Hi, Here is my raw, 1902 Indian Head penny. To me, it looks great and has this orange glow to it. When I look at the PCGS website and GC archives, I see slabbed coins in the high AU range that look similar to this one. I don't see an obvious cleaning marks, but I am still l learning. I'd be interested in if you think 1) it has been cleaned or not and 2) what it would be its worth in either case. Thanks!
I don't see any immediate signs of cleaning. The darker areas you see are a bit of wear and toning from circulation. I agree with your AU grade, and would probably put it around $25 - $30 range.
It looks very unnatural to me as if it’s been cleaned. Take out a brand new cent and compare it to this one. If the 1902 plays with the light under a strong lamp, like the new cent, there’s a chance has original surfaces. If it looks flat and dull, as it appears in the opening post photos, it isn’t original.
Thank you @physics-fan3.14 @johnmilton and @SensibleSal66. Agreed there is a lighting/photo issue. When I rotate it under a direct light, I do get a cartwheeling effect on both sides. I really appreciate you taking a look!
The color makes me a little bit suspicious of cleaning, but not enough for me to judge that confidently. That being said, it looks quite nice otherwise.
Here are a couple of Mint State Indian cents which are mostly red. Your coin should look similar to these pieces.
