1855 Large Cent variety question

just landed an 1855 large cent and was curious about any specific variety it might be. I did a bit of digging and saw there were many varieties, but couldn't find a list of characteristics. Any thoughts on grade would be appreciated as well.

 

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XF/AU details for grade

 

Can you elaborate on the details grade? Cleaned?

 

Yup. Cleaned. The orange and multicolor surfaces give it away.

And your coin is an N-5. (Having a PDF of Newcomb's book is very helpful. )

 

How damning is a cleaning on a coin such as this?

 

Decrease in value by about half.

 

So this coin wouldn't demonstrate characteristics of a cleaning?
Just trying to get my ducks in a row...

 

No, but it does have a bunch of scratches on the reverse.

 

Of course, just concerned about cleaning at this point.

 

Ah, okay. Your second coin shows exactly what original copper should look like.

 

Cool. Thanks. On the second coin, I think it would grade at VF35/XF40 without the ding at 12:00. How much might that detract?

 

With old copper, color will tell you a lot. When you see warm colors in circulated large cents, there is a great chance the coin was messed with at some point in it's past.

 

I'm coming up with N-4. Edge of the left foot of the 1 over the dentical doesn't match N-5 but does match N-4.

 

I normally do not disagree with Condor. It could be an illusion with the smooshed denticles, or the seller may have misattributed these coins, but the alignment of the 1 more closely matches the N-5.


N-4. I see the left base of the 1 over the middle of the dentil. I do not see the lumps on the OP's coin.



N-5. I see the left base of the 1 over the space between the dentils.



OP coin. The left base of the 1 is in between two dentils.

 

Also, the center of the 8 is directly over a denticle on the N-4. Not so on the OP coin (at least as far as I can tell).

 

The 5 on the OP's coin (that's me) looks like the mint was playing pin the tail on the donkey.

 

So let's play the "did he pay too much?" game.
Coin One 1855: $32

Coin Two 1848: $26

 

Bump for thoughts on value vs. purchase price. See above...
Thanks!

 

Coins arrived today. Will probably resell the toned/cleaned one (properly advertised as such, of course). How much impact on condition does the circular hit on the '48 have?
Photos of coins in hand: