a good sign.
-There's a couple of suspicious spots on the coin:
-Obverse: dark blue-toned dots near lincoln's head, around 12-1 o'clock; lighter blue-toned areas around 8, 9, and 10 o'clock
-Reverse: Nothing much here. A few discolored spots, but overall I think the reverse looks amazing. The toning connecting the ends of the wheat stalks stood out to me.
-Also, while most of the coin's various toning colors blend well together, note the stark line separating an orange tone from a blue-ish tone around 1 o'clock on the obverse.

Those are just the first things that came to mind. Let me know what you see/think. Again, don't be afraid to bluntly state that it's AT -- I honestly don't care. This is a very eye-appealing coin to me and it will stay that way whether or not the general idea is that it is artificially toned.

Thanks in advance!

(By the way, if anyone knows how to increase the size of the pics...please send me a message or post on this thread how to. When I try to expand the pictures, nothing happens)

 

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Have it graded and slabbed if it gives you the fuzzy warm feelings while you sleep at night. Honestly, if it has a grade of MS65 or so, you're looking at a $5 coin or so. Maybe someone will pay a premium for it's tone. Just consider though, if you're not gonna sell the coin, I'd vote, save your money by not getting it graded and slabbed, you likely could end up spending more on getting it graded than the coin is actually worth.

 

I agree, it's a nice coin and if you like it just keep it. if you go to sell it and the new buyer likes toned ( and will pay extra) no slab needed. the cost of grading will be way more than the value of the coin

 

If it were a rarer date, I would say yes. This is a common coin in MS65RD. Sometimes color will through off a TPG company and they will slap a details or genuine label on the slab. if that happens, it would be a complete waste of money.

pretty coin though. Keep it stored safely and hold on to it for a while.

 

Thanks for all the quick responses! Just for the sake of curiosity, do you think that the coin is NT or AT? Also, is it safe to assume that it has a grade of MS65? I'm genuinely surprised because of all the fine scratches I see on the pictures.

 

Its never safe to assume anything when it comes to grades or color. As for toned colors, it is very hard to say. In my opinion, I am leaning toward AT solely on the fact that it is not even. Just my opinion though. Like I said before, it is still pretty!

 

Save your money on the submission fees and all. It's not that exceptional, and the toning wouldn't add much, if any, of a premium.

 

It's safe to assume it's 63, a chance at 64, but a 63 safely.

 

Well, just received the coin in question today. I can now personally say that it looks amazing...it has better cartwheel luster than a lot of my own coins .

Is there any common give-away sign that the coin is AT when you have the coin in hand? I can't find anything wrong or suspicious with it. The toning appears to blend into the coin rather than "float" on the surface. And, as said before, the coin has maintained all its cartwheel luster.

 

I'm thinking AU-50 something to a low MS grade.
Looks AT to me because this look is not something you see very often.
If you could get it in a good slab it might bring about the cost of grading.

 

Here's a few more pictures using a different camera. I think the toning looks a bit more natural here...the part that most sticks out to me as AT is the obverse.

 

I find the toning market acceptable, however, the coin is not worth the expense of grading.