I recently returned to coins after a long hiatus. I picked these two up last week and I do like them but i'm pretty unfamiliar with US coins (only limited knowledge). any opinions are welcome.
Yes, both are cleaned. That said, it takes awhile to identify cleaned coins, at least it took me awhile but once I figured it out I was really happy as I once bought a polished gold $1 Indian and I didn't even know until I sent it in to be graded! Welcome back OWC!!
Two very nice examples. Yes, at the least the Barber has been cleaned as evident from the fine marks in the background. Yet with the overall strike and classic album toning it does not detract from a pleasing eye appeal. I like them both.
I kinda figured they were cleaned based on the areas around the stars and words I didn't pay too much of a premium over melt. My plan was to use them and build a20th century coin display for my father or brother. They wont know cleaned but the details are still there. It was just a thought.
I made that mistake before. I do better with copper than silver and especially not gold. I cant differentiate between cleaning lines polish lines and mint adjustments.
Yep, I'd buy coins with that much meat for well over melt, even if harshly cleaned. I bought a 20th Century Coin Types display on eBay for several times melt on the basis that the Barber half and SLQ both appeared to have a lot of detail left. Most of the coins were cleaned, including the Barber half and possibly the SLQ -- but after selling just those two, I was already in the black. Welcome back!
When I saw the first post, I was thinking, "These would make good type set display coins." Therefore, I find your plan sound.