I often look at coin like this, and wonder if it was a science project. So, given these photos, and not giving it to much thought, what would you grade it as?
I think @Amos 811 is on to something being someone's "science project"..... something seems off but I'm not sure. It does looks altered but there'd be no reason to clean it/alter it from what I see.
Science project coins look way different, you don't have to think too much when you see them, you just know. The OPs coin looks normal and circulated.
I see a normal BU coin. What makes you think it is cleaned? Don't go strictly by color, as the white balance doesn't look accurate. 63RD, maybe?
Not cleaned, that's how they look at a short time in circulation. Nonetheless, the TPG's would likely grade this MS-62 to 64.
Careful, Thad. I mentioned the possibility of a coin pulled from circulation being adjudicated Mint State by a TPG the other day, and some guy thought I was doing the equivalent of killing kittens.
I'm with the camp who believes it is NOT cleaned. The pics are a bit fuzzy, but the color and luster look normal to me (plus, nice color for the age!).
I've noticed tho that the LMCs from about 63 to 72 for some reason stay looking better than any others. I don't know if that's just the sweet spot window for circulating copper or if there were just tons of rolls of these that are finally getting spent..or what. My Brother in law is a Building maintenance supervisor...director...something for Amazon in the Indianapolis plant. Twice now, they've been working on projects where they've uncovered LMCs form the 70s that look AU to UNC. Below is one of them, it was a 1970 D LMC they found under a guard rail post that they were moving. Just something bout this era that the coins retain a nice luster even out in the open exposed.
Yes, believe it or not, mint state coins to exist in circulation! I've had several I found searching bank rolls come back as mint state....so no, it's NOT killing kittens. LOLOLOL
