Hi Derick, I grade them as follows: - Chile 1813: VF 30 maybe a bit higher (few light scratches at bust) - Potosi 1825: VF 25 - Potosi 1808: VF 25 - Potosi 1799: VF30 All nice. Did you buy these in Chile?
I would go along with Eduard's grades, but I would give them detail grades only. In other words, I see them all as problem coins - ungradeable.
I bought them in Chile. Some of the first coins I bought. The top one is special since it has the inverted J.
The 1813 has 15-20 scratches on it, that makes it a damaged coin. The 1825 has corrosion damage as well as rim damage. The 1808 has corrosion damage and is scratched. The 1799 has corrosion damage and looks to have been harshly cleaned. Thus all 4 coins would be considered as problem coins and ungradeable.
Derick, it may be worthwhile letting the 1825 soak in acetone for a while. Some of what appears corrosion may be removable junk.
Derik, hopefully you understand that I am not knocking your coins. I am merely trying to say things as I see them, as honestly as I can, based on what I have to look at. In other words to give you an honest opinion.
No, do not worry, they were of the first coins I bought. The thing is with reales, very difficult for me to make a judgement because I have not seen specimens (not pictures I mean) other than what I have. Better a good true answer than a stupid answer. They are difficult coins to evaluate.
Honestly, I think they looked better before. This is often what happens when you clean a coin, even when you clean it properly so that what you do does no harm to the coin. The cleaning - removing dirt and or other contaminants - often reveals or accentuates (in other words makes it look worse) any damage that the coin may have had before you cleaned it. This is why even you dip a coin in a commercial coin dip, you always take a chance - there is always a risk. This is because you never know if what you cannot see is there or not. It may be covered up by toning or even plain old dirt. Remove that toning and or dirt - and you might end up wishing you had not. The hardest thing there is to learn when it comes to cleaning a coin, or dipping a coin, is what coins you should do it to, and what coins you should leave alone.
From a technical point your are correct, but what you do not see on the photos (do not have correct light) is the patina showing more clearly (bottom more than the top). I found the change more pleasing with better eye appeal, but that is matter of taste. Wil continue to search for better reales that are good as is. The bottom coin is quite cool since it is very broadly struck (42 mm) and thin. I wonder if this has not got something to do with the rim damage.
