Hey guys, need your help on this one. If I were to send this in, what would it get for a grade? Just picked this up and wondering if I should keep it or return it. Thanks!
First, I am not an IHC expert. But I would like the opinion of one. Does that date look right? Different sizes, different orientations? It really just seems "off" to me, but remember OP I am not an expeert in these in any way. Please do not feel offended by me asking this.
Yeah, the date is good. For that year, the date may seem a bit crooked. But looking at other high grade examples, everything checks out. Large loops on the 8 and even the cud on the right side of the 8 is legit.
No Indian head expert either but I know coins biggest question is the color if it's original mint red I'd say ms 63-64 red I can't see any signs of abrasive cleaning but could come back qc I'd have to see it in hand
Um, I thought the QC was kind of assumed. I simply have no idea how a copper cent maintains that bright of color for 150 years. I thought red cents that age mellowed to more of a brick red, short of cleaning. Again, not an expert, and just here to learn.
I agree with 65RB, maybe a shot at 65RD depending how the color is in-hand. The diamonds are all there, feather details are good, berries on the wreath well defined. Edited to add: The composition from mid 1864 was changed from copper-nickel to bronze.
Thanks for the discussion so far everyone. Wanted to see a few posts first - does anyone have any comments on the reverse color specifically? It's got a fair amount of dull, whitish spots on the lowest parts of the coin. Has anyone seen an Indian Cent with that color toning? Trying to figure out if it was cleaned or what. Doubt it was dipped as the obverse is perfect. No hairline scratches on the coin.
It's difficult to tell from the pics, that's why it may be qc. The lighting on the 3rd - 5th pictures gives it an entirely different look.
To me it looks like 64RD or 65RD, but I'm just unsure of the reverse spotting. Haven't seen anything like it. In hand, I can see that the overall color of the coin looks beautiful, but I wonder what caused the spotting..natural vs. intentional.
Here's some more lighting. You can see that most of the luster is present and vivid. There are just those dull spots, doesn't look like damage to me. Just some kind of haze. I still wonder if anyone has seen anything like this before.
It does look in several of the pics to be legit mint luster not dip color I think there's too many marks especially the one under the shield to go any higher then 64 tho regardless it's a pretty coin
I'm just wondering why you bid , knowing the reverse was spotted ? On whether to keep the coin or not , if you like it keep it if not don't . I'd say MS-64 .
Price was good, returns accepted, wanted to see it in hand. I do like the coin, I'll probably keep it. Can't hurt to try for a grade anyway. By far the nicest coin I've owned
Image #2 makes it look like it was messed with. All the different tilted images make it tough to judge the color of the coin.
The first two photos made me want to say questionable color or whizzed. I really can't tell about anything else - it just reminded me of one I had that I new was whizzed.
I had a large cent that was about that color. When I took it out of the Capital Plastics holder, the rim was a darker brown. It came back "Details" Cleaned. If you take it out of the 2x2 check the prim edges for color.
Image #4 strongly suggests that the coin was tampered with (color wise). There's discoloration patches around the ONE CENT area in that picture which ring alarm bells IMHO.
