Seated Dollar opinions: cleaned or not?

I agree. Probably dipped or wiped at some time in the distant past. Perhaps a tad under-graded (perhaps borderline AU on a good day) but XF-45 looks to be fair. Looks like a nice coin.

 

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I called the seller and they're going to get a hands-on look at the coin for me.

Should I ask about anything else other than the scratches to the left of the date?

 

It looks right to me as a 45. If the scuffs to the left of the date are on the slab not the coin I would love to have it! If this coin was ever dipped or washed, it looks like it's had at least a century to recover and in the words of another great collector, Bill Jones, it's "original now."

 

Here's an 1871 in P-40 for sale on ebay right now, just for comparison:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1871-Seated...68?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item5b09421e20

and another 1871 in P-50 for sale, again for comparison:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1871-Seated...45?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item4d293a6215

 

Its interesting how varied the opinions are. To me, something looks "off" but I don't think it's unattractive. I'd pass based on the photo, but in hand I might react differently.

 

Update: a nice guy from Heritage gave me this info:

"The majority [of the scratches] seem to be on the holder but if you look closely there are some marks on the coin itself.

I can take a look at it when I get to FUN, please provide a phone number I can reach you at during the day."​

I gave him my phone number, so we'll see. I asked him specifically about the marks to the left of the date. When we talk on the phone I'll try to nail it down.

I followed up with this closeup and this comment:

"If it helps at all, the specific area in question is the attached screenshot. The green arrow is pointing to what looks like a gouge in the coin itself. The red arrows are probably on the coin as well, but I'm kind of hoping they're on the holder."



To which he quickly responded:

"That I believe is on the coin but normal in that grade."​

 

To conclude this episode of "Doug will never find a Seated Dollar that he both likes *and* can afford"... ;-)

Heritage never got back to me. Opinions were all over the place. However, I got enough folks that were pretty sure that those scratches were on the coin itself that I decided to not chance it.

It ended up selling for more than I would paid anyway, almost $650 with BP:

http://coins.ha.com/itm/seated-doll...0.s?type=bidnotice-tracked-endofauction#Photo

 

There out there be patient and one will turn up. I need a motto seated dollar for my type set too but likely going for a proof