Would you say this coin is cleaned? It says prooflike but looks like it may be cleaned to me. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120170607326&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=002
If that thing is not in a slab graded by ANACS, PCGS, or NGC (and it doesn't look like it is), then I would stay FAR away from it. 1883 No Cents are common enough coins, and cheap even in MS, but I've never heard of or seen any 'proof-like' nickels before...I thought that was generally a Morgan dollar characteristic. It could just be an 1883 proof, but I don't know if they even made any that year. On the flip-side, the details look MS for sure, and I'm not even sure exactly how one would go about making the fields look polished while maintaining an 'acid-etched' look on the raised elements of the coin. Anyone else want to weigh in?
I was interested in it but I don't want a cleaned coin obviously. I am looking for a raw MS ungraded for myself.
You must not be paying attention, because just last week I posted a prooflike example: http://www.cointalk.org/showthread.php?t=29393 In all seriousness, this coin looks like a proof to me. Either that or a superbly struck prooflike example of a generally not well struck and generally not prooflike coin. That said, the coin appears to have hairlines indicative of mishandling or cleaning (like many of this seller's coins). On the bright side, the seller has a good return policy, so if the coin really appeals to you and you want to take a chance, I don't see a great deal of downside bidding. All IMHO, and respectfully submitted...Mike
Just a suggestion: Send an IM to Tim (VTCoins). I'm sure he has one, or can get one for you, and the return policy can't be beat. I have purchased quite a few raw coins from Tim and have found his grading, pricing, and coins all excellent...Mike http://www.vtcoins.com/cat/Nickel
I actually did read that post! thats why after seeing the high grade I thought this one must be cleaned.... thanks for the link!
Does anyone think the proof like finish may be polish? Capture a polished coin in the right light it will look proof like.
That coin looks like a cameo proof to me. You could check out a few on Heritage. Some of them are pretty pricey.
The seller has good feedback and some other very nice looking coins for sale. Maybe it's just the pictures, but he seems to have some pretty nice stuff for sale...with fairly low bids considering some of the auctions end soon.
Usually when you see a coin polished like you suggest, the coin will have protected areas where the polisher couldn't reach, like in the cracks of the stars on the obverse, or inside the lettering on the reverse. Although the photos make it impossible to be sure, this feature doesn't seem to appear on this coin, and thus I doubt that polishing was done to get the mirrored/cameoed appearance.
To be honest, you can't tell based on those pics. As was said, the coin does have hairlines and thta can be indicative of cleaning but it could just be due to rough handling.
It looks good to me, in spite of the 'perhaps cleaned' condition. And very scarce as a proof: 5,219 total minted. The final price may have been a steal.
Odd! Says Proof Like. If not a proof, then something must have been done to it. Regardless, if needed for a collection, not a bad price even if cleaned and/or polished. The thing to rememeber is if you have no intension of selling any coin, then it really dosen't matter about cleaning, polishing, etc. It's your coin so who cares? I have purchased many cleaned coins due to the better prices. I usually leave them on a kitchen window if a little to shinny and they eventually tone down. Of course I have no reason to ever want to sell any coins. At a really old age, no reason to ever consider selling coins. The only thing to remember is if you suspect that someday you may want to sell your coins, cleaned and polished coins will hurt the resale values. Sure is different nowadays. When I was a kid if you showed anyone a coin collection the first thing most people would say is "you should clean those things". And we all did. We washed them, polished them, dipped them in stuff like battery acids, lemon juices, etc. A coin collection just had to shine, shine, shine.
Although this auction has ended, the red flag to me is Square Trade. In over 1200 transaction, the only (limited) problems I have had has been with eBayers affiliated with Square Trade.
