Very obvious wear in the usual places, so MS is out of the question. AU-53/55. I can't see the luster well enough to narrow it down, but there isn't enough for AU-58.
Briggs-1A, one of two die pairs known for the date. It's characterized by the date repunching you've shown, as well as the circular "compass point" irregularity on the reverse at the junction of vertical and horizontal lines in the shield. Probably the scarcest Philadelphia Seated Quarter in Mint State, and none too common in high circulated grade although you can find them in lower grade. I'd be inclined to consider it around AU53, and if the surfaces were adjudicated market-acceptable (which is how one really ought to characterize the "cleaning thing" with coins this old) the value could approach $750 depending on how well the auction went. It's the kind of coin which would need specialists in the bidding audience who knew there were probably fewer than 25 pieces finer than this example.
Thank you all for your opinions. I usually do not have trouble grading U.S coins, except for coins in the AU range, as I had assumed this was. Your comments are very helpful. The various degrees of AU are not my forte being more used to old coppers where you are lucky if you find a true EF. Regarding the coin: it has considerable more luster than shown in the picture. Absolutely no hairlines. Pretty coin which I bought as EF, so I guess I am on the safe side. Thank you SuperDave for your very complete and informational answer, as usual . What you stated is absolutely correct, this is a relatively scarce coin in grades beyond AU50.
Seated coins are difficult, Eduard, and there's no blame in feeling challenged when evaluating one. Strike quality varies widely and may be assumed to show weakness as that's common. The key - if sufficient evidence is available - is the talons. They aren't the first thing to show strike weakness - the feathers on the eagle's right leg are, and they're weak in your example - but the talons below that leg are the second and relatively complete detail on them when other areas show what could be "wear" is telling. All the same, "AU53" is more a compromise grade on my part. Anything between AU50 and AU58 in a TPG slab would not shock me, because they would have had the chance to hold the coin in-hand and judge things like the obverse legs and wing edges where wear is far more easily seen than accurately imaged. It is telling that this and 1846 are the only Seated Quarter issue years for which Heritage Auctions returns less than 100 auction results, and the next most scarce result is 143.
PCGS grades seated liberty quarters more strictly than I do, as a general rule. Recently, however, that may have changed. A member posted their 1856 25c that ended up grading XF40 that was damaged and looked VF30 to me. Additionally, David Hall remarked on his "Weekly Rare Coin Report" that the market for Seated Quarters was "very very soft." These 2 pieces of info could mean that PCGS is lightening up on their grading of the series. But I know that's not a lot of evidence.
