Cleaned harshly and at 7 o'clock on the reverse and at 4 o'clock on the obverse shows edge damage, definitely a low details grade.
That is a coin with major problems. It’s been cleaned badly. It’s nothing I would touch. The buy price should be very cheep, like the price for a Good.
Cull value. $5. The reason is, if a wire brush had been taken to this coin to remove caked on crud, and a thin patina of metal, the resulting coin no matter what it looks like is worthless, unless it is a super rare coin.
Definitely cleaned once, maybe twice. You said it’s the sellers photos do if you haven’t bought it, don’t. If you did and it’s a recent purchase, return it. I’m not trying to be harsh, just accurate.
Thanks for your replies everyone. I knew as soon as I saw it that the surfaces were altered. It seemed a bit different than the typical cleaning and I wasn't sure if it would be called polished, smoothed surfaces, whizzed or just harshly cleaned. As far as wear, I was thinking VF details. I figure it's worth about $30 retail and paid below that (yes, I bought it). I'll be sure to upload my own photos once it arrives. The ones above are not what I'd call stellar.
For those who would like to learn about mint luster, here is a Mint State example. This coin is graded MS-64. When you swirl this coin under a light, the bright spot moves, unbroken, like a wheel. It's called "cartwheel luster." A polished or altered coin will have a flat shine.
Well here it is. It has hairlines all over and a very unnatural color (as was expected). But, wait. Just a few lighting adjustments and... Viola! Now it's a GEM BU coin ready for eBay.
How could I have forgotten? There that's better... RARE 1858 NO MINTMARK FLYING EAGLE PENNY UNC GEM BU+++ L@@K!!!!!
