I am thinking VF-25/30 details. This is the B-1 variety, which became very weakly struck in the later die states. This is a late die state coin, evidenced by the bisecting die crack on the reverse. Just like their capped bust half counterparts, these need to be graded based on the feather detail on the reverse, which is indicative of a mid-VF coin. But most of you won't read this and throw up a F grade without regard to the strike issues of the B-1 variety in this die state. Maybe I'm wrong. We'll see...
I don't think that it quite gets to VF with the obverse even with the known strike weaknesses. I'd call it F details due to the graffiti on the obverse.
From a purely technical point yes its VF. From a grading point F details, those scratches are just to bad not to knock it down.
Feast your eyes on this PCGS EF-45 1810 O-102a half dollar and see what I mean that you need to look at the wing feathers on the eagle to accurately grade early capped bust coinage. Or how about this PCGS VF-35 1810 O-110 half dollar?
Isn't the point of a "details" grade to give a technical grade and to signify that the value does not match that technical grade? As far as I'm concerned, net grading comes after a details grade has been assigned.
It was scratched in antiquity for some reason (it does not seem to be a contemporary counterfeit; the weight is right), and the coin was worn down and the sratch was filled in.
Those two examples have a much weaker strike than your example. IMHO, yours seems like a pretty decent strike overall.
The speed of the cut, I think. It was cut NW-SE, and the leading edge of the star made the blade jump over the rest of the star. Something similar happened on a smaller scale at Star 5, which indicates the direction of the cut to me. Given that coins don't just wear on one face, the obvious disparity between obverse and reverse "apparent" grade begs a different answer. I've no problem agreeing with the OP that the technical detail merits VF.
I think VF details is fair for this coin. Too bad someone many years ago was bored and decided to scratch an X on it.... The whole weak strike thing gives me something to ponder because one of my 1818/5's has a weaker obverse. Maybe mine was a weak strike too. It's an earlier die state and lacks the reverse crack, though. Interesting nonetheless.
Looked at this about 3 times now and I tend to lean towards VF details on the coin. At least that is how I think a TPG would grade it.
For what it's worth, here are links to two VF 1818/5's with the reverse die crack. Both of them exhibit weaker obverses that look similar to the OP coin. http://coins.ha.com/itm/bust-quarte...-pcgs-coi/a/1167-8163.s?hdnJumpToLot=1x=0&y=0 http://coins.ha.com/itm/bust-quarte...s-coin-in/a/1169-9394.s?hdnJumpToLot=1x=0&y=0
Most of the stars have centrils which is unusual in a grade below VF. The eagle's toes are pretty sharp too.
