Got this 1892 Barber Quarter in an unusual circumstance. Given that I am far from expert in the Barber series, I welcome grade and opinions on the coin.
It is near impossible to discern whether a lightly circulated coin is hairlined from cleaning or from the wear. Honestly, I would be more concerned about PVC. I can't be sure, but the photos look to show dark green stuff around the lips, chin, and neck. And if it is cleaned, it may have been an attempt to remove the PVC.
I wondered about that. Given the fact that the coin was dipped, rather obviously, I am wondering about an attempt to remove ugly toning, versus PVC. I figure the coin is mid to high AU, but is it worth submitting, when I send in my next batch?
Very few members of Cointalk remember this, but once upon a time, I actually collected raw low mint state Barber Quarters. I had them all graded before I sold them off and my 1892 came back MS62, which was kind of a bummer. Whether or not you should submit this coin for grading is dependent upon how much you paid for the coin and how much you expect the coin to achieve once graded. Personally, I think the coin has too much downside to end up as a problem holder which will make it very difficult to unload. As a raw coin, anyone would pay XF money for the coin whether it is cleaned or not.
Here's my PCGS AU55, paid $188 in December 2021, for your grade / worth submitting? evaluation. I was looking for Type 1 reverse though and probably competing with another bidder doing the same, thus I may have overpaid a bit. Yours seems to have more wear going into the garland, hence my 53-55 hedge. If there's cleaning or PVC on yours it's not obvious to me. What's your goal with submitting? I have another recent purchase raw and frankly I like having at least one that I can hold outside plastic.
The coin came to me from a friend who bought it for a best offer on eBay. He decided he did not want it, so I took it off of his hands for what he paid for it—$80. So, with shipping, I will have $84 in on it. My inclination is to keep it raw, in a non-PVC flip, as I don’t intend to sell it. If it were a straight graded AU 58 PCGS coin, it sells as a $250 coin. Since I don’t intend to sell it, and find it to be an attractive coin, I think you folks just answered my question—keep it raw.
Something about the photo made me think "cleaned" upon first look. Regardless, I agree with the majority that it's a mid AU coin that is best kept raw (possibility of details combines with the cost of grading seems like you would spend more than it's worth).
I agree. I texted the photos to my friend who works for NGC. He thinks it may squeak by as a straight graded AU coin, around AU 55-58. However, since I don’t have the coin in hand yet, from my friend, nobody can say for sure. I appreciate all of your opinions, and tend to agree. It is clearly a dip and retoned coin at best. It is a nice looking coin, but is it a $250 coin, making the cost and trouble of grading worth it? No. I will have paid $84, and it is worth that much, but since I won’t be selling it, a flip is its ultimate destination. I feel it is a $100-125 coin.
I would guess AU details. The incused areas by the arrows and horizontal bars in the reverse are darker telling me that those hard to clean places are what the rest of the surfaces may have looked like at some time.
I'm thinking AU or better. Doesn't look cleaned, from the photos but better determined "in hand". Good looking coin.