Bust half slightly overgraded?

I picked this bust half up today from my local coin shop. It was graded (by the owner) VF-20. I believe there's too much wear to justify this grade, especially on the reverse. I was able to get him to lower the price somewhat, so I added it to my collection. Any opinions?

 

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It's close IMO; but I'd go F-15

 

Do us all a favor and show us what you are talking about.

 

Thanks GD.... I'm not that familiar with tooling... I assume it means the borders of the image have been messed with to provide a higher relief. Looking at the coin under a 10x seems to confirm this. I'll take it back.

 

Looks VF-20, reverse is actually pretty strong.I dunno about no toolin'. Where exactly at GD? Here is a VF-30 specimen that I have.

 

To me it looks like a nice VF. I don't have the expertise to tell whether or not it has been tampered with.

 

No doubt about it. I appreciate the help, and I've learned to look much closer at these older coins before I purchase them.

 

Absolutely.... someone engraved a perfect ellipse around the perimeter of the worn down clasp. I compared this coin to other bust halves I have of comparable grade, and there is no doubt. I also believe the curls have been tooled, along with at least a portion of the border of the image (especially the cap). I doubt that Ken (the owner of the shop) knowingly sold me a tooled coin; I assumed he overlooked this (as I did). I appreciate your input GD.... thanks!

 

VF looks like a good grade for it.
Guy~

 

Can a coin be tooled and still carry a grade? Does it even have value? I paid $60 for this coin, but I would like to return it. It definitely has been messed with.

 

I agree it is a VF-20.

 

I gotta admit I missed it. I thought it was a decent coin, but I'm sure Doug is right. It's tooled.

I looked at dozens of certified VF20s online, and none of them had anything remotely resembling that much clasp. All they had was a trace of detail or nothing at all.

The hair is tooled as well.