Three questions. 1) I know I can soak some gunk off in acetone or distilled water. I was worried about putting the 1833 half cent in acetone because I thought I remembered copper reacts with acetone. Is there any way to get some of this oxidization/crud build up off? It seems to be obscuring some detail making it hard to grade; bringing us to question number.. 2) Any one want to take a stab at possible grades? I was hopeful for that 25-35 range but, the reverse looks pretty rough. I'm not confident in my interpretation and I'm not skilled enough to see past some of the buildup and just see the coin. If it grades in that 25-35 range... 3) Would you slab it? Keep in mind, even at $50 value, I'll probably have it stabbed as it's one of the more interesting coins from Dad's stuff and it's going in with a handful of friends in my fist crack at using a grading service. Plus, my only cost in the coin is slabbing it so, why not?
Odd color, making me think it might have already been cleaned at some point. If you are slabbing out of respect and love of dad's memories, GO for it." WARNING WILL ROBINSON" If you are slabbing for any other reason I'd hold off, graders can be brutal on cleaned coins. Let's see what others have to say on this. (Had to add the robots comment, I loved that show too)
Very nice 33 but the discoloration which appears to me to be "dead" verdigris and corrosion from same make it a sure details grade.. Now if it was a 23 I would say hell yes.. but not for a 33 sorry...
A lot of that is light reflecting off the crud. In hand it's VERY dark. Almost black. Looks like old dirty copper.
A "Details" grade usualy means the coin has been damaged in some way.. rim dings, enviromental damage, scratches/graffiti, holed and many others including corrosion. What your pictures show is minor corrosion or env. damage. That would get it a "details" grade. This is also called a "problem coin" or a coin that has an issue. regretably such a grade reduces (but does not eliminate) the value of the coin as most collectors want "clean" grades (not details). I have a few "details" coins in my type set because I could never afford those particular coins in a clean grade. Probably the best example I have pics of on hand is my newest 1/2 cent with env. damage. But then as i have said for a few other "detail" coins i have purchased they are "details I can live with
1833 N-6 mid die stage, R-1+ Nice sharpness but uniform porous/corroded. It wouldn't be worth slabbing if you were looking to sell it, but as a keepsake of you father I could understand doing it. But if so I would send it to ANACS or ICG, their slabs will preserve it just as well and the top two and will be cheaper to have it slabbed.
