1819 Capped Bust Quarter - Grade Request

I included a couple methods to use the quill: picking up the native quill by itself or handling it while inside of a pen which is more precise since it stabilizes the tip from moving around.

I would like to summarize this polarity ladder theme by stating that the last step is to apply a non-polar solvent such as trichloroethane (aka trike) or xylene (xylol), for example. Please remember, however, that these solvents are extremely toxic and will damage the nervous system if inadequate ventilation exists. A Covid mask won't cut the mustard.

I would like to get some feedback insofar as the need to apply either acetone or any of the aforementioned non-polar solvents in an attempt to remove the remaining dark gray color. Although I am not worried about these solvents damaging the coins, I would like to get some opinions regarding the need to blend in the affected area to better match its adjacent sections. Would that help the grade any in this case?

Although this is not the cleaning section of CCF, getting into the details of how I obtained the final results is germane to this topic. Finally, non-polar solvents can often remove some types of PVC residues, tar or other similar oil-based products. If I think I know what is stuck on a coin, I just research it to determine if it would float on water. This would be indicative of something that trike would probably remove.

Thanks for the detailed write-up. Your results look promising but ED is there with tiny pits/corrosion. It is unlikely to pass with a straight grade at a top TPG but you never know unless you try. It's a nice piece regardless and I'd leave it as-is (raw).

To the neophytes within our group including myself on several obvious subjects, the following photo depicts the same coin but with the camera lens tilted at a 45° angle (as opposed to a perpendicular 90° hit angle of incidence).

Once again, here is the similar question posed as in the previous post:

Does one see any change to the better or to the worse post-xylol cleaning in this same new shot?

To the uninitiated the second set (that clearly appear cleaned to me) probably look better. I'm on the fence. As as album coin it was fine either way and your "work" does allow more the surface to be viewed.

I can't see this piece straight grading but most people would not be concerned with that.

Also the age and relative rarity of the piece often play a roll. I've seen many coins that have retoned (second skin) after a cleaning as usually straight grading. Also light cleanings, even recent ones, often get a pass at TPG.

Like you mentioned it's subjective with no solid guidelines to follow.

I would've left it alone too. The quill definitely scratched the surface of the coin, and that would be a turn off for me.

I will be the first to agree with CF that a mature and rigid quill applied with an excessive downward force can and will damage any patina. I personally have done that before and learned my lesson so that was something that I did not want to repeat on this 200 year old coin.

If you look at the picture taken at a 45° angle, 98% of those scratches are straight and go from top to bottom. All of my strokes were done in a circular motion: both clockwise and counterclockwise. The scratches that appear in the photo were definitely present before I even began my dirty work!

So I think the lesson here that I learned in this particular case is to carefully contemplate if the removal of a particular distraction is going to 'significantly' raise the probability of attaining the next higher grade. In retrospect, that was not the case with this coin.