1829 50C (Regular Strike) Capped Bust Half Dollar Grade? This is raw, and belongs to my nephew. Do you see any problems? What would you grade this coin? (use the poll, and add comments below)
The dark "border" around the devices suggests to me that it's been cleaned. Not by dipping but I don't see hairlines from an abrasive cleaning. If I'm correct the method is something I'm not familiar with.
IMO, it's a genuine xf40. Someone has used a toothpick to remove dirt from around the bust, etc which is why you have a lighter area up against Ms. Liberty but a dark outline away from her a bit.
Is that why it kinda looked tooled? That was my initial impression when noticing how sharp the outline looked. What you explained also makes good sense.
If you click on the pics so they expand to full size you can see traces of the green in most of the recesses and protected areas, particularly the obv but it's on the rev too. This suggests to me that the coin was widely covered with PVC residue at one time that somebody tried to remove, but they just didn't get it all. Given that, if it was submitted I suspect it would come back environmental damage, either (high)VF or (low) XF details.
Does anyone else think that the surface may have been altered with tooling around the devices? Sure looks awfully sharp edged at the face.
I agree it has that look, but more so in the hair to me. That was the first thought that came to my mind when I looked at the coin. But a close look at the blow up pictures, seems to indicate otherwise.
Yeah, I agree with you--I think it is just contrast between the cleaned surfaces and the residue. But, it did look tooled initially to me.
I don't disagree with you, but I wonder you thoughts on this coin, which I think looks great, other than the radioactive green goo on the reverse: CLICK HERE This is CAC approved to boot, so what the heck.
All that does is show the inconsistency of the TPGs. Dunno bout you but I've seen countless numbers of coins rejected because of environmental contamination. And if one has active PVC residue on it they won't even put it in a details or genuine slab.
My view it looks like a vf-35 it doesn't appear to be improperly cleaner enough to get a details grade but I'd give it a nice long acetone soak to make sure there was no lingering PVC formunda lingering around before I sent it in