I recently purchased a nice looking 1869 two cent piece on ebay and didn't notice the scratch across the shield. It isn't huge or deep, but it is a noticeable scratch. I'm wondering how this might effect the value of the coin. I think it would grade as a high EF to AU50, but wondering how much a scratch like this will effect the overall coin.
A noticeable scratch in a prime focal are of the coin may render the coin ungradeable. I would call it Fine details. Maybe it looks better in hand though.
Probably the best photo to show how the coin looks in hand is the first photo in my second post titled 'original photo'. Without the scratch I think it is EF40 grade.
I think you're still a bit high on a would-be grade, but if a raw problem coin it does not really matter. Value wise, the other guys are likely spot on.
If you won't be satisfied with it as a VF coin, I would send it back. The odds of it grading XF are stacked against you. More negatives than positives for that. If you can barrow another camera which shows it as you see it, then another opinion would be warranted.
