1868 Two Center http://www.ebay.com/itm/1868-Two-Ce...65?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item4ac71d8d25 Take a close look at the photos. What grade would you say? Do you think it has been cleaned at one time? It is kind of spotty in appearance but seems to have original tone. What's your opinion?
My thinking is that it is XF45 or perhaps an AU50. The WE is bold and the leaves show detail. There aren't a lot of dings on it and minimal wear except maybe around the rim a little.
It looks like a nice XF-45 to me. Their asking price isn't too bad, but an offer of $70-75 would probably get it.
I'm leaning toward what you said too. I find if you are selling a coin you want to make the best of its condition as possible and if you're buying you are more conservative in evaluating the coin. I've seen some PCGS and NGC graded coins that graded better than I thought they would so it is quite subjective.
The reason that I would call it XF instead of AU is pretty simple, it is pure lack of luster. An AU coin should show most of its original mint luster. You can't base a grade on age, you should grade it the same way that a new coin is graded.
I asked some questions and the seller claims the photo is under high magnification and that the spots don't show with the naked eye view or even using a regular magnifying glass. He claims the coin is really nice. I've requested regular photos. We'll see.
Haven't gotten pictures but this is what her wrote: After consulting the ANA Grading Standards book for you, I am still confident that this would grade out as either an AU-50, or perhaps at the very minimum an XF-45. I suggest the possibility of it falling to an XF+ grade as there is no luster visible, but this is possible for AU and occasionally MS coins as well.
I was surprised. The coin sold for best offer. I wasn't interested enough to make an offer which I felt would be good enough to buy it.
