Do you think PCGS should have slabbed this?

What are the spots? Looks like corrosion? It's not mine. Graded AU50.

 

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I'm on the fence personally. The spots appear to dig into the coin.
Definitely will not sell for as much as a clean example, as luster and eye appeal do affect the value of circulated grade coins.

 

Can we rule out they haven't progressed over the years??

What did it look like originally pre slab??

 

Yes...and they should have given it a "details" label. In some cases, haze, stains, and spots happen to coins after they are slabbed. That is DEFINITLY not the case here. Is the slab authentic?

 

With the three holders around the coin, it should be a fairly modern holder. I'm on the fence too. Carbon spots CAN be market acceptable, but in this case, there are quite a few and I think they really begin to take away from the overall eye-appeal of the coin. I get the feeling that PCGS won't award a Details grade for Environmental Damage unless there are distinct divots or corrosion in the surface. Given time, this coin would get there, but not yet.

Short answer: I think this coin can probably live in a problem-free holder, but I wouldn't buy it.

 

Assuming that the slab is legit, we can guess that it hasn't been in this slab too long since PCGS only started using it about 7-8 years ago.

Chris

 

I agree with a possible cleaning. Haven't seen it in hand, though. It almost looks lustrous, though, which is maybe why they gave it the AU.

 

Looks like it was dipped at some time to remove the carbon spots...has that adobe pink look.

 

100% NOT original color. Definitely cleaned at some time (patches of various colors.) Coin is an unattractive, non-original AU.

Forgot: IMO.

 

IMO, no. But it doesn't matter - no one would pay au50 money for it anyway.

 

I'd say this is a real borderline case. I agree with those who say the surfaces look off, but some of the black spots might be gunk. I'm thinking the stuff clinging to the outside of the letters in UNITED might just be circulation gunk. In any case, there's no way I'd buy this at an AU50 price. If the obverse matched the reverse, I'd gladly own it.

 

Cleaned or not, carbon spots or not, I would look elsewhere. Not an attractive coin at all.

 

I'd buy it.......for the right price. Then I'd more than likely crack the sucker..........free it from its' confines and restrictions, thereby allowing it to survive in a more normal environment.

 

I agree, the stuff on the letters looks like gunk that can be removed; yet possibly leaving a stained surface. There are other spots formed from corrosion. A good way to tell is to look closely at the spots next to the "5" and on the "A." You should see a tiny, raised, black lump in the center. That is the foreign matter or more likely the corrosion "debris" coming up from the coins surface. The "black" color around the lumps is call the "reaction ring" of discoloration that often accompanies these lumps.

 

As soon as I read "crack out,", I thought you were going in one direction: I'm waiting for the "acetone soakers" to chime in.

 

I'm not much the 'cleaner' of things but this might be a good candidate for doing so......if the price were right. I say that because if I were to screw things up there's not much to cry about.

 

That was the old days! That coin probably sells for over $$$ for someone who "bites." $35-40 and the price is right for me but I'll keep dreaming.

 

Me too..........

 

"Allowing it to survive in a more normal environment "
Would that environment include cigar smoke and bourbon sour mash? In a somewhat dark room surrounded by soft leather....seating?