I am planning to have some of my U.S coins submitted for grading, eventually. Need to chose which. Both NGC and PCGS are now in Europe, this makes it possible. Got this 1850 Half at a Stacks auction over 25 years ago. The coin is only peripherally toned in brown, and is otherwise pretty much as shown in the pictures as far as color. It has no hairlines, and to my eyes no signs of cleaning are evident. Scattered marks here and there. It even shows some reflectivity in the fields. Would it grade cleanly, even though it is not uniformly toned? (not familiar with the criteria used by the TPG's) Thanks you for your opinions!
I'd say it's got a fair chance. Looks AU58 to me. It's a "super-slider". Probably did have an old cleaning, though whether or not that would cause it to go into "details" grade status, I dunno. It might have been an old enough cleaning to be "market acceptable". I'd lay 50-50 odds. Flip it. (Not literally.) If it comes up "heads", they'll straight-grade it. "Tails", and they'll say AU details/cleaned. That's my guess. It's a very attractive coin, even if it's not 100% original.
PS- (it's a pretty enough coin that I came back for a second look!) It has definitely been cleaned. Obviously a long time ago (well before your 25-year tenure). But as in my previous post, I still think it has a chance at being considered "market acceptable" and thereby getting a straight grade from a TPG. I still lay 50-50 odds on that. Good luck if you attempt that. I look forward to seeing the results. Be sure to tag me when that day comes, if you submit it!
Thank you lordM. I appreciate your answer. Like I said I have been toying with the idea of getting some of my U.S coins slabbed. It will make things easier for me wife 'when the time comes', as they say. Just want to submit those that have a good chance of grading straight.
No guarantees of outcome, of course - there never is with TPGs, as you know- but this one's definitely worth a shot.
A really nice coin for a Dansco 7070 US Type book........a coin which will fit every aquirement for the developed collector.
I think it's a toss up. While the coin looks cleaned to me, I see no patches of parallel lines which would instantly trigger the throwing of the "cleaned" flag.
That's what i was going to say, it looks like it's retoning after an old dip, but i can't see that it's been rubbed. I think it'll straight grade without the hairlines from an abrasive cleaning.
I should add that the description in the Stacks catalogue back then (I guess it was '87 - '88) made no mention of a cleaning. In fact, the coin had come from an old collection and it was specifically mentioned in an article in Coin World (which discussed the Stacks sale results).
It seems to lack the luster a silver coin of this grade should have. I’d say AU-details on a bad day, AU-53 on a good day. Don’t expect an AH58 or higher... it has nice details but the surfaces don’t appear to be very original.
I think the lighting of the pictures is throwing me off. It looks nice, but I'm not seeing any luster. A coin of this grade needs to have good luster, and the lack of it is making me think the cleaning might be enough to get a detail grade.
I think it’s cleaned. There’s a “halo” effect around the devices which is seen on many cleaned coins. The absence of luster also catches my attention.
Cleaned or not, it will grade high and is a very attractive coin...I'd put it in an album or capsule and leave well alone.
Nice looking coin with what I think is an old cleaning. It will probably grade but with the cleaning title added. I'd put in a nice 7070 album and call it a day.
Nice looking coin with what I think is an old cleaning. It will probably grade but with the cleaning title added. I'd put in a nice 7070 album and call it a day.