1913-S Lincoln Cent - Your Grade?

Very Nice Semi-Key date Lincoln...

I'll give it a VF-25/30

Thanks y'all!

I reckon it's better to under-grade than over-grade, although I think I need to watch for being too strict.

I thought some of the 'scratches' might indicate cleaning attempts in the past, but I need to remember that this coin has been all over the country, in all sorts of environments, with all sorts of people, for 104 years, so a little wear and tear is to be expected.

~ Mark

Agree dd27....still not a bad coin!

VF-25 details, environmental damage

Yes indeed! ... Although it seems this coin's damage is mostly permanent.

I soaked the coin in distilled water for an hour; acetone for 30 minutes; and xylene for 15 minutes; with distilled water rinsing after each soak. I then applied Verdi-Care, which I let soak in for 24 hours on each side, with some very light toothpick taps per the Verdi-Care suggestions, followed by another 24 hours on each side, and light circular turns on a microfiber cloth (also per Verdi-Care suggestions).

I've been working on my coin photography a fair amount the past few days, so the photos below have better lighting than the first ones I posted, and the color of the coin is more true to the color in-hand. Consequently, it might look like the coin is worse off after the above procedures. I think this 'worse appearance' is the result of a more accurate photographic image, and perhaps the water/acetone/xylene soaks exposing more of the underlying damage. (I don't know as much about that last conjecture, but I reckon it's a possibility.)

I wouldnt go any further with either but it did clean up pretty good.