Hello all, just picked up this 1883 Liberty Head nickel and wanted to get some oppinions on the grade. To me it looks like a high VG to low F but I'm an inexperienced grader. What do you think?
I'd say VF30. Liberty is full and bold. Most hair details remain, though weak. Most of the leaf ribs are visable in the wreath and the lines on the corn can be seen. Textbook I know, but thats what I'm seeing. Guy~
I'd give it a VF20. Obverse: More than half of the details still show in hair and curls. Head is worn but bold. Every letter on coronet is plainly visable. Reverse: Leaves are worn but some of the ribs are visable. Most details in the wreath are clear, unless weakly struck. -From ANA Grading Guide page 113.
I'd agree with the low VF grades, but there is more to it than that with this coin - it's a problem coin. Harshly cleaned in the past and currently has environmental damage - something is on the coin. So any TPG would body-bag it. Good news is - whatever it is would probably come off with just a soak in distilled water, acetone may be needed but I'd try the water first.
VF20 Genuine My opinion is VF20 Genuine. I don't know if it would look better or worse with the dark debris removed. Does anyone think that the LIBERTY a little strong for the level of wear everywhere else on the coin? Very best regards, collect89
I would ask instead, where do you not see it ? Look at all of the protected areas and around the edges of all the devices - see all that black gunk ? Well a coin can't get that dirty without the whole coin being that dirty - and yet you can't see even spot of it on the fields or any of the flat surfaces. So it has to have been cleaned. Add to that the entire surface of the coin has the roughed up look and that equals harshly cleaned.
