1861-O Seated Half. What do you think?

Just received this beautiful coin the photos do not even begin to reflect the beauty in this coin. What do you guys think? What grade would you give it?

 

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AU, fair bit of wear on the head, also looks to have been improperly cleaned at some point judging by the hairline scratches across both obv. & rev. fields (IDK, that may just be normal circulation wear). It is a beauty of a coin tho!!

 

Attractive coin. I don’t think it straight graded, due to an obvious cleaning, and retoning. AU details. The scratches indicate a mechanical cleaning, not just a dipping. If it straight graded, it should not have done so.

 

I like it. I see a lot of scratches though, unfortunately.

 

Cleaned AU details.

 

I do love a well struck seated lady. And that sure a nice one.

 

here is the true view.

 

Very nice coin.. AU53?
You showed us the cert number, but I didn't look

 

I originally said AU53. Cert says 55. Very appealing Confederate coin with great toning. The cleaned appearance could be from circulating and losing some luster which is a common look for AU coins.

Good catch, I like the look of that coin.

 

it is a good looking coin. However it has been cleaned. Most likely, it was cleaned with a q-tip and polish. It definitely has AU details, and nice retoning, but never should have straight-graded. Areas of very obvious scrubbing and cleaning are circled.

 

Well bummer. What constitutes wear vs cleaning? Is it a fine line sometimes? Guess I overpaid then for this being straight graded.

 

Buy the coin not the holder a mistake that you can learn from.

 

Do you love the coin? Then enjoy her!

 

Most of the Seated coinage has been dipped or cleaned. Look for one with original color. I have two of them that look exactly like yours, and they straight graded. However both of them were undoubtedly cleaned, and should have been detail graded. I underpaid for both, so it was not an issue. What to look for? Obvious pattern of scratches in the fields that is symmetrical, and looks like abrasion. That is a dead giveaway to a cleaning. Often done with a a q-tip or a toothbrush. If it has linear symmetrical scratches, or swirls, it was cleaned. PCGS let this one slide, as it is a good looking coin. Appreciate it for its attractiveness, and its history, but know that it is a problem coin.

 

She's pretty. Your lighting and photography accentuate the lines much more than the trueview does. It's probably been wiped, but so many bust and seated coins have been cleaned in the past that they sometimes get a pass if the graders feel the cleaning is not too obnoxious. Considering your coin's eye appeal, don't jump to the conclusion that you badly overpaid.

 

I think it's a really nice looking coin from a significant year in history. The album ring toning is very attractive. No doubt dipped and probably lightly wiped but pcgs felt it acceptable for grading. Look at my avatar, similar thing but the ring toning isn't as nice.

 

Is it a Confederate coin? I haven't attributed it but I don't see any of the features of the more obvious Confederate coins.

 

Perhaps just because it was minted in New Orleans?

 

The dealer attributed it as a 1861-O W-03 State of Louisiana Issue. After the succeeded from the Union and before they were part of the Confederate states. I guess it has to do with the die marriage, I am still learning about this series.

 

Yes it relates to the die marriage, W-01 and 02, were struck by the Union, W03 through W-08 were struck by Louisiana, and W-09 through W-15 were struck by the Confederacy (W-12 is the one with the Confederate rev.) This is from memory without confirming with references.