Was this trade dollar cleaned?

Auctioneer listed as XF and not cleaned, but I questioned him on it just before the sale and he said "maybe it had been... "

What do you say?

 

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I just used my tablet, and stretched and enlarged the images. Yes, there are scratches that indicate a cleaning. Can be clearly seen in the fields, on both obverse and reverse.

 

Sure looks like a lot of details for an XF.

 

Cant say for sure but I think it might have been. Could you post any other photos or is that it?

 

No more pics. It sold for $170...i think that was overpriced fir a cleaned coin. Agree/disagree?

 

Yes it is overpriced. It may not even be genuine, for all we know.

 

Looks ok from what I can see , but buying any uncertified Trade Dollar is a very risky endeavor . There's some very good TD fakes out there .

 

If it is not in a slab and being sold by someone who knows something about coins (dealer, regular coin ebay seller), then my bet would be on the Trade dollar having a problem.

 

Unless it is certified otherwise, I assume that every circulated coin has been cleaned. That is what circulation is. What you mean is, did someone in 1923 or 1968 use silver polish or baking soda on this? Without even looking, I give that "Probably." That is the common fate of large, old coins like this. For that never to have happened would have been rare.

 

Who cares. It's a beautiful coin so just enjoy it.

 

I ended up not buying it due to the cleaning.

 

I think you made a good choice. I try to back away from anything I question. There are too many problem free coins out there.

 

But at 2X the cost . I agree problem free coins are the way to go , but there are some so called "problem" coins that are still worth collecting and studying . Like Mike said above so many of our older coins have been cleaned or dipped . Heck all the coins in the Smithsonian and the Mints collection have been harshly cleaned and I sure wouldn't mind having any of them .

 

I agree with you when it comes to exceedingly rare coins, but fairly common coins...I think it's a different case. For example, lets say you had the opportunity to purchase a piece that only a couple examples are known to exist. In that case, it might be the only time you ever get to own one...so a problem example would be OK.

But a coin that can be easily found in problem free condition...I'd avoid problem examples. Better to save your money and buy a problem free example...or if that isn't possible buy a lower grade problem free example that fits your budget. I think you are far better off spending the same amount of money and buying a VG problem free coin verses buying a harshly cleaned XF.