Guess I am now collecting large Foreign Silver. Picked up this Belgian 5 Franc from a reliable seller (Seller's pictures). Looks pretty nice to me. AU coin? That would be my guess, based on those pictures. Not that familiar with the series.
I don't think so, as there aren't any on the reverse. I would say die polish, most likely, or just plain light wear.
I'd say AU details based on the pictures. Those are rub marks rather than die polish and can be seen on the high relief devices, not just the fields. This is really common on this series, and most large European silver coins from around this time in general. Prominent die polish lines are actually not commonly seen on coins of this type.
If it were cleaned, why would the reverse not show the same striations? With American coins that have been cleaned, you see striations on both sides of the coin.
if only 1 side has been wiped, only 1 side will have the hairline scratches. Those are scratches from cleaning
I Possibly so. I think it is just wear. Why wipe only one side of a coin? Doesn't matter to me, as it was an attractive, inexpensive coin, but cleaned coins almost always show striationd on both sides.
It's not a matter of logic. Sometimes one side of a coin gets thumbs rubbing all over it and the other side doesn't.
Doesn't matter-- I like it as an inexpensive type coin. Trying to picture someone carefully rubbing their thumb over one side of a coin only. lol
Definitely looks cleaned to me. While it might seem to be die polish, there are clear signs that the portrait has similar polished after mark direction as in the field.
Yup. I only paid $25 for it, and knew it had the striations, but had nice AU detail. No intention of certifying it--just an enjoyment type coin. Thought either roller striations, wear, or a rubbing possible. Like it for a 19th century large Silver coin.
Here is the coin in hand. No big striations. They were scratches on the airtite that the coin was inside. Looks dipped to me, and I would agree with AU details, but not rubbed. Normal AU wear on the coin, by my eye.
