I'd been anticipating the arrival of this coin, advertised as a red gem BU. The seller just used a stock photo so I couldn't see what it actually looked like, but I went ahead and bought it anyway. That's on me. The coin came today and it is indeed bright and shiny red! But it looks like it's been heavily cleaned/polished. In particular I note the sharply outlined letters on the reverse, and the overall "pebbled" surface texture. Maybe whizzed? I don't know much about this sort of thing. I'd be grateful to hear what you think - maybe (hopefully?) I'm wrong and the coin is "original"?
I believe the coin has been whizzed. If the color in the photos is accurate, it’s all wrong. I’ll post a picture of a red 1909-VDB tomorrow. I’m on an iPad right now. A Mint State piece should not have digs in the field. You should be able to return it.
Thanks! Yeah it's clearly not mint state - in addition to the dings, I think I see wear on the portrait and other high points. And I've seen that same pebbly texture on other whizzed coins I have.