Help with Grade of 1915 Eagle

I've had this Eagle for a while now. Bought it raw from a trusted local dealer. I have always listed it as an AU-58. I recently checked it against Photograde but I haven't done any better at being sure about the grade.

Can anyone offer an opinion on this coin? It actually looks pretty good in hand with a good bit of luster.

 

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I would say MS/PR-65

 

In my opinion, I'd grade your coin as an AU-55. There seems to be more wear present on the eagle's feathers than on the AU-58 example PCGS has in their Photograde guide.

 

I think those lines look worser than they are.
I'm in the AU55 camp.
Honest wear and a lot of luster.

 

Huh? A) not a proof coin B) not BU, the coin has obvious wear C) it was lightly cleaned too

 

Yes, great looking coin but I agree on the cleaning, shows up more on the reverse! At least it's not polished!

 

What is the giveaway that this one was cleaned? I find a cleaning easy to spot on silver coins but struggle with it on gold.

And I have a thought on this one too. Old collectors used to put their coins in drawers in a display cabinet. Each time the drawer would open or close, the coin would slide a bit and develop a rub on the high points. I see an uncirculated obverse. Could the eagles feathers possibly be worn because this piece was in a display cabinet years ago?

 

My initial reaction was that this was a slider as well, I see an MS-60 obverse with an AU-55 reverse. I would call it an AU-58. Now, with that said, gold coins are not really my specialty area.

 

I think you may have just answered a long standing question for me..... So that is where the term “slider” comes from?

 

Now that I think about it, that may be my definition of the term "slider." Perhaps others have different definitions. I, like you, was not entirely sure what it meant, and somehow that came to be my definition of it.

 

The fields look like an AU-58, but the devices look like an AU-55. Hence AU-55.

 

There is clearly high point rub on the portrait and the eagle. If the fields show more than slight luster breaks, 55. If not, 58

 

Cleaned and au 55

 

I agree with AU-55. The flatness on the eagle's shoulder is the giveaway. Not sure about cleaned..maybe.

 

As I understand it, a slider could go both ways, either AU or MS...

 

I'd say 58, very nice

 

AU53

 

It's really evident in the fields of the reverse, especially above and below IN GOD WE TRUST, then again across the eagle. I give it an AU55, nice coin but with her cheek scraped and under the headband wear, the best I can do is a nice 55.

 

A lot of very intriguing opinions, for which I am grateful. Even though this is not an official GTG event, the tabulation of opinions is:

Grade: MS-65 - One
AU-58 - Two
AU-55 - Six
AU-53 - One

Cleaned: Yes - Three
Maybe - Two

So, the synthesis of my own opinion, enriched with your expertise is:

Grade is AU-55 with obverse clearly better than reverse. This follows the general principle that the reverse can't help the grade but it can hurt it.

Was the coin cleaned? I'm saying "yes" even though only 3 respondents out of 11 said "yes" and 2 said "maybe". Maybe those that were silent on the issue were just being polite?

So, I am left with the conclusion that the coin received a light, mechanical cleaning. It is probably enough to prevent a straight grade if submitted to the TPGs. I don't intend to do that.

Thanks to everyone for their participation.