ms64 BN, I think. Obverse is lovely, reverse is too, with more visible marks keeping it from gem. Still have a feeling they went higher.
The obverse master hub was replaced that year. Fully struck 1916 cents tend to display excellent detail; great year for an example of the type with the textured fields on business strikes.
Well, I’ll call this one after a day because I’ve never done a GTG before where every single person wins, and that’s just cool. Story time: I bought this coin in an NGC MS64BN holder. When I got it in hand, I thought it looked great but I could see a weird haze on it, under a loupe it was subtle/thin and brownish grey. I cracked it out and did three short (<5 min) soaks in acetone. I was blown away by how blazing the luster was afterwards. Off to PCGS it went, where it got body-bagged, Questionable Color. (Look at the BN plate coin for this date for cryin’ out loud! Oh well.) Needless to say, I disagreed especially having just removed a thin layer of gunk on the coin without loss of color. Back to NGC it went, where it received MS66BN. The coin truly is on another level after the conservation and it was great to see that rewarded with a grade bump. Personally I feel the coin was accurately graded at 64 in the first holder given the haze/subdued luster. The now blazing luster and sharpness took it to gem- In my opinion it’s a technical 65 but I also don’t blame them for giving it a color bump to 66 as the eye appeal is outstanding. It joins my blue IHC in my permanent type collection. Lastly, by mistake the second images in the original post were taken pre-conservation in the 64 holder. When I realized the error today someone had already voted so I left it alone, but everyone wins as the guesses were all 64-66 and that prompted me to share the full story of this coin, so hopefully you’ll forgive the error.
Nothing more than acetone baths, no Q-tip rubbing or any sort of friction at all. Unusual result to have it be that drastic.
I thought it was just different/diffused lighting. "66"... WOW. May be the most improved by dipping/cleaning coin, I've ever seen !!! Very nice.
