GTG - 1853 25c (Arrows & Rays)

Well done, folks!

VF35

 

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Grading seems fairly consistent with the last one of these I owned (also VF35)

 

I was thinking VF30; but off the charts eye appeal!

 

Really? Wow. That seems super lenient.

VF-35 should be just a smidge away from an EF - and that thing is nowhere close!

Is this a case of key date or special coins getting a special treatment?

 

It's not a key.
A quick look at the Red Book shows it to be priced the same as other common SL quarters of that time.

I've got an AU-55 that I can post if you want to do a comparison.

 

Well, I compared it to the PCGS photograde app: https://www.pcgs.com/photograde/#/Seated25/Grades

The OP compared quite well to a low VF - and not even close to a high VF.

 

It’s a single-year issue (type 3 w/rays, 1853) and I believe they’re more lenient with this type. A common year seated quarter would have graded lower.

 

Okay, so it got a boost in grade because it's a "special coin".
I won't argue with that.
But in the SL quarter series it had the greatest number struck up to that date ... by a bunch.
I suspect it was sort of treated like the 1909-SVDB LWC's were.
New design so lots saved.

 

So its somewhere in the middle, like halfway between 30 and 40...?

 

Gotta say I respectfully disagree on that, though one thing I have observed collecting circulated cameos in every grade level is that in images, dark and lifeless surfaces tend to look the same as dark and lively and it’s a tossup which you are going to get until the coin is in-hand. This coin is an uncommonly dark example of the latter.

Will post some images under a loupe at an angle when it returns to convey what I’m referring to.

 

I’ve had quite a few in this grade and think it’s spot on

 

Very nice example of circulation cameo! She's a beauty. 35 is a spot on grade.
As for the controversy on the grade designation, I used PCGS Photograde too. It is all in the details.
Look at the arrow tails and the eagle's talons.
I put a 25 on the left, OP's coin center and a 35 on the right. It matches pretty well with the 35.

 

My grade slightly too much wear on the tail wing shoulders her breasts and leg for xf and no remaining luster. High vf. I buy a LOT of seated coins in the vf-au range as I like them and find original examples very easy to sell. And hard to find. So many have been cleaned and have other problems. I love the look of the op coin and would have bought it in a second if the price was right I’ve had quite a lot of a&r halves especially between vf-30 and xf 45. Looking for a pretty toner in au 58 or ms for myself someday