Thinking of purchasing this coin soon and I wanted to get opinions on it for grade and if its been cleaned.
I like the coin, but as far as a cleaning, I would be as happy to learn as you. I don't see any parallel scratches, but I do see (perhaps) abnormally clean fields around devices that seem to have built up dirt.
I have a special affinity for that coin, I love 67 rays nickels for some reason. However, I would say cleaned or overdipped. Many of these turned black, and for some reason when you dipped them some black would stay attached to devices. I have seen tons of shield nickels look just like this over the years. Now, if the photos are lacking, and there is actually lustrous I could be convinced otherwise, but I have simply seen too many to not have a good expectation of what the coin is.
As always, wait for some other opinions here sir. Its a special coin. Very low mintage, but priced barely above the common Rays issue of 1866. I always allow room I could be completely wrong.
Looks like it has been diped in the past but Im not sure. With these old coins so much time has gone by its chances of being cleaned are to great
It's been cleaned, that's the easy part. At this price no way would I shell out that much for it. I'd rather have a lower graded coin than one that's been cleaned.
I agree with the majority, cleaned. The buildup around the devices is a strong indicator of a past cleaning to me. Maybe not conclusive, but darn close. Still a nice looking example for the right price.
It's always a little dicey when we are asked to give an opinion on a coin which we do not have "in hand" & which is further compromised by a picture through the holder. While I tend to agree with the previous comments, here is something to consider: What or who is the source of the coin? Where did it come from? Did the seller find it MD'ing?...has it been in his family for awhile? Is the seller a novice or someone who has experience (read: collector) with coins? Is it from a pawn shop or estate sale?...etc., etc. The pic, taken through a clear material (plastic film) will always be distorted to some degree (sometimes more noticeable than others), & this one (to me) looks as though there is a reflection on the reverse between 10 & 11 o'clock (& other "marks" could just be reflections). "Photographed thru" distortions can wreak havoc on an accurate analysis. If it is a real, problem free coin, it seems to be a very reasonable acquisition cost for this coin. But with so many questions & things to consider as to the honesty of this coin,...it does seem that you should let this one go. (But if it were me, I have disposable cash & would probably take a run at it - of course, I'm one of those who doesn't get into a tizzy about most cleaned coins - this one most likely been handled by someone who fought in the Civil War!) JMO