1877 Half Penny - Would love help with grade

Hi All

I have this 1877 Half penny - Not sure of the grade -

A) It's toned near black and getting a pic was even difficult - Had to lighten in photoShop

B) The detail on the lettering at the egdes is great, but the cameo is soft - Could this be a soft pressing / worn die, or is this just wear?

Thank you!!!

 

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I have read somewhere that some Brittish coins where blackened at the mint.

 

here is is non-brightened, and held at an angle near a light to have SOME visibility - To show how dark it is. When looking through my foreign coin box I missed it TWICE it was so dark!

 

I’d put it in the VF-35 range. This is about the only series of coins outside of the US that I’ve collected, a very interesting run.

 

Those were later dated farthings. People were trying to pass fresh lustrous ones off as gold half sovereigns