Question: Would this 1850 Half Dollar Grade Straight?

I agree that it has had an old, old cleaning. I don't see any hairlines and if you say the coin in hand also does not have any, then I say slab it.

I also noticed a slight rim ding at about 10:00 on the reverse, but I think given the coin's age it would still straight grade.

 

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If I were the grader, I would call it cleaned. But the actual graders tend to be very lenient with this older stuff, unless it is a super-high grade where getting it right means the difference between $$$ and $$$$$.

 

What qualifies as an old cleaning? 10 years, 20, 100?
A lot of scratches in the fields on the obverse and on Liberty herself. The high spots, Liberty and the eagle are both super white in comparison to the rest of the coin.
The eagle looks better, but Liberty looks scrubbed.
GL

 

That's actually a really good question. There is no time limit involved, because unless you've been tracking the coin since it was minted, you have no idea.

When I use the term "old cleaning", what I mean is "the coin has been cleaned at some point in the past but has regained some patina or toning to the point where its not fresh, bare metal exposed. The coin looks mostly ok, but someone who knows what they are talking about can still tell."

 

Nah. Would be a stretch. Nice coin. I'm sad

 

Ok nuff said. Now. I think an old cleaning is deterimed on lets say 75 years ago. What type of chemical cleaning and most important is the method. When the field is clean im guessing the rub method with a solvent. Dipping is with a non rub shouldn't leave grunge next to inner rim and high relief areas. So now i ask. How old is old

 

I think old cleaned. I don’t know if it’ll grade. Don’t see any obvious scratches but the luster is dead. Maybe it’s the pics. I’ve had similar graded straight others bagged. 50/50 shot. Au 53 my call if straight

 

There is no answer to your question.

Unless you followed the coin from when it was created to today, you have no idea what happened to it. I have no idea if Eduard's coin was cleaned 100 years ago, or last year. I can only tell what it looks like.

If the coin has regained some patina, then it is an "old" cleaning.

 

AU details. Has characteristics of having been cleaned (hairlines), and greatly dulled luster. I agree about old cleaning and retoning. Can’t see PCGS or NGC straight grading it. Shame, as it is a nice coin.

 

I think it's been dipped which removed the patina from all but the thickest areas. As a result, IF it grades I think it will be net graded down.

 

Thanks all, for your comments.

Back it goes to the tray.

 

This blows my mind that it's considered undesirable/not market acceptable/damaged.

I would LOVE to have this coin. Too bad to see it put away :/

 

Certainly not undesirable... I still think it's a great coin despite the likely old cleaning.

As others have said, looks to be a perfect coin for a type album.

 

I guess the wording not market acceptable seems to me like to one wants to buy it.

 

Nah, market acceptable cleaning. Just meaning that there's a likelihood it wouldn't get a straight grade, though tons of old cleaning and dipped coins do and the cleaning can be considered market acceptable depending on the coin.

 

Very nice coin.

 

Nice coin, but will detail AU.
As other had said nice for a 7070.
I know I would plunk that in it.

 

Since this thread is still up there, I thought I would add a few commments about this coin and the topic of 'cleaning' in general.

The half dollar in question is in fact (much) more appealing in hand that it appears on my poor pictures. It is a lot more 'vibrant' and does have traces of luster, specially around the devices. My pics make it look flat, but that is the best that I can do. Dipped, not doubt, but it was carefully done and the surfaces (seem to) have retained no damage from the dipping.

Regarding the topic of cleaned coins: I've been collecting U.S for a long time (since 1983 approx.) among my many other coin collecting areas. If there is one thing that I have learnt is that U.S collectors are very sensitive to this topic.

In Europe, for example, there is unfortunately not the same awareness (possible exception of the UKe), and sellers and auction houses are happily selling cleaned coins - ranging all the way from scrubbed/cleaned with steel wool, all the way to carefully dipped and thus attractive. And the buyers seem to be equally happy buying them.

I much prefer the U.S approach, as there is nothing that beats absolutely original and unmolested coins. I do have to say, however, having seen many slabs in person, I get the feeling that the TPGs themselves are sometimes fairly liberal on how they judge whether a coin has been inappropriately cleaned or not. I have seen coins in slabs than even to my untrained eye do not belong in straight slabs.

 

You didn’t like the answers, so why ask the question in the first place? Nobody said it is an unattractive coin, or had no marketability. It has both. However, it will not grade as a straight grade coin, as it has been cleaned, and to me, the cleaning is pretty obvious. So, no problem if you like the coin. Just be advised that the TPGs won’t share the love.

 

Dipping isn't cleaning