Early Copper Experts - Help me grade this 1808 Classic Head Cent

Great looking cent.

 

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This is why I value the opinions on this board more than the professional slabbers. They just don't have the time to understand the nuances of Early Copper.

 

I apologize for my first post since I was looking at a comp coin showing the strong first star and not the subject coin in arriving at VF details Market grade.

Second, could the subject be Die state VIII since the rim break in the three dentils above the N looks like it's there?

 

IMHO, the subject coin is easily XF. As much as I disdain slabs, I'd submit this coin to PCGS and expect a higher than VF grade. Here are pics of an 1808, PCGS XF-40, for comparison that's presently on ebay ...

 

XF 40

 

VF 30...Very nice 277...$1000+?

 

Thanks again for all of your comments and opinions.

Regarding the grade, I keep going back and forth on this one.

All in all however, considering the quality of the surfaces, the advanced die state (terminal die state is close, imo), the level of detail, and lastly, the absence of flaws, I would grade this coin at EAC VF30, maybe VF35.
I am guessing the so-called commercial grade could be somewhat higher.

 

Remember this is all in MHO:

1. Your coin is very attractive BUT in desperate need of conservation to remove the grunge, oils, and film.

2. With my first look at the obverse = Very Fine BUT one look at the reverse and I am completely wrong! There is only a very small amount of wear on the reverse. The tops of the leaves are almost complete and even the die crack on top of one leaf has little rub. That indicates that most of the loss of detail on the obverse is due to die wear or strike. Once the coin is conserved it will "pop." Minimum grade at a TPGS = XF-40. The EAC would probably grade it VF-35.

 

Beautiful coin Eduard. When I first saw it I thought upper end of VF.

 

There is variation in PCGS grading. The owner hit the PCGS lotto with that one.

 

I concur completely with you! It's special front and back!!

 

I love the coin. The grade becomes irrelevant at that point to me.

The favorite coin I have is my 1797 NC-5 with two holes rendering it ungradable. But I love it. So that's all that matters.