This is not mine but one I need. It is ungraded. I’m very happy with the look of it and this could fill a tough spot. But any idea why there’s flakes of toning missing in spots? Does anyone think this may be AT or original? I would send this to get graded. Don’t care what the grade would be just want a straight grade instead of a plastic flip back. Why is there a clear area around the raised portion on the obverse? Anybody have any ideas? Does this look original to you?
OK, first up. I collected pretty much nothing but Seated coins for over 35 years. I have looked at around 30,000 to 40,000 coins either in hand or in picture. I have seen 3 that MIGHT be original and all 3 were rather unattractive. now that we have dispensed with "original" here is my breakdown coin this coin. the basement is Choice 45 and it could easily go to high AU depending on actual luster in hand. The coin has a secondary toning from being previously dipped that I would rate as fairly attractive. Make special note of the lighter, whitish luster that halos most of the design. In particular that little notch in between Liberty's arm and the pole. THAT is what you can call original mint luster and I prize it very highly when it comes to these coins. I do not see any signs of harsh cleaning, polishing, or tooling so I cannot fathom why thios would not straight grade. just my opinions. james
I think the coin was cleaned long ago, not harshly but cleaned nevertheless, and was dipped sometime afterwards. The spots in my opinion, would be from an improper rinse. It is retoning fairly nicely. As I’m sure you are aware this is a Variety 1, no stars on the obverse and no drapery at the elbow. It was only minted that way at the Philadelphia mint in that year. There is a large and small date variety and just over 1.4 million were minted. A second though on the white spots of missing toning could be that the coin was within the vicinity of someone that sneezed and it won’t tone in that area. Not sure if it would straight grade or not but I’m thinking it won’t.
